RE: Small Ball vs. Transfer Portal?
Lots of the usual msg board genius talk on this thread. The staff knows a lot more than us. And they do re-evaluate their approaches regularly. Remember, last year AJ was healthy to start. So, after his injury it was a quickly planned in-season adjustment in playing style. The timing of this injury at least means being able to strategize thoughtfully pre-season on how to get the most out of the roster and practice that before the season starts.
I mean posters who criticize coach K being a limited bench minute type of coach are not off base. He has always played a short bench and often had teams fizzle late season. He's also had a couple peak late season with a short bench but get blindsided with injuries in the MAC tourney (i.e. the Tre Fletcher season). Generally, playing younger guys 8,9,10,11 on the roster comes down to if they can defend. I'd say this team knows the following guys will play (and defend) Milner, Shumate, Saunders, Rollins, Dennis, Hill (whose bench minutes are primarily come from his defensive play). So, there's a 6 guy rotation. I expect Wilson to play because he's both a skilled guy and a good defender who came in early and has more time to get coached up and adapt. 7. I also expect Moss to play because he's such a good athlete you gotta see what he can do. In addition, his defense is probably ahead of his offense and his strength allows him to guard taller guys, while his quickness enables him to defend guards and means he can switch on screens pretty effectively. 8. Now, who else expands the bench? Jacobi has a little more height and is a high motor guy, but I don't know if he has enough strength to help inside unless his bball IQ is really advanced for his age.The Icelander is intriguing because he can score by stretching the floor and has forward size. He's not a typical freshman as he'll be 20 yrs old and has a couple seasons of lower level European pro ball under his belt playing with some grown men. Total question mark, but if he can defend OK it will enticing to play him because he can really shoot. Farmer has been mostly overlooked but he can also score and plays with aggressiveness and passion. Another lanky thin guy who may need a year or two to have the strength to contribute. Carcoana has potential but with bigs you gotta consider conditioning, strength, ability to learn schemes and do things like defend high screens, switch onto smaller players and score against opponents suddenly just as big as you are. There's also Burge the preferred walk-on who is a very muscular 6-3 guy with D3 and JUCO experience who might be able to guard people enough to earn spot minutes as an energy and hustle guy.
As for the MAC there's a decent chance the league breaks the 1 bid drought next season. History says I'm wrong but the odds and rosters suggest maybe not. All the other leagues ranked around the MAC level have had multiple bids since the MAC last got one, so the math will even out eventually. Because of COVID rules and the portal most MAC teams have improved rosters. A few dramatically so. The league could avoid those sub 200 ranked bottom feeders that kill your computer rankings and stand out as bad losses this season. NIU, WMU, CMU, EMU all upgraded their talent level, primarily with guys who have at least a year of college experience and should be ready to contribute. Huger used the COVID scholarship exemptions to load up on veteran transfers and has 15 guys on the roster (not counting walk-ons). Perhaps, the deepest MAC team in memory with 5 guards with mid major starting experience plus Fulcher who made the MAC all-freshman team. Then, they got Plowden and Diggs back for an extra year, a good PF transfer, size off the bench, and the ability to play different lineups and styles. They could win a lot non-conf and have an at-large shot. Kent, OU, Akron, Miami, Buffalo, Ball St all should be solid with one or two of them probably finding the chemistry to be good. UB brings back everyone but Graves (who had a disappointing Sr year) and adds 2 outside shooters who are both physically strong and 4th/5th year college guys to address their primary weakness last season-consistent 3 point shooting. There's also signs that the league is scheduling up with partial non-conf schedules showing more games against P6 and top mid major leagues.
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