[Paint Touches] Thoughts on Open Scrimmage

[Milkshakes]

I think Kam Jones starts.  The more I think about it, I think the starters will be:

PG Kolek
G Mitchell
WG  K.Jones
F O-Max
F Oso

Bench

PG Sean Jones
WF Joplin
F Wrightsil
F Gold/Itejere

Wait & See
WG Ross

8 to 9 player rotation, depending on how much Gold/Itejere progress during the season.

I really hope Joplin is in the starting 5 over Mitchell.  I understand Stevie has grown and improved which I can’t wait to see.  I’m pulling for him. I still believe Joplin, K. Jones and Kolek are the most important pieces this year. 

[MuggsyB]

I really hope Joplin is in the starting 5 over Mitchell.  I understand Stevie has grown and improved which I can’t wait to see.  I’m pulling for him. I still believe Joplin, K. Jones and Kolek are the most important pieces this year.

It's about whether Joplin can defend.  If he can you may very well be right Hoops. 

[Milkshakes]

It’s also about weather Stevie can score.

[MuggsyB]

It’s also about weather Stevie can score.

100%.  I mentioned that in another thread.

[Jay Bee]

Kolek for some reason lost confidence with his shot last year and it wreaked havoc on his overall game.  If he can score in the10 pt ange consistently, and be around 50% efg, we'll be okay.

What do you mean by this?

30 game regular season… first 15…. 34.1% eFG%, 22.4% 3fg%…. Last 15… 47.0% and 34.6%…

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

What do you mean by this?

30 game regular season… first 15…. 34.1% eFG%, 22.4% 3fg%…. Last 15… 47.0% and 34.6%…

I didn't read Muggsy's post as saying he lost confidence midway through the season. I think he was saying he lost it for the entire season.

32 game season:
40.0% eFG, 28.1% 3P%

[MU82]

After our 9-1 streak (including 2 wins against Nova) had us in the national conversation, we limped home with a 3-6 finish. It wasn't Kolek's "fault" that we went 3-6 -- several others also struggled, and our defense/rebounding was poor -- but his inability to make opponents pay for daring him to score contributed to the team's lousy finish.

6 months from now, here's hoping we're talking about how a vastly improved Tyler Kolek led our vastly improved team to a strong finish, one that includes a multi-victory NCAA tournament run.

We Are Marquette!

[Goose]

82

I really did not go out of my way to mention the past. If you read my posts, I do not believe I have mentioned pre Shaka more than a couple of times since his arrival. My mention was really more of reference that a lot of coaches latch onto a player, and I believe Shaka did so with Kolek. I have zero interest in rehashing the Wojo era.

[MuggsyB]

I didn't read Muggsy's post as saying he lost confidence midway through the season. I think he was saying he lost it for the entire season.

32 game season:
40.0% eFG, 28.1% 3P%

Yes.  I'm pretty sure that's what Muggsy wrote.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Agree, Goose. A lot of Scoopers who hated on him last year seem to be in his corner this year - at least so far.

As long as he's improved his shooting.

[MU82]

82

I really did not go out of my way to mention the past. If you read my posts, I do not believe I have mentioned pre Shaka more than a couple of times since his arrival. My mention was really more of reference that a lot of coaches latch onto a player, and I believe Shaka did so with Kolek. I have zero interest in rehashing the Wojo era.

OK, then I misinterpreted what you said. We're on the same page -- we're both looking for very good things from Kolek, Shaka and the 2022-23 team.

[Elonsmusk]

I really hope Joplin is in the starting 5 over Mitchell.  I understand Stevie has grown and improved which I can’t wait to see.  I’m pulling for him. I still believe Joplin, K. Jones and Kolek are the most important pieces this year.

Only reason I think Joplin doesn't start is because Shaka prioritizes defense, AND we need some offensive punch coming off the bench.  Joplin at this stage of his career would seem to be a perfect 6th man.  Now if Kolek and Stevie haven't improved offensively, we may have no other choice than to put Joplin in the starting lineup in place of Stevie.

[BCHoopster]

I like starting the game with your best offensive players on the floor, then once you take a lead, bring i. Your best defenders to lock them down then, that’s if you get the lead

[MU82]

I like starting the game with your best offensive players on the floor, then once you take a lead, bring i. Your best defenders to lock them down then, that’s if you get the lead

Others (maybe even Shaka? we'll see soon enough) like starting the game with your best defensive players on the floor, then once you take a lead, bring in your best offensive players to blow open the game.

Personally, I don't think it has to be an either/or proposition.

[BCHoopster]

If you go up 10 or more, your putting pressure on the other team, they may fold, but if they try and back in the game quicker maybe the force them into bad shots,  cause the D is better, just different philosophies 

[tower912]

I like balance.   

[MU82]

If you go up 10 or more, your putting pressure on the other team, they may fold, but if they try and back in the game quicker maybe the force them into bad shots,  cause the D is better, just different philosophies

Can't you go up 10 by playing suffocating defense?

Look, I'm not advocating for either. Indeed, I don't think you need to make such a no-shades-of-gray choice.