Wait, who's starting for us this year?

[bostonhoya05]

OK, I'm a bit lost (call it off-season ignorance): who is starting for us come mid-November?

Obviously Hibbert, Wallace and Summers. And you'd have to think Sapp keeps his spot in the Starting 5.

But I've now heard two differing reports on the final spot:

Ewing or Freeman

Some think Ewing will get the spot early in the season while Freeman gets adjusted, but eventually we'll settle into Freeman with Ewing providing the energy off the bench.

I don't see much merit in that because I think it might screw with PEJr.'s confidence. Freeman seems to be getting a lot of pub with his summer play, so why not throw him right in the fire?

I guess, what do people think and/or is there a consensus on this that I am not understanding?

*************

On a side note, what's the guard rotation going to look like? Wallace, Sapp, Rivers, Wright. That's really more guards than we've worked in for some time.

We're all around deeper than we've been in years (add Macklin to the flurry of names I've mentioned so far), so I'm starting to get a little worried about how III is going to keep some of these guys engaged in games and happy on a regular basis...

[RDF]

bostonhoya05 said:

OK, I'm a bit lost (call it off-season ignorance): who is starting for us come mid-November?

Obviously Hibbert, Wallace and Summers. And you'd have to think Sapp keeps his spot in the Starting 5.

But I've now heard two differing reports on the final spot:

Ewing or Freeman

Some think Ewing will get the spot early in the season while Freeman gets adjusted, but eventually we'll settle into Freeman with Ewing providing the energy off the bench.

I don't see much merit in that because I think it might screw with PEJr.'s confidence. Freeman seems to be getting a lot of pub with his summer play, so why not throw him right in the fire?

I guess, what do people think and/or is there a consensus on this that I am not understanding?

*************

On a side note, what's the guard rotation going to look like? Wallace, Sapp, Rivers, Wright. That's really more guards than we've worked in for some time.

We're all around deeper than we've been in years (add Macklin to the flurry of names I've mentioned so far), so I'm starting to get a little worried about how III is going to keep some of these guys engaged in games and happy on a regular basis...

My guess is this team will go 9 deep and that's very manageable. The playing time is going to be EARNED--not given so just sit back and enjoy.

[hoyastrong]

While it has been discussed already at great length, I can summarize that the general consensus seemed to be that JTIII would go with the most experience he has in the BEGINNING of the season, being in the form of roy, j-wall, sapp, summers, and ewing.

After a couple of games, all bets are off and anyone's guess is valid because it depends entirely on performace in those first few games, a la Summers over Egerson last year or countless other examples.

In terms of gurads, you would have to imagine that wallace and sapp would be the go-to guys while rivers would be put in situations in need of his defensive prowess whereas wright would be put in perhaps when behind or in need of extra points due to his (supposed, havent seen him myself yet) sharpshooting accuracy.

Does someone maybe care to bump the thread that was going on this before?

[hoyastrong]

I should modify my previous statement to be labeled as simply ONE view on the matter. Consensus is a nonexsitent term on this board, haha ;D

[jacko]

I called it last year, but I was back in DC watching the Kenner games and it was pretty obvious that DaJuan was ready to play. This year I think a lot will depend on how the newbies adjust and how III wants to run the rotations (i.e. he might want to bring Pat off the bench even though he might deserve a starting spot). I think it's too close to call at this point and I'm all but certain, but I'd guess at this point:

Roy
Ewing
Summers
Wallace
Sapp

I think the experience will be key here, and that he'll bring Austin in first off the bench, then Vernon. After that, I think Wright and Rivers see a lot of minutes in the guard spots.

[lichoya68]

DONT FORGET TYLER JT3 SAID LAST YEAR HE WAS DUMB AND STUBBRON NOT TO USE HIM ALOT AS HES THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE TEAM GO HOYAS HOW DO YOU SPELL STUBBRON BY THE WAY GOHOYAS

[hoyastrong]

Stubbron like LeBron? Perhaps another lichoya innuendo?

[Boz]

Patrick Ewing Jr. doesn't strike me as one whose confidence is easily shaken.

(I really, really hate people like that, by the way.) ;D

[KHoyaNYC]

I like Ewing off the bench more. I hope he doesn't start.

[idhoya]

Austin

[nathanhm]

Don't forget about Macklin, I think he's got a better chance of starting over Freeman.

[HoyaLingus]

if vernon has picked up as much as reports suggest (at least, sans face mask) i could see he and austin sharing 6th man duties

[joey0403p]

Guys - there is no way Mac Attack starts at the beginning of the season. In fact I think we will see only a few times when both Mac and Hibbs are in the game at the same time (if at all). As for PE JR or Austin - your guess is as good as mine. But I wouldn't underestimate the issue of screwing with PE Jrs confidence / happiness if he is held out of the starting line up.

I'm not suggesting he should start or will / will not earn the starting spot but if we keep him as the 6th man then we better make sure he is happy. Remember he is a senior this year, probably one of the leaders on the team (given he is always talking and congradulating players etc) and if he percieves that he is under appreciated well that isn't good for anyone.

We've been so successful in recent years largely IMO because of our chemistry. I just don't want to upset the balance based on the potential one of our freshman has.

That all said - I have complete faith in JT III that he will navigate the situations aptly. And if it works out - I love having PE Jr come off the bench... but JT III hase to make sure it works first... otherwise we'll have an unhappy lunatic on our hands rather than a happy crazy man that runs all around the court doing everything. Which would you prefer.

[gujake]

I think Pat is the very clear favorite here. If Austin and Dajaun both start in the frontcourt, I think we get killed on the glass. Austin isn't a very good rebounder and Dajuan wouldn't be great either at the 4. But really, who knows. Playing time this year will be very interesting.

[DudeSlade]

I don't really understand this talk about Freeman starting. All the reports have said Pat has been the beast of Kenner and that Freeman looked disinterested at times (I know that's the Jeff Green summer league style, but still, if you want it as bad as Pat, I think JTIII will notice). Plus, Dajuan is not a great matchup at the 4, at least based on his play last year. He presents all sorts of problems at the 3. Go check out all the threads on Kenner and the small lineup, etc. There's lots of talk there about this stuff.

[mapei]

On Saturday it was Pat who looked like he was mailing it in, and Austin was either the best or second best (Wallace) player on the floor.

I suspect Pat or (less likely) Mack gets the start at the 4. Austin will sub for DaJuan.

I think it will be every interesting, and we have a lot of options to choose from. But I also think none of these guys is going to make us forget Jeff Green. I see talent, but nowhere near at his level in *any* of these guys.

[Coast2CoastHoya]

My beginning-of-season prediction (backups in parens):
PG - Wallace (Rivers)
SG - Sapp (Wright, Crawford - i don't have a feel for who will come in after Jesse yet)
SF - Summers (Freeman)
PF - Ewing (Macklin)
C - Hibbert (Macklin)

Reserves:
Wattad
Nikita

[mapei]

Sounds right to me, although I think the subs for the two guard spots are pretty fluid. We actually have four guys who can play point and maybe four who can play the two. So I can see situations where Wright comes in for Wallace and Rivers comes in for Sapp. But basically I think you got it right.

[SFHoya99]

dudeslade said:

I don't really understand this talk about Freeman starting. All the reports have said Pat has been the beast of Kenner and that Freeman looked disinterested at times (I know that's the Jeff Green summer league style, but still, if you want it as bad as Pat, I think JTIII will notice). Plus, Dajuan is not a great matchup at the 4, at least based on his play last year. He presents all sorts of problems at the 3. Go check out all the threads on Kenner and the small lineup, etc. There's lots of talk there about this stuff.

1. Kenner is not the same as NCAA D-I team basketball. Efficient, skilled players never look as good there as they really are. Big jumpers often look better in that setting

2. Thompson does not play people on how they "look." Jeff played "Sleepy" as well. Heck, Sleepy played Sleepy. Just because he isn't breaking ankles doesn't mean he doesn't help a team win.

3. DaJuan is not a great matchup at the 4? Given how little he posted up last year, one would think that his size advantage over threes would be less than his quickness advantage over fours. Jeff had a much better matchup against bigger men; I think DaJuan would at least on offense.

Defensively, I think he is big enough to bang. Only rebounding would be a concern for me.

4. Have you seen Freeman's Kenner numbers? He's getting to the line a ridiculous amount and nailing all his two point shots.

I'm not saying Freeman should start, but it is hardly cut and dry from the Kenner thread.

[SFHoya99]

My guess:

G: Wallace 30, Sapp 25, Wright 17, Rivers 8
SF: Summers 20, Freeman 18, Rivers 2
PF: Ewing 25, Summers 10, Macklin 5
C: Hibbert 27, Macklin 10, Ewing 3

Or something like that. I think we'll be good enough that no one players over 30 mpg for the season (but will in individual games). I love Rivers, but his time will depend heavily on his shot and Wrights' defense -- whichever one progresses more wins the time. Ewing for 28 minutes might be a risk and Macklin will see a lot of the difference, I think.