It may mean nothing or it may mean everything

[mu03eng]

Clearly I'm in desperate need of the season to start because I'm about to go down a deep rabbit hole.  I happened to go on the official Marquette basketball app and take a look at the roster.  Listed were the following players and their positions:

Sacar=G/F
Wally=G
Haanif=G
Hank=F
JjJ=G

So if G=1,2 and F=3,4.....no Wally or JjJ at the 3?  Or if G=1,2,3 and F=4 (Luke and Matt are listed as C) then only Sacar and Hank are playing the 4?  Are we running big line-ups?

Generally I think there will be a lot of fluidity to the roster, but the fact they bothered to make Sacar a G/F got the crazy wheels rolling.

Does this tell us anything?  Is this like assuming Stonehenge means something?  How do they size straight jackets?

Thoughts?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Clearly I'm in desperate need of the season to start because I'm about to go down a deep rabbit hole.  I happened to go on the official Marquette basketball app and take a look at the roster.  Listed were the following players and their positions:

Sacar=G/F
Wally=G
Haanif=G
Hank=F
JjJ=G

So if G=1,2 and F=3,4.....no Wally or JjJ at the 3?  Or if G=1,2,3 and F=4 (Luke and Matt are listed as C) then only Sacar and Hank are playing the 4?  Are we running big line-ups?

Generally I think there will be a lot of fluidity to the roster, but the fact they bothered to make Sacar a G/F got the crazy wheels rolling.

Does this tell us anything?  Is this like assuming Stonehenge means something?  How do they size straight jackets?

Thoughts?

I assume this doesn't tell us anything and that if Wojo wants to play a lineup with Wally at the 4, for example, he will do just that. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It tell us that Wojo views G as 1,2,3 and F as 4,5 and C as 5. Sacar is the backup 4.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Wonder why no heights are listed?

[mu03eng]

So what is the ideal line-up if Hank is out and Luke is in?  Who plays the 4?  Who plays the 3?

Who gets more minutes, Sacar or Wally?

[GGGG]

I think I am tired of people thinking that coaches slot players into the traditional 1-5 positions.  It is about filling roles and exploiting match-ups.  Sure each player has a position on the floor in the offense, but everyone will know where everyone needs to be.  So while you won't see Duane or JJJ playing the post, my guess is that if Wojo thinks MU can go small to its advantage, Henry can play the post and know exactly where he needs to be.

So don't worry too much about how positions are labelled.  It doesn't really matter.

[tower912]

So what is the ideal line-up if Hank is out and Luke is in?  Who plays the 4?  Who plays the 3?

Who gets more minutes, Sacar or Wally?

Who understands their role better and plays better defense?    One of the weaknesses of this team is that there is no one in the 6'7 to 6'9 range.     When Henry sits, MU will have little choice but to play small.    Who will best be able to defend the opposing 4?   Does Sandy's 25 extra pounds earn him time at the 4?  Or is that when Wojo throws some traps and some zone out there?   One of the many questions.

[GGGG]

Who understands their role better and plays better defense?    One of the weaknesses of this team is that there is no one in the 6'7 to 6'9 range.     When Henry sits, MU will have little choice but to play small.    Who will best be able to defend the opposing 4?   Does Sandy's 25 extra pounds earn him time at the 4?  Or is that when Wojo throws some traps and some zone out there?   One of the many questions.

Which is why I have been saying, even if HE comes back next year, there is a role for a guy like Willis on this team.

[MerrittsMustache]

I think I am tired of people thinking that coaches slot players into the traditional 1-5 positions.  It is about filling roles and exploiting match-ups.  Sure each player has a position on the floor in the offense, but everyone will know where everyone needs to be.  So while you won't see Duane or JJJ playing the post, my guess is that if Wojo thinks MU can go small to its advantage, Henry can play the post and know exactly where he needs to be.

So don't worry too much about how positions are labelled.  It doesn't really matter.

Exactly. Basketball has become a game where there are basically only 3 positions:  point guard, post, wing. And even those are interchangeable at times.

[Lennys Tap]

Exactly. Basketball has become a game where there are basically only 3 positions:  point guard, post, wing. And even those are interchangeable at times.

A point, a post and three switchables. Sounds about right.

[MUfan12]

I think I am tired of people thinking that coaches slot players into the traditional 1-5 positions. 

Fin.

[tower912]

A point, a post and three switchables. Sounds about right.

Why does that seem so familiar?

[mu03eng]

I guess my point was not to slot people into a number position, but more as a frame of reference to what players might play together.

If Hank and Luke both go to the bench, what does that line up look like(and does it ever happen)?

[tower912]

I guess my point was not to slot people into a number position, but more as a frame of reference to what players might play together.

If Hank and Luke both go to the bench, what does that line up look like(and does it ever happen)?

It will happen occasionally due to fouls and fatigue.     IMO, we then see Heldt, probably 3 of the 6'5-6 guys (Wally, Sandy, JJJ, Cheatham, Sacar) and Duane.

[MUfan12]

If Hank and Luke both go to the bench, what does that line up look like(and does it ever happen)?

In that scenario, defense will dictate what happens. Offensively, MU will play four out more often than not, as Henry will have license to roam.

Heldt goes in at center, and as you said either Sacar or Wally slide in at the 4 depending on the matchup.

[GGGG]

I just don't see many scenarios in which neither Henry nor Luke will be on the floor.  I think you are talking about early season tinkering, blow outs or grabbing 30 seconds of rest before a TV timeout.

[Marcus92]

Don't forget that Lazar played the 5 at just 6-foot-6. He was a matchup nightmare for opposing post players who couldn't defend out to the 3-point line. And he was a surprisingly good defender himself, even when giving up several inches (or more) in height.

If you've got a lineup stacked with talent and versatility, that's every coach's dream.

[tower912]

Don't forget that Lazar played the 5 at just 6-foot-6. He was a matchup nightmare for opposing post players who couldn't defend out to the 3-point line. And he was a surprisingly good defender himself, even when giving up several inches (or more) in height.

If you've got a lineup stacked with talent and versatility, that's every coach's dream.

And MU was quite successful with a front line of Butler and Crowder.   But the players have to be willing to put in the effort down low.   Lazar, Jimmy, and Jae were true warriors.   You can't assume that a 6'5 guy is going to succeed down low. 

[HoopsterBC]

If MU has defensive mis-matches you will probably see more zone than man.  MU's bigs are not really athletic or quick, team chemistry as you can tell has changed.
Jimmy, Jae, were true Warriors and athletic, the 3 bigs MU have are not.  Anim will have to play the 4 at times as there is no one else with bulk.  That is why Willis or a
player like him is important the following year.  MU right now does not have that athletic big. 

[GGGG]

I would never classify Jimmy or Jae as "bigs."  Fischer has four or five inches on both of them, and while he isn't as athletic as Jimmy or Jae, I think it a bit unfair to compare him to established NBA players. 

And I think Luke is plenty athletic enough to be a major college center. 

[jsglow]

Eng, don't you have a baby coming in about 15 minutes?  Chilax brother.

[HoopsterBC]

I would never classify Jimmy or Jae as "bigs."  Fischer has four or five inches on both of them, and while he isn't as athletic as Jimmy or Jae, I think it a bit unfair to compare him to established NBA players. 

And I think Luke is plenty athletic enough to be a major college center.

Never said they were bigs in the true sense, but they played big at the time for MU.  MU has really 3 bigs this year, but could you see these players guarding Jae,
or Lazar or Jimmy.  What a mis-match.

[tower912]

I really appreciated Jae more after the Pistons drafted Andre Drummond, I saw how he did against NBA centers, and I realized that Jae, all 6'5 of him, used to stymie Drummond. 

[GGGG]

Never said they were bigs in the true sense, but they played big at the time for MU.  MU has really 3 bigs this year, but could you see these players guarding Jae,
or Lazar or Jimmy.  What a mis-match.

You are asking if Luke, Matt or Henry could guard Lazar, Jae or Jimmy?

Well I haven't seen Henry play defense yet so I have no clue.  But Lazar, Jae and Jimmy were all NBA draft picks and Jae was the player of the year in the BE.  So many players would have trouble guarding them with much success.

Furthermore, why would you expect your centers to guard wing players? 

[wadesworld]

I would never classify Jimmy or Jae as "bigs."  Fischer has four or five inches on both of them, and while he isn't as athletic as Jimmy or Jae, I think it a bit unfair to compare him to established NBA players. 

And I think Luke is plenty athletic enough to be a major college center.

Yup.  If people saw Luke on the volleyball court for Germantown they would certainly not be saying he was unathletic.  Not as quick as Big East guards or wings?  Well, sure.  But considering he's a 6'11" big, I wouldn't expect him to be.  For his size he is a very athletic guy.