The mystery of how to get playing time.

[michaeldm9]

I have always been a fan of JTIII and his coaching style. How there is a method to the madness. But for the life of me I can't understand how you get playing time. AB played well last nigh and Saturday. Over the years there have been players who have come in and gave valuable minutes only to languish on the bench afterwards. I remember Henry having a nice game in the Charleston Classic against NC State only to get very little minutes during Big East play and Vaughn was terrible down the stretch. And when Henry was allowed on the court his Senior year, he played well. Vee had a break out performances in the Big East Tournament Semi as well as some others game during his time at GTown only to get very little time. When PE Jr received little time in the first half of the season when he became eligible at GTown. Once he was allowed to play he was a vital cog to the final 4 Team.

Why very little Moses. What has he done not to demand at least 15 - 20 mins a game. Hopkins should be losing minutes based on his play.

Here is the question. How do you get playing time at GTown.

[westendhoya]

This should be good...

[nychoya3]

We see the players 2 to 4 hours a week on the court. He sees them 2 to 4 hours a day in practice. The latter matters as well. Obviously productivity in games matters, but he has more information about the abilities and skills of the players than we do such that playing whichever guy happened to make a few shots on some night isn't always the best way to go.

I think Moses should play more though, not because he has been so good but Hopkins has been really bad.

[Boz]

Too soon for a Greg Whittington joke?

[Buckets]

Well, III plays players who are capable of playing without regards to rotation size. Thankfully, by cosmic coincidence, Bowen went from being unready to play to capable of playing 16 minutes as soon as Whittington became ineligible.

[rosslynhoya]

Jan 17, 2013 15:05:31 GMT -5 Buckets said:

Thankfully, by cosmic coincidence, Bowen went from being unready to play to capable of playing 16 minutes as soon as Whittington became ineligible.

The script practically writes itself! Has anyone checked Bowen's shoes for flubber?

[SFHoya99]

Jan 17, 2013 15:05:31 GMT -5 Buckets said:

Well, III plays players who are capable of playing without regards to rotation size. Thankfully, by cosmic coincidence, Bowen went from being unready to play to capable of playing 16 minutes as soon as Whittington became ineligible.

So when Whitt comes back, you'd prefer Bowen continue playing 16 minutes and Whitt go down to 20 or so? Just because a player can function out there doesn't mean he always the best choice.

Also -- fact check on the original post. Henry Sims played about 4 minutes less in conference play in 2010-11, but that mostly had to do with a complete cratering of his offense as his assist rate dropped in half and his turnover rate went over 30%.

There are certainly players I wish III had played more, in a general sense. Well, really one, and that's Vee Sanford. There's no doubt he's conservative in granting PT and likes a shorter rotation than those on the board here.

And while there's always a balance between who's a better player and who's fresher, it always drives me nuts when people don't acknowledge that minutes and shots for players come at the expense of other players.

And that a quick hook isn't necessarily the best way to run a team.

[skyhoya]

when Whitt gets back? Not this season and if he doesn't get better grades this semester to bring his credits up, he will be in-eligible for the fall

[nychoya3]

JT3 specifically said that he could be back this season, so unless you know more than he does, let's wait and see.

This thread is just all kinds of fail and it's not going to get better from the looks of it.

[Eurostar]

If I remember correctly, JT3 had a quote at some point over the past few years saying that he would get comfortable with a given rotation and not necessarily look to expand. He was saying it as a self critique of sorts. I may be misremembering this - does anyone remember this quote?

That being said, I think the blowout against Pitt and the Whittington ordeal has definitely made him re-evaluate the lineup - this led to two comfortable wins, albeit against weaker opponents. Moses and Bowen have used the opportunity, in my opinion, to show real skill that should lead to more minutes.

[michaeldm9]

I think he is worse that Henry early in his career. Why is he so patient with Hopkins. He is averaging about 2 rebounds a game. Terrible.

Jan 17, 2013 14:52:06 GMT -5 nychoya3 said:

We see the players 2 to 4 hours a week on the court. He sees them 2 to 4 hours a day in practice. The latter matters as well. Obviously productivity in games matters, but he has more information about the abilities and skills of the players than we do such that playing whichever guy happened to make a few shots on some night isn't always the best way to go.

I think Moses should play more though, not because he has been so good but Hopkins has been really bad.

[lichoya68]

As the great coach of UCLA John Wooden . once said " the more i practice the luckier i get". HUSTLE in practice also probably counts. Also he said" be quick but dont hurry" and i think coach probably believes in that also. focused quickness that is with FOCUS. just a thought here about how to get playing time these guys are NOT AI AND CANT SAY its practice man ONLY PRACTICE. Go Hoyas i think coach knows what hes doing . ps bowen has been more focused on d and o and has been more quickier without harrying too.

[hoyainspirit]

Jan 17, 2013 16:37:26 GMT -5 skyhoya said:

when Whitt gets back? Not this season and if he doesn't get better grades this semester to bring his credits up, he will be in-eligible for the fall

And you know this exactly how?

[TBird41]

Jan 17, 2013 20:49:16 GMT -5 michaeldm9 said:

I think he is worse that Henry early in his career. Why is he so patient with Hopkins. He is averaging about 2 rebounds a game. Terrible.

Jan 17, 2013 14:52:06 GMT -5 nychoya3 said:

We see the players 2 to 4 hours a week on the court. He sees them 2 to 4 hours a day in practice. The latter matters as well. Obviously productivity in games matters, but he has more information about the abilities and skills of the players than we do such that playing whichever guy happened to make a few shots on some night isn't always the best way to go.

I think Moses should play more though, not because he has been so good but Hopkins has been really bad.

He's more patient with Hopkins because we don't have Greg Monroe or Julian Vaughn/Lubick to play center. We have Lubick and Moses. Henry would have probably gotten a lot more playing time if he had spent his sophomore year on this team instead of Greg Monroe's.

[bmartin]

Play good defense.

JTIII does not like to trade baskets. He has always seemed to prefer to matchup to get stops and then expect the offense to get enough good shots to produce a couple of runs that the defense can hold.

[Deleted]

Play D and look like you’ve been their before…

[strummer8526]

Jan 17, 2013 14:42:52 GMT -5 michaeldm9 said:

Here is the question. How do you get playing time at GTown.

Showtime jams in the waning 45 seconds of games against sub-200-ranked out-of-conference opponents.

[tashoya]

Jan 18, 2013 16:13:25 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

Jan 17, 2013 14:42:52 GMT -5 michaeldm9 said:

Here is the question. How do you get playing time at GTown.

Showtime jams in the waning 45 seconds of games against sub-200-ranked out-of-conference opponents.

Haha!!

[johnnysnowplow]

Jan 17, 2013 14:50:46 GMT -5 westendhoya said:

This should be good...

Hilarious. I'm glad the first one to respond realized what a disaster this thread would become.

[RDF]

Jan 18, 2013 13:54:54 GMT -5 bmartin said:

Play good defense.

JTIII does not like to trade baskets. He has always seemed to prefer to matchup to get stops and then expect the offense to get enough good shots to produce a couple of runs that the defense can hold.

Sometimes I wonder if JTIII likes anyone making baskets.