Lineups - just bizarre. Would like to see the contract.

[Jay Bee]

Late in the game, around a minute and half left.. who do we put out? Nigel, Chase, Zaide, Royce, Gold. No brainer. They should be the norm. And it was like, 'why tf is this an UNUSUAL LINEUP?'.

I don't get it. I don't want to 'attack' certain players, but I will say I'd be playing the obvious top 5 together a lot and I sure as hell would be getting Damarius run.

The lineup choices suck right now. WTF. It's slowly starting to skew in the favor of sanity, but it's too slow and not early on in games. It's bizarre.

[Newsdreams]

Late in the game, around a minute and half left.. who do we put out? Nigel, Chase, Zaide, Royce, Gold. No brainer. They should be the norm. And it was like, 'why tf is this an UNUSUAL LINEUP?'.

I don't get it. I don't want to 'attack' certain players, but I will say I'd be playing the obvious top 5 together a lot and I sure as hell would be getting Damarius run.

The lineup choices suck right now. WTF. It's slowly starting to skew in the favor of sanity, but it's too slow and not early on in games. It's bizarre.

Truly, it is your fault.

[Judge Smails]

Anyone wish we would have hired Porter?

[Elonsmusk]

Anyone wish we would have hired Porter?

No.

[Mu8891]

You'd be getting Damarius some run ??

Damarius Owens? lol

[panda]

You'd be getting Damarius some run ??

Damarius Owens? lol

We already suck. Owens showed/shows a high level of potential. Just let him work it out.

[PointWarrior]

Agreed, a lost season already, might as well develop players. 

We already suck. Owens showed/shows a high level of potential. Just let him work it out.

[Jay Bee]

You'd be getting Damarius some run ??

Damarius Owens? lol

Yes. 100%. Over the minutes we're currently giving? Hell yes. These minutes have been criminal.

[panda]

Yes. 100%. Over the minutes we're currently giving? Hell yes. These minutes have been criminal.

Caedin might break through if we play him 25 mins/game tho

[onepost]

Agreed, a lost season already, might as well develop players. 

Careful! Wades will assume you're the GM saying this.

[wadesworld]

Careful! Wades will assume you're the GM saying this.

Yes. If you're telling Shaka to pull redshirts in a lost season, you are definitely playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.

[1SE]

Chase and Nigel need 35 per for the rest of the season. Then distribute to guys who might still make a difference in 26-27. Ben/caedin/Royce minutes need to go way down. Get josh run to see if there's enough there to have hope for next year - at the very least maybe he can develop into a semi- competent rim protector. Any Tre minutes to Phillips and Stevens. Maybe some small lineups with Phillips at 4.

And really, I think the only even remotely plausible chance (and its pretty remote) at salvaging THIS season is major in-season development with the frosh. I could see Nigel continuing to progress to all BE 3rd or 2nd team - but would also take Stevens or Phillips (or both) jumping to top-tier 6 man level which seems pretty far fetched. Of course even then without a competent big man we're probably doomed.

But since PU and UW are now pretty much both must wins for any chance at all. If Chase and Nigel don't both play 37+ in each of those games I'd be shocked.

[Pakuni]

Now that it's I'd essentially a lost season, I wouldn't mind Owens get more opportunities. He's a mess right now, but at least there's the possibility of a high-major player there if he figures it out.

[We R Final Four]

Now that it's I'd essentially a lost season, I wouldn't mind Owens get more opportunities. He's a mess right now, but at least there's the possibility of a high-major player there if he figures it out.

So.......he can't figure it out in practice enough to see the floor in games.......but the scoop solution is get him out on the court and have him figure it out. Makes sense.

[Jay Bee]

#muMbb — LOST IN THE FIGHT, literally.

[Viper]

At this point I'd reduce Gold (12 minutes per) and park Hamilton. Go with Ross, James, Lowery, Steven's, Phillips, Clark for Hamilton, Parham, Jones & Norman are tbd's based on starter fatigue, game flow and foul trouble. Basically, Gold's minutes are cut, Hamilton and Owens on the pine. From where MU currently sits, it can't get much worse. Looking ahead, we'll beat Valpo. Wisconsin is a loss, but RED isn't to be feared. Purdue will be an asss kick. Painter will call off the dogs up 30 having eclipsed 100.

[79Warrior]

Now that it's I'd essentially a lost season, I wouldn't mind Owens get more opportunities. He's a mess right now, but at least there's the possibility of a high-major player there if he figures it out.

My guess is his practice efforts are not there. Shaka puts a lot of emphasis on that. It is not just about throwing guys in.

[Pakuni]

So.......he can't figure it out in practice enough to see the floor in games.......but the scoop solution is get him out on the court and have him figure it out. Makes sense.

How do you know he can't figure it out in practice?
Also ...

[We R Final Four]

If he did........wait for it......he might get on the floor duting games. Crazy idea, I know.

[21Jumpstreet]

So.......he can't figure it out in practice enough to see the floor in games.......but the scoop solution is get him out on the court and have him figure it out. Makes sense.

I hear what you're saying, but it seems like Shaka is using the games/season to figure it out. DO definitely lacks confidence which will only grow in a game. He is a superb athlete, tell him he's got four minutes to work his tail off, make mistakes, make plays, just to get after it.

[The Sultan]

I hear what you're saying, but it seems like Shaka is using the games/season to figure it out. DO definitely lacks confidence which will only grow in a game. He is a superb athlete, tell him he's got four minutes to work his tail off, make mistakes, make plays, just to get after it.

How do you know he "lacks confidence" and just isn't "bad at high level D1 basketball?"

Maybe he will put it together, but usually wishing for the bench guy to play more doesn't result in better play.

[Jay Bee]

I hear what you're saying, but it seems like Shaka is using the games/season to figure it out. DO definitely lacks confidence which will only grow in a game. He is a superb athlete, tell him he's got four minutes to work his tail off, make mistakes, make plays, just to get after it.

Yes. If you're going to put CH out there I don't see the reasoning for no DO. Must be some other stuff going on.

[We R Final Four]

I hear what you're saying, but it seems like Shaka is using the games/season to figure it out. DO definitely lacks confidence which will only grow in a game. He is a superb athlete, tell him he's got four minutes to work his tail off, make mistakes, make plays, just to get after it.

He got the message about making mistakes.

[21Jumpstreet]

How do you know he "lacks confidence" and just isn't "bad at high level D1 basketball?"

Maybe he will put it together, but usually wishing for the bench guy to play more doesn't result in better play.

Of course, I don't know. I am simply going off how he plays when he's on the floor, how he shoots when he's on the floor, and how tentative he is. Growing up an athlete and coaching young people for years, to me, and only me, he looks like he has a number of tools and is getting in his own head. Some guys never get there mentally, perhaps he is one, but he clearly has the ability to play D1 basketball.