Jake Thomas at Arizona State: Sit 'em or Bench 'em?

[NersEllenson]

I didn't say Derrick Wilson is the answer. I'm saying Dawson is not the answer at this time either, otherwise Buzz would be playing him more. And it can get worse if Dawson can't play defense.

I wouldn't make this assumption.  As I wrote...Buzz is loyal....and many coaches will give their vets every chance to win a position.  If he doesn't, he runs the risk of creating cancers within the team.  Not just with Derrick...but Jake, Todd, Jamil....if all of a sudden he gives huge minutes to JJJ, Deonte, Steve T.  

By continuing to play the vets....and if they can't right the ship....Buzz has some cred to say hey Derrick, Jake, Jamil, Todd - I gave you guys a good and fair shake to win the majority of minutes...but let's be real, the results haven't been there.  I need to give the young guns a chance.

I'm not worried about Mayo at all - he'll be fine all year, and think Jamil will get things righted.  But Derrick and Jake are most at risk...and in Derrick's case - the results likely won't be worse and you begin to develop a player with a higher ceiling (Dawson) for the future.

[MUSF]

Jake needs the start and he needs the minutes and the team needs him.  His D is outstanding. 

I wouldn't classify his D as "outstanding". He rarely gets caught out of position, but his on ball D ability against athletic guards/wings is still questionable. We'll see how much he has improved in this area when he consistently faces better athletes.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

All im saying is that even I can hit 40% from 3 if im wide open with my feet set but that doesnt mean I should be playing for MU. We have better options then jake.

[MerrittsMustache]

All im saying is that even I can hit 40% from 3 if im wide open with my feet set but that doesnt mean I should be playing for MU. We have better options then jake.

No, you couldn't.

[brewcity77]

All im saying is that even I can hit 40% from 3 if im wide open with my feet set but that doesnt mean I should be playing for MU. We have better options then jake.

Why didn't you walk on? If Dylan Flood could make it, surely you could too.

[MUSF]

All im saying is that even I can hit 40% from 3 if im wide open with my feet set but that doesnt mean I should be playing for MU. We have better options then jake.

I would bet my life savings that you couldn't do this in a D1 college bball game.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Why didn't you walk on? If Dylan Flood could make it, surely you could too.

Youre missing my point, yes I can hit 3s but everything else I do is god awful. All im saying is Jake is too much of a liability elsewhere to play as much as he does.

[4everwarriors]

I'll see your life savin's and raise you double your life savin'.

[brewcity77]

Youre missing my point, yes I can hit 3s but everything else I do is god awful. All im saying is Jake is too much of a liability elsewhere to play as much as he does.

But what's the alternative? Where are these better options you are talking about? It starts on the defensive end, and Jake has been good there. Jajuan looks lost on defense and when given a chance hasn't made much impact on offense. Mayo's getting more minutes than Jake right now. Do you want Juan to play down? Should Ahmed enroll a year early?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

But what's the alternative? Where are these better options you are talking about? It starts on the defensive end, and Jake has been good there. Jajuan looks lost on defense and when given a chance hasn't made much impact on offense. Mayo's getting more minutes than Jake right now. Do you want Juan to play down? Should Ahmed enroll a year early?

I would love to see Juan play the 2/3. I think hes a much more natural perimeter player then post player. JJJ is difficult to assess. I would like to see him play more but he has shown nothing besides that 2nd half against grambling st.

[brewcity77]

I would love to see Juan play the 2/3. I think hes a much more natural perimeter player then post player. JJJ is difficult to assess. I would like to see him play more but he has shown nothing besides that 2nd half against grambling st.

The problem with JJJ is defense. As much a liability as everyone says Derrick is on offense, JJJ is even more of a liability on defense. That's fine, he's a freshman and it will come with time, but he's certainly not ready now to defend someone like Jahii Carson.

[icheights]

I like Thomas when he is making 3's.  I don't like Thomas when he is missing 3's. 

This.

[swoopem]

Jake sucks, start the Toddfather and go from there. There are plenty of options and all of them are better than Jake

[GooooMarquette]

Jamil - PG (Derrick backup)
Todd - SG (Jake backup)
Juan - SF (Deonte backup)
Steve - PF (Deonte/Davante backups)
Chris - C (Davante backup)

Give JJJ and Dawson spot minutes, and move them into the rotation as they prove they're ready for it.

I have been a strong supporter of Derrick, but I think it's time to see what Jamil could do with regular PG minutes.  I have been a strong opponent of Jake starting from the beginning, and think it's time to see what Todd could do as a starter.  Not ready to throw either under the bus in favor of the frosh...but I think it's time to see what Jamil and Todd could do as the starting backcourt.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Jamil - PG (Derrick backup)
Todd - SG (Jake backup)
Juan - SF (Deonte backup)
Steve - PF (Deonte/Davante backups)
Chris - C (Davante backup)

Give JJJ and Dawson spot minutes, and move them into the rotation as they prove they're ready for it.

I have been a strong supporter of Derrick, but I think it's time to see what Jamil could do with regular PG minutes.  I have been a strong opponent of Jake starting from the beginning, and think it's time to see what Todd could do as a starter.  Not ready to throw either under the bus in favor of the frosh...but I think it's time to see what Jamil and Todd could do as the starting backcourt.

I think this is the wrong game to experiment with this lineup. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Jake absolutely needs to start at ASU.

The reason our offense is floundering is because we have no outside shooters. Defense pack the middle against us so it is nearly impossible for us to penetrate or work the post. We can't get the paint touches that are crucial to our success. The counter to this? Make three point shots.

Like it or not (I know I don't), Jake has been our best 3 point shooter so far this season. He leads the team in 3PM (5) and 3P% (27.8% god that hurts to look at). So if you don't start Jake, teams pack the middle even more because guess what, his replacement will be an even worse shooter than he is.

I realize that historically J Wilson, Mayo, and Anderson have been better shooters. I also realize that Burton and JJJ have been heralded as great shooters, but until they show other teams that this season, they have no reason to guard the perimeter.

Start Jake, let him shoot his threes, hopefully he finds an even more confident stroke. If someone else can get hot too, great. If someone starts shooting better than him, than bench Jake and start that player.

Not sure who y'all expect to be better than Jake IN THIS ROLE. No one else is hitting shots.

Oh and the kid is one of the better defenders on the team. On a team currently with a top 5 defense.

[Sunbelt15]

Bench him. Give time to JJJ.