Needs Moving Forward

[The Sultan]

Pretty sure Chase would start.

[PGsHeroes32]

Good thing the season does not start tomorrow

My starting 5 as of today:
Norman
Killer Kam
Mitchell
Joplin
Hamilton

There is zero chance chase doesn't start if the current roster holds

[nyg]

Are they blocked by an All American playing 35-40 minutes?

If Shaka wants to play his All American 40 minutes a game, so be it. Then he can't complain players are beat up, tired, and can't shoot threes and slow on defense, because they are beat up, tired, etc....

Owens and Parham are not replacing or are blocked by the All American at his position anyway, so has no argument to that as to their playing time.  Norman did not play one minute in two NCAAT games and it is my thought that something is up with that.
I refuse to speculate and we will see what happens over next month. 

[Markusquette]

Good thing the season does not start tomorrow

My starting 5 as of today:
Norman
Killer Kam
Mitchell
Joplin
Hamilton

On top of swapping Tre for Chase, I have to believe Gold is starting 5 as of now also.

Kam
Stevie
Chase
Jolp
Gold

[Its DJOver]

I don't think anything has to be "up" for a rotation to get shortened in March.  I expect both Tre and Zaide will be key pieces off the bench next year.  I expect Owens and Parham to see more minutes than this years Freshman did, mostly because we are losing more this offseason than we did last offseason.

[lawdog77]

On top of swapping Tre for Chase, I have to believe Gold is starting 5 as of now also.

Kam
Stevie
Chase
Jolp
Gold

Need a point guard. I have also been hearing that Hamilton has been killing it in practice the past 2 months.

[79Warrior]

Need a point guard. I have also been hearing that Hamilton has been killing it in practice the past 2 months.

Have you ever heard of anyone not killing it in practice?

[Zog from Margo]

On top of swapping Tre for Chase, I have to believe Gold is starting 5 as of now also.

Kam
Stevie
Chase
Jolp
Gold

I'll be shocked if Gold does not start. His stats this year a very similar to Oso's first year under Shaka. Gold moves a lot better than some are saying. Gold will not pass as well as Oso and may not defend quite as well. He will rebound at least as well and will give MU the option to play five-out. Like Oso, he has to learn to defend without fouling.

[lawdog77]

Have you ever heard of anyone not killing it in practice?

Yes. Jolp

[nyg]

I'll be shocked if Gold does not start. His stats this year a very similar to Oso's first year under Shaka. Gold moves a lot better than some are saying. Gold will not pass as well as Oso and may not defend quite as well. He will rebound at least as well and will give MU the option to play five-out. Like Oso, he has to learn to defend without fouling.

Gold came in for Oso at the usual before 12 minute TV timeout against NCST and played in the paint. He got two fouls in one minute, I believe against Middlebrooks, not Burns.  He missed a three, of course outside the paint and then missed one of two free throws.  Oso came in three minutes later.  That being said, Gold will not last long in the paint on defense, he fouls way too often.  Let's see how Shaka figures it all out after potential roster reconstruction. 

[Its DJOver]

Gold came in for Oso at the usual before 12 minute TV timeout against NCST and played in the paint. He got two fouls in one minute, I believe against Middlebrooks, not Burns.  He missed a three, of course outside the paint and then missed one of two free throws.  Oso came in three minutes later.  That being said, Gold will not last long in the paint on defense, he fouls way too often.  Let's see how Shaka figures it all out after potential roster reconstruction.

Ben fouls per 40 as a Sophomore, 4.5. Oso fouls per 40 as a Sophomore, 4.4.   I think our defensive game plan will have to adjust with Ben as the primary big as he doesn't have the footspeed of Oso (less switching), but I see no reason Ben can't make the same leaps that Oso did on the defensive end.

[lawdog77]

Gold came in for Oso at the usual before 12 minute TV timeout against NCST and played in the paint. He got two fouls in one minute, I believe against Middlebrooks, not Burns.  He missed a three, of course outside the paint and then missed one of two free throws.  Oso came in three minutes later.  That being said, Gold will not last long in the paint on defense, he fouls way too often.  Let's see how Shaka figures it all out after potential roster reconstruction.

Heaven help us in the middle if Gold is our starting 5 man .He's a 4 (or a 3), IMO. If one thinks our rebounding is bad now.

[BCHoopster]

Gold might be a 20 minute player, since he is not quick enough, slow afoot which causes lots of fouls. Hope Hamilton is good enough to play the other 20.

[Its DJOver]

Heaven help us in the middle if Gold is our starting 5 man .He's a 4 (or a 3), IMO. If one thinks our rebounding is bad now.

Ben Gold total rebounding % as a Sophomore, 10.4.  Oso total rebounding % as a Sophomore, 9.9.

[tower912]

Gold with a healthy offseason will look different.   I choose to think about the 37 minutes he played against Creighton.   Shot poorly from 3.   Competed well against Kalkbrenner.    I am more confident in him as the starting center than I was two years ago with Oso.

[Its DJOver]

Gold might be a 20 minute player, since he is not quick enough, slow afoot which causes lots of fouls. Hope Hamilton is good enough to play the other 20.

Ben fouls per 40 as a Sophomore, 4.5. Oso fouls per 40 as a Sophomore, 4.4.   I think our defensive game plan will have to adjust with Ben as the primary big as he doesn't have the footspeed of Oso (less switching), but I see no reason Ben can't make the same leaps that Oso did on the defensive end.

[lawdog77]

Ben Gold total rebounding % as a Sophomore, 10.4.  Oso total rebounding % as a Sophomore, 9.9.

That still doesn't give me the warm fuzzies, we are not a good rebounding team. Those numbers don't change that

[lawdog77]

Gold with a healthy offseason will look different.   I choose to think about the 37 minutes he played against Creighton.   Shot poorly from 3.   Competed well against Kalkbrenner.    I am more confident in him as the starting center than I was two years ago with Oso.

I am usually a glass half full guy, but IMO, Gold is not a Center. He's a 4, he'll be a 4 at the next level.

[Its DJOver]

That still doesn't give me the warm fuzzies, we are not a good rebounding team. Those numbers don't change that

Less to do with personnel and more to do with scheme.  It appears to be the way Shaka wants to play.

[jfp61]

Gold might be a 20 minute player, since he is not quick enough, slow afoot which causes lots of fouls. Hope Hamilton is good enough to play the other 20.

Ben Gold has a high fouls per game fine...

Now lets think through why and look at the games where he has fouls let's use some common sense here.

1. He also didn't foul out once this year.
2. 2 of his 3 4 foul games came againist Edey and Clingnan. (I'm sorry a big had 14 fouls in four games againist the two best bigs in college basketball in a long time).
3. In his one game without Oso, he had 3 fouls in 37 minutes matchup with Kalkbrenner.

All that matters with fouls is how wisely you use them.

Do you put 7 footers on the line who can't make Ft's to prevent a layup. Are you commiting fouls to generate turnovers.

Otherwise, looking at fouls is kinda pointless.

[tower912]

Ben showed phenomenal help and trapping skills on defense this year.  Got better at staying with driving guards.   Most of the centers in the Big East bigger than he is are leaving.

[Its DJOver]

Ben Gold has a high fouls per game fine...

Now lets think through why and look at the games where he has fouls let's use some common sense here.

1. He also didn't foul out once this year.
2. 2 of his 3 4 foul games came againist Edey and Clingnan. (I'm sorry a big had 14 fouls in four games againist the two best bigs in college basketball in a long time).
3. In his one game without Oso, he had 3 fouls in 37 minutes matchup with Kalkbrenner.

All that matters with fouls is how wisely you use them.

Do you put 7 footers on the line who can't make Ft's to prevent a layup. Are you commiting fouls to generate turnovers.

Otherwise, looking at fouls is kinda pointless.

Further, if Ben knew that as long as Oso was healthy he was maxing out at around 25 mpg, so he could be more aggressive with his fouls.  If Shaka tells him that he has to be out there 30 mpg, I would be he could manage the appropriate aggressiveness levels.  It might mean giving up a basket or two rather than making someone earn the points at the line, but I think Shaka/Ben would take that trade-off.

[BCHoopster]

Ben showed phenomenal help and trapping skills on defense this year.  Got better at staying with driving guards.   Most of the centers in the Big East bigger than he is are leaving.

Ben at center would be fine if MU had 2 better forwards, Mitchell is totally undersized, yes plays strong, and Jop is Jop, not great at anything and sometimes is totally poor in all facets of the game

[tower912]

Then, it is a good thing that Ross is likely to play 'forward' next season.

[Viper]

I am usually a glass half full guy, but IMO, Gold is not a Center. He's a 4, he'll be a 4 at the next level.

...next level? Please enlighten.