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Just thinking if Evans comes back, and the way guards rule the NCAA tourney. Would we be best having 4 guards with Cumberland guarding the 4? He looks strong enough, and then offensively you could play 4 guys at a time at PG; JJ, CB, JE, or JC.

I was thinking about that myself late in the season. It could work, but it's going to depend on where the strength of our bench lies. If Logan Johnson comes in ready to contribute day 1 and Moore/Williams both show a lot of improvement this offseason, it would make sense to maximize the minutes of our best players by playing a lot of 4-guard lineups.

I'll go out on limb and hopefully get shot down. Logan Johnson will not get big minutes for one very specific Cronin reason.....he doesn't play defense or get deflections.

I forgot one "it's a long season for Frosh and they labor at the end of the season"!

(03-21-2018 03:17 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  I was thinking about that myself late in the season. It could work, but it's going to depend on where the strength of our bench lies. If Logan Johnson comes in ready to contribute day 1 and Moore/Williams both show a lot of improvement this offseason, it would make sense to maximize the minutes of our best players by playing a lot of 4-guard lineups.

I don't know if that matters too much, if you play JE, JJ, CB, and JC all 30 min each...
then you need Moore/Williams/Johnson to combine for 30 or so, and you play Scott/Brooks/+1 for 50 @ the 5 + some d min at the 4. That's 10 deep... which is deeper than most teams go.

(03-21-2018 03:31 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  I'll go out on limb and hopefully get shot down. Logan Johnson will not get big minutes for one very specific Cronin reason.....he doesn't play defense or get deflections.

If forgot one "it's a long season for Frosh and they labor at the end of the season"!

I will probably lose my mind the next time Cronin mentions deflections after a loss. I get it that it is a proxy for activity level for defense and I think it's valuable to chart. But does this guy not realize that when you go up against guys like the Martin twins, Shamet, Bluiett, etc. you can't just take the ball away from them? They are really talented and likely NBA players. Playing harder isn't the remedy for everything...

Back to the OP's question, it really depends what Scott, Brooks, Nsoseme, etc. bring to the table next year? Are they merely going to be space fillers or will they be great rim protectors and rebounders? If we see more of the latter, then I imagine we will continue to see the traditional lineup with 2 bigs, otherwise hopefully Mick values speed and spacing and goes with more guards/wings.

(03-21-2018 03:34 PM)ucbrownsfan Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 03:17 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  I was thinking about that myself late in the season. It could work, but it's going to depend on where the strength of our bench lies. If Logan Johnson comes in ready to contribute day 1 and Moore/Williams both show a lot of improvement this offseason, it would make sense to maximize the minutes of our best players by playing a lot of 4-guard lineups.

I don't know if that matters too much, if you play JE, JJ, CB, and JC all 30 min each...
then you need Moore/Williams/Johnson to combine for 30 or so, and you play Scott/Brooks/+1 for 50 @ the 5 + some d min at the 4. That's 10 deep... which is deeper than most teams go.

If Jenifer has to play 30 minutes a game next year, this team may have a home game in the NIT.

No. Why would you play JJ over Tre Scott? You lose significantly in rebounding and defense and gain a minimal amount of offensive ability (or possibly none at all). Same for Brooks except you gain some perimeter offensive ability, but not enough to offset the worse D and rebounding.

Scott will be one of our 5 best players next year and Brooks probably will be as well. JJ wasn't great this year and has the lowest ceiling of anyone on the team. If we do play Cumberland at the 4 it will be because Diarra isn't ready to backup Scott and we will have a lineup of CB/JJ, Moore/Hardnett, Williams/Evans, Cumberland and Brooks/Nsoseme to spell Scott.

(03-21-2018 03:40 PM)JFlight21 Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 03:34 PM)ucbrownsfan Wrote:  

(03-21-2018 03:17 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  I was thinking about that myself late in the season. It could work, but it's going to depend on where the strength of our bench lies. If Logan Johnson comes in ready to contribute day 1 and Moore/Williams both show a lot of improvement this offseason, it would make sense to maximize the minutes of our best players by playing a lot of 4-guard lineups.

I don't know if that matters too much, if you play JE, JJ, CB, and JC all 30 min each...
then you need Moore/Williams/Johnson to combine for 30 or so, and you play Scott/Brooks/+1 for 50 @ the 5 + some d min at the 4. That's 10 deep... which is deeper than most teams go.

If Jenifer has to play 30 minutes a game next year, this team may have a home game in the NIT.

Yup, I'd rather see Jenifer transfer out during this off-season then have him average 15+ minutes per game next year. He's got the lowest ceiling of anyone on the team and if were bad enough that playing Jenifer 30 minutes is our best option, we might as well give the minutes to an underclassman and be happy with the NIT.

Keith Williams and Trevor Moore are keys to the success of next year's team. I think Williams was frustrated with his lack of playing time, but he wasn't going to replace Evans or Cumberland. The kid is potentially a big time scorer although I suspect he will be turnover-prone as he has a tendency to try to dribble through three guys. Moore seems more than capable defensively but needs to improve his ball-handling and become a more reliable long distance shooting threat. Broome just needs to settle down and try to get Mick out of his head. Maybe easier said than done.

(03-21-2018 08:44 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  Keith Williams and Trevor Moore are keys to the success of next year's team. I think Williams was frustrated with his lack of playing time, but he wasn't going to replace Evans or Cumberland. The kid is potentially a big time scorer although I suspect he will be turnover-prone as he has a tendency to try to dribble through three guys. Moore seems more than capable defensively but needs to improve his ball-handling and become a more reliable long distance shooting threat. Broome just needs to settle down and try to get Mick out of his head. Maybe easier said than done.

If Evans leaves, the key is finding is an impact JUCO or grad transfer at the wing or guard spot. Even if Moore and Williams make solid progress both look like role players next year gain.

Broome needs to improve in so many areas before I have confidence in letting him take over the pg duties. I believe both Jenifer and Broome will both split duties next year which isn't all that bad considering that neither one seems like the complete package.

I can't lie about this, I am very concerned about the roster if Evans isn't here. There needs to be an older impact player at the wing spot and in the front court. Cumberland could be the only plus or impact player coming back next season. The two point guards are solid and should improve; however, everyone else is a project at this point.

Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

(03-22-2018 07:00 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

Just curious, why is this such a sure thing? Has this been reported somewhere, or is this just what everyone thinks. I'm not a scout, but I felt he looked like a 2nd rounder to me, but I think he has potential to blow up his senior year like Buddy Hield and get a lottery pick. Either way, I think he could find himself on a roster one way or the other.

(03-22-2018 07:20 AM)jarr Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:00 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

Just curious, why is this such a sure thing? Has this been reported somewhere, or is this just what everyone thinks. I'm not a scout, but I felt he looked like a 2nd rounder to me, but I think he has potential to blow up his senior year like Buddy Hield and get a lottery pick. Either way, I think he could find himself on a roster one way or the other.

He'll need to be possessed by someone who has that personality first...

(03-22-2018 07:20 AM)jarr Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:00 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

Just curious, why is this such a sure thing? Has this been reported somewhere, or is this just what everyone thinks. I'm not a scout, but I felt he looked like a 2nd rounder to me, but I think he has potential to blow up his senior year like Buddy Hield and get a lottery pick. Either way, I think he could find himself on a roster one way or the other.

Cronin and staff have been recruiting as if he's gone. He'll never be a lottery pick; he doesn't have that attitude nor is he getting any younger.

He'll be a great 3 & D type player that comes off the bench. That's probably his ceiling, too. There's nothing he could do/learn at UC next year that he couldn't also do/learn in the league.

(03-22-2018 09:23 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:20 AM)jarr Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:00 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

Just curious, why is this such a sure thing? Has this been reported somewhere, or is this just what everyone thinks. I'm not a scout, but I felt he looked like a 2nd rounder to me, but I think he has potential to blow up his senior year like Buddy Hield and get a lottery pick. Either way, I think he could find himself on a roster one way or the other.

Cronin and staff have been recruiting as if he's gone. He'll never be a lottery pick; he doesn't have that attitude nor is he getting any younger.

He'll be a great 3 & D type player that comes off the bench. That's probably his ceiling, too. There's nothing he could do/learn at UC next year that he couldn't also do/learn in the league.

I wouldn't take the recruiting as a sign Evans is gone. As long as it is possible that Evans will leave, Mick has to recruit as if Evans is gone. If he recruits as if Evans is staying and Evans goes, we are in trouble. If he recruits as Evans is gone and Evans stays then we are no worse off.

I think Evans is leaving, but it's possible he comes back. He would have to improve at ball handling and passing, but I could see him possibly getting drafted high as a starting PG if he did both of those things. He's young enough that age won't be a big factor.

(03-22-2018 09:54 AM)skyblade Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 09:23 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:20 AM)jarr Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:00 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

Just curious, why is this such a sure thing? Has this been reported somewhere, or is this just what everyone thinks. I'm not a scout, but I felt he looked like a 2nd rounder to me, but I think he has potential to blow up his senior year like Buddy Hield and get a lottery pick. Either way, I think he could find himself on a roster one way or the other.

Cronin and staff have been recruiting as if he's gone. He'll never be a lottery pick; he doesn't have that attitude nor is he getting any younger.

He'll be a great 3 & D type player that comes off the bench. That's probably his ceiling, too. There's nothing he could do/learn at UC next year that he couldn't also do/learn in the league.

I wouldn't take the recruiting as a sign Evans is gone. As long as it is possible that Evans will leave, Mick has to recruit as if Evans is gone. If he recruits as if Evans is staying and Evans goes, we are in trouble. If he recruits as Evans is gone and Evans stays then we are no worse off.

I think Evans is leaving, but it's possible he comes back. He would have to improve at ball handling and passing, but I could see him possibly getting drafted high as a starting PG if he did both of those things. He's young enough that age won't be a big factor.

he can improve ball handling and passing with better developmental coaches at next level. I highly doubt any team ever ask Evans take his man off dribble. He needs get stronger and work on that 3pt shot.

(03-22-2018 02:35 PM)Bearcat01 Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 09:54 AM)skyblade Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 09:23 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:20 AM)jarr Wrote:  

(03-22-2018 07:00 AM)JPBearcat3 Wrote:  Evans isn't coming back. Sucks for next year's roster, but it's good for the overall program.

Just curious, why is this such a sure thing? Has this been reported somewhere, or is this just what everyone thinks. I'm not a scout, but I felt he looked like a 2nd rounder to me, but I think he has potential to blow up his senior year like Buddy Hield and get a lottery pick. Either way, I think he could find himself on a roster one way or the other.

Cronin and staff have been recruiting as if he's gone. He'll never be a lottery pick; he doesn't have that attitude nor is he getting any younger.

He'll be a great 3 & D type player that comes off the bench. That's probably his ceiling, too. There's nothing he could do/learn at UC next year that he couldn't also do/learn in the league.

I wouldn't take the recruiting as a sign Evans is gone. As long as it is possible that Evans will leave, Mick has to recruit as if Evans is gone. If he recruits as if Evans is staying and Evans goes, we are in trouble. If he recruits as Evans is gone and Evans stays then we are no worse off.

I think Evans is leaving, but it's possible he comes back. He would have to improve at ball handling and passing, but I could see him possibly getting drafted high as a starting PG if he did both of those things. He's young enough that age won't be a big factor.

he can improve ball handling and passing with better developmental coaches at next level. I highly doubt any team ever ask Evans take his man off dribble. He needs get stronger and work on that 3pt shot.

He can, for anyone they can develop at the NBA level better - they have more time and resources to devote entirely to practice. But if the scouts see Evans as a 3 and D guy who will never be able to take his man off the dribble and see him as a second round pick. Then coming back and proving he can take his man off the dribble and make the shot or the right pass would improve his draft position.

The NBA draft is as much about current ability as it is about potential. If Evans comes back it's because he thinks he can improve his draft position by doing something the scouts don't think he has the potential to do. That would be breaking guys down off the dribble and becoming a top-notch passer.