Rotation at the four

[Marcus92]

Brendan Bailey has started all 18 games so far this season, playing almost exclusively at the four spot. When he's out of the game, Jamal Cain has taken his place. Here's a look at their raw combined numbers.

Note: Brendan and Jamal occasionally play together in the same lineup, which is why their total playing time is slightly more than 40 minutes per game.

Min: 770 (42.7 mpg)
2P: 45-80 (56.3%)
3P: 39-103 (37.9%)
FT: 22-35 (62.9%)
Reb: 176 (9.8 rpg)
Ast: 44 (2.4 apg)
Stl: 21 (1.2 spg)
Blk: 24 (1.3 bpg)
Pts: 229 (12.7 ppg)

I'll leave it others with real stat cred to calculate advanced stats. But both been playing quite efficiently: per KenPom, Brendan's ORtg is 118.8 to date, Jamal's is 111.8. Along with their defensive play, this appears to be a position of strength.

Also worth watching: Since conference play started, Brendan has earned the lion's share of minutes at the four (30.8 mpg to Jamal's 12 mpg). That should come as no surprise given Brendan's performance during this span -- averaging 9.8 ppg and 7.5 rpg with an ORtg of 125.5 through six Big East games.

[tower912]

Never a doubt.   It is the nature of college basketball that someone will fill a void after departures.   Brendan was/is clearly skilled. In the same class as Sam, also highly ranked.  With a year under his belt to shake off the rust, we are now seeing the abilities that led to that rank.
 

[WarriorFan]

Nice contributions this year and next year it's his team.
When (not if) Bailey has Markus's confidence he is going to be very very dangerous.

[Dr. Blackheart]

As we talked about in the other thread, all BB needs is higher usage (while maintaining his efficiency) to replace Sam's numbers. That's a big if but so far it's impressive.

[tower912]

To be clear, he has improved as the year has gone on.  Witness the air-balled finger roll against Wisconsin versus the dunks he now makes off that move.   But there was talent there

[BrewCity83]

Dawson Garcia is mostly a 4, no?  How's he and the other incoming recruits going to fit with Bailey and Cain next year?

[WhoaJoe2020]

Dawson Garcia is mostly a 4, no?  How's he and the other incoming recruits going to fit with Bailey and Cain next year?

Undoubtably, barring the addition of another big, one of the new guys will have to play some minutes at the 5 spot. This may be problematic at times on defense, but on offense could prove to be an advantage.

[JakeBarnes]

Dawson Garcia is mostly a 4, no?  How's he and the other incoming recruits going to fit with Bailey and Cain next year?

Not really certain there is a 1-4 on this team. There is a 5. Dawson really is like a 3/4 with how he plays. Bailey too. Sort of like switchables...but much taller.

[#UnleashSean]

Dawson Garcia is mostly a 4, no?  How's he and the other incoming recruits going to fit with Bailey and Cain next year?

It's 2020. The "4" no longer exists. There are usually 4 guys who can move and spread the floor and one big. The PF is a dying breed.

[tower912]

Bailey can coexist with Garcia.

[BrewCity83]

Yeah, I haven't seen Garcia play, but it sounds like he's a little bit taller version of Bailey with some of the same strengths.  I could see those two playing together as two tall wings that can rebound, drive, or shoot from three. 

How about Oso and Lewis--how will they fit in? 

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Bailey can play the 3, he is a future pro

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Bailey can play the 3, he is a future pro

Ehhh. I think he is potentially talented enough to get some time in the nba, but he's already 22.  He'll be 23 in June.  He's not going anywhere after this year.  He definitely isn't getting drafted at his age.  He may be able to work his way into the nba, but he's already wayyyyy behind the 8 ball due to his age.

Not a knock on the kid.  I think he has the chance to be silly good as an upperclassman, at the clear leader of this team next season. 

[BM1090]

Ehhh. I think he is potentially talented enough to get some time in the nba, but he's already 22.  He'll be 23 in June.  He's not going anywhere after this year.  He definitely isn't getting drafted at his age.  He may be able to work his way into the nba, but he's already wayyyyy behind the 8 ball due to his age.

Not a knock on the kid.  I think he has the chance to be silly good as an upperclassman, at the clear leader of this team next season.

Teams have been more likely to take an older, 4-5 year player in the 2nd round. Paschall comes to mind. That player needs to be able to contribute immediately, though. Nobody is taking a shot on a 23-24 year old project.

But a 23-24 year old that can give you immediate minutes? Definitely some 2nd round potential. Not sure if Bailey can reach that level, though.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Teams have been more likely to take an older, 4-5 year player in the 2nd round. Paschall comes to mind. That player needs to be able to contribute immediately, though. Nobody is taking a shot on a 23-24 year old project.

But a 23-24 year old that can give you immediate minutes? Definitely some 2nd round potential. Not sure if Bailey can reach that level, though.

Pascall is less than a year older than Brendan tho.  If BB plays 2 more years at Marquette, he's 25 years old on draft day in 2022.  Maybe if he is AA type player as a senior, someone uses one of the last couple picks on him, but like I said, he's already behind the 8 ball.