Almost time to find out what we really are...

[MUMonster03]

With Luke finally eligible for our next game we should start to get a better idea of whether we actually have any tournament shot or not. I know it may take a few games for him to get fully integrated and that his first game is our last quality opponent until conference season but at least when he is on the floor we will no longer be able to use height as an excuse/reason for our struggles.

Personally, I hope I'm wrong, I don't see a lot changing except for more second chances for us and less for our opponents. We still need to find a way to be a more consistent shooting team and still need to improve on D even though the zone has been making us look better and most of all we need to improve our decision making.

[StillWarriors]

The ability to have some kind of inside-out game should be helpful as well. Duane and Carlino should be able to get some spot up looks.

It'll be interesting to see if Wojo tries to incorporate some man to man going forward now that we'll have at least a tall presence at the hoop to alter some shots if teams are able to penetrate. With the personnel, glaring deficiencies early in playing man and success of the zone, I would imagine we'll still rely heavily on zone.

Looking forward to seeing how this shakes out.

[BCHoopster]

Curious if he puts the 5 best players on the court right away:

Fisher
Anderson
Taylor
Carlino
Duane Wilson

[MUfan12]

Curious if he puts the 5 best players on the court right away:

Fisher
Anderson
Taylor
Carlino
Duane Wilson

If it's the 5 best players, Taylor isn't in that group.

[mu03eng]

Curious if he puts the 5 best players on the court right away:

Fisher
Anderson
Taylor
Carlino
Duane Wilson

I don't think Wojo puts Taylor and Fischer on the floor at the same time, especially early since (in a small sample size) Fischer has been foul prone.  I think it may be 5-8 minutes a game, but the vast majority will be them subbing for each other.  It's going to be a lot like everyone's obsession with OxTule, great in theory, maybe not so great in implementation.

[bilsu]

I suspect Fischer will be worked in slowly. Starting out backing up Taylor and starting by time the Big East season starts.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't think Wojo puts Taylor and Fischer on the floor at the same time, especially early since (in a small sample size) Fischer has been foul prone.  I think it may be 5-8 minutes a game, but the vast majority will be them subbing for each other.  It's going to be a lot like everyone's obsession with OxTule, great in theory, maybe not so great in implementation.

Agreed. Predicted starters:

Carlino
Duane
Derrick
Juan
Fischer

What I hope we get to because Luke's presence helps out certain players:

Carlino
Duane
Burton
Juan
Fischer

Taylor is first off the bench in both scenarios.

[mu03eng]

Carlino
Duane
Burton
Juan
Fischer

Taylor is first off the bench in both scenarios.

This is my most sincere hope as well.  I think Fischer will make all the difference with Burton.

[ATWizJr]

Agreed. Predicted starters:

Carlino
Duane
Derrick
Juan
Fischer

What I hope we get to because Luke's presence helps out certain players:

Carlino
Duane
Burton
Juan
Fischer

Taylor is first off the bench in both scenarios.

where do you see Sandy and JJJ fitting in?

[Aughnanure]

I suspect Fischer will be worked in slowly. Starting out backing up Taylor and starting by time the Big East season starts.

He starts right away if for no other reason than the opening tip.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

  where do you see Sandy and JJJ fitting in?

Predicted Bench:
Taylor
JjJ
Burton
Cohen
Dawson

Hopeful Bench:
Taylor
JjJ
Derrick
Cohen
Dawson

I give JjJ the minutes over Cohen right now because he is a sophomore. But Cohen has honestly been better IMHO. If this continues, JjJ will gravitate towards last off the bench status.

[mu03eng]

Predicted Bench:
Taylor
JjJ
Burton
Cohen
Dawson

Hopeful Bench:
Taylor
JjJ
Derrick
Cohen
Dawson

I give JjJ the minutes over Cohen right now because he is a sophomore. But Cohen has honestly been better IMHO. If this continues, JjJ will gravitate towards last off the bench status.

I think what you have there is a wish list, but I think reality is going to be Cohen gets more minutes than JjJ.  He's just played better and shown more upside.  I think JjJ loses the most with Fischer being available and Burton gains the most.  I also think Derrick is down to 20-25 minutes a game by mid-conference schedule.

[tower912]

Luke is going to help.   But, like everything else with this team, patience will be required.   And, you may have noticed that the Big East looks tougher than expected. 

[jsglow]

I don't think Wojo puts Taylor and Fischer on the floor at the same time, especially early since (in a small sample size) Fischer has been foul prone.  I think it may be 5-8 minutes a game, but the vast majority will be them subbing for each other.  It's going to be a lot like everyone's obsession with OxTule, great in theory, maybe not so great in implementation.

Completely agree.  I especially worry about Steve's ability to play the baseline wing in the zone.  Luke isn't going to magically play 32 minutes after a one year layoff.  20/20 (ish) will work just fine.  Actually, I'm hoping for a little 'unscouted look' against ASU with the buy games used by Wojo to figure it all out before conference.

[BCHoopster]

If it's the 5 best players, Taylor isn't in that group.

I put Taylor in only because they need the size, he has been mainly a disappointment much like JJJ and Burton so far.

[MU82]

I also think Derrick is down to 20-25 minutes a game by mid-conference schedule.

Have you seen anything indicated that Wojo is inclined to do this?

If we are in most games, Wojo no doubt will go for it. And it certainly seems that, in his mind, going for it includes having Derrick on the floor.

Only if we are struggling and having trouble staying in games -- which seemed likely a few weeks ago but now seems like less of a done deal -- would Wojo stop doing what he believes is working.

[jsglow]

I put Taylor in only because they need the size, he has been mainly a disappointment much like JJJ and Burton so far.

I personally am not terribly disappointed in Steve.  He's played out of position with no backup available.  Sure he missed a ton of no footers early on but I've seen a bit of a spark the last few games.  And against big Frank, I believe he did the best he could have possibly done including a couple of nice inside out passes where both Juan and Derrick failed to pull the 3 trigger in rhythm.  He's also starting to move very nicely without the ball.  

[mu-rara]

I personally am not terribly disappointed in Steve.  He's played out of position with no backup available.  Sure he missed a ton of no footers early on but I've seen a bit of a spark the last few games.  And against big Frank, I believe he did the best he could have possibly done including a couple of nice inside out passes where both Juan and Derrick failed to pull the 3 trigger in rhythm.  He's also starting to move very nicely without the ball.  

I'm with you Glow. 

I think Teve benefits having Luke on the court with him.  Not more than 10-12 minutes per game, and not right away.

[mu03eng]

Have you seen anything indicated that Wojo is inclined to do this?

If we are in most games, Wojo no doubt will go for it. And it certainly seems that, in his mind, going for it includes having Derrick on the floor.

Only if we are struggling and having trouble staying in games -- which seemed likely a few weeks ago but now seems like less of a done deal -- would Wojo stop doing what he believes is working.

Wojo hasn't shown it no, but I think it's because he hasn't had an option <ducks as objects are thrown>

Without Fischer a 3 guard line-up is just a thing we have to do.  With Fischer we can go to a 2 guard line-up and play Cohen and Burton at the 3 meaning Derrick doesn't have to play huge minutes, especially as Cohen and Burton improve.

Derrick will be in there for ball handling purposes if we are against a pressing team as Carlino and Duane haven't quite proven themselves yet IMHO

[Lennys Tap]

Wojo hasn't shown it no, but I think it's because he hasn't had an option <ducks as objects are thrown>

Without Fischer a 3 guard line-up is just a thing we have to do.  With Fischer we can go to a 2 guard line-up and play Cohen and Burton at the 3 meaning Derrick doesn't have to play huge minutes, especially as Cohen and Burton improve.

Derrick will be in there for ball handling purposes if we are against a pressing team as Carlino and Duane haven't quite proven themselves yet IMHO

Last year Deonte always had either Ox or Chris in the game with him and sometime Jamil too. with only Steve or Juan in there with him he just gets swallowed up. Another big will help.

[GGGG]

Wojo hasn't shown it no, but I think it's because he hasn't had an option <ducks as objects are thrown>

Without Fischer a 3 guard line-up is just a thing we have to do.  With Fischer we can go to a 2 guard line-up and play Cohen and Burton at the 3 meaning Derrick doesn't have to play huge minutes, especially as Cohen and Burton improve.

Derrick will be in there for ball handling purposes if we are against a pressing team as Carlino and Duane haven't quite proven themselves yet IMHO

I just think the math is pretty simple.  If Luke gets 20 mpg, those 20 minutes have to come from somewhere right?

Are the top scorers, Duane and Carlino, going to get less?  Doubtful.  I also doubt that Deonte is going to get less than the 16 mpg he is playing now.

So that leaves Taylor, Juan, Derrick and Sandy.  If you take five mpg off each of those guys, that get's Derrick right in that 20-25 mpg sweet spot that may here have been talking about.

[Golden Avalanche]

I personally am not terribly disappointed in Steve.  He's played out of position with no backup available.  Sure he missed a ton of no footers early on but I've seen a bit of a spark the last few games.  And against big Frank, I believe he did the best he could have possibly done including a couple of nice inside out passes where both Juan and Derrick failed to pull the 3 trigger in rhythm.  He's also starting to move very nicely without the ball.  

Understatement there. Taylor has left eight points off the board in nearly every match this season. His positional awareness near the hoop is close to the worst I've ever seen from someone at the DI level.

Whether he ever had the goods to succeed is debatable but the injuries/mental trashing his first two seasons have certainly set him down a path of bad habits he can't quite break. Fischer becoming eligible may be the last chance he has to show he can be even a teensy bit effective.

[GGGG]

Understatement there. Taylor has left eight points off the board in nearly every match this season. His positional awareness near the hoop is close to the worst I've ever seen from someone at the DI level.

Whether he ever had the goods to succeed is debatable but the injuries/mental trashing his first two seasons have certainly set him down a path of bad habits he can't quite break. Fischer becoming eligible may be the last chance he has to show he can be even a teensy bit effective.

Yeah, unfortunately I have come to the conclusion that as a junior, Steve is who he is.  He's a not-overly-athletic big man who doesn't have the "old school" moves that a lot of similar players have.  (Davante.)  He can hit a mid-range jumper and can get hot, so the position change is probably going to help. 

But I have come to the conclusion that he was probably a little overrated coming out of high school due to the talent around him, and the knee injury took even more out of his game.  That doesn't mean he isn't valuable and can't play a big role moving forward however.  Our expectations may just need to be readjusted.

[brandx]

I just think the math is pretty simple.  If Luke gets 20 mpg, those 20 minutes have to come from somewhere right?

Are the top scorers, Duane and Carlino, going to get less?  Doubtful.  I also doubt that Deonte is going to get less than the 16 mpg he is playing now.

So that leaves Taylor, Juan, Derrick and Sandy.  If you take five mpg off each of those guys, that get's Derrick right in that 20-25 mpg sweet spot that may here have been talking about.

I don't think we see Luke, Steve and Juan on the floor together (except maybe for defensive purposes on specific possessions). So after a couple games to get acclimated, I think we see each being around 25 minutes per game out of 80 available (depending on foul trouble and effectiveness). We may see a few minutes for Deonte at the '4', but again only in certain situations.

[Lennys Tap]

Whether he ever had the goods to succeed is debatable but the injuries/mental trashing his first two seasons have certainly set him down a path of bad habits he can't quite break.

WTF? The guy misses a bunch of lay ups because (in your mind, anyway) the coach was mean to him? That's quite a stretch.