Open practice

[The Sultan]

Best way to do this is "Iraqi style"

Cody Hatt's over there getting out the waterboard...

[Uncle Rico]

Cody Hatt's over there getting out the waterboard...

Beats the idea that "running laps" on missed FTs is practicing pressure FTs

[Scoop Snoop]

Cody Hatt's over there getting out the waterboard...

Muggsy is a big fan of going "Full Medieval". Why not set up a rack?

Bonus-after a while on it, the players will be 2"-3" taller.

[barfolomew]

Just want to say that if Clark takes off this year, his bandwagon should be the Last Train to Clarksville^TM.

If it's not, then I wasted a lot of time and money at the patent office.

[The Sultan]

Muggsy is a big fan of going "Full Medieval". Why not set up a rack?

Bonus-after a while on it, the players will be 2"-3" taller.

Ah yes, full Spanish Inquisition. We can get rid of the bird and have Torquemada as our mascot.

[tower912]

Just want to say that if Clark takes off this year, his bandwagon should be the Last Train to Clarksville^TM.

If it's not, then I wasted a lot of time and money at the patent office.

Respect.  Gotta strive to make worthy puns for Josh, as the Clark bar is pretty high.

[Scoop Snoop]

Respect.  Gotta strive to make worthy puns for Josh, as the Clark bar is pretty high.

Instead of "Oshkosh, b' gosh", he could make some money selling "big boy" sized outfits of his own design-. "Oshkosh b' Josh."

I'm bored today.

[onepost]

It's not that I think Damarius's *ceiling* is the 6th-7th best player, just that in the afternoon I saw him it was more of the same: great defense, great length, decent shooting, little to no ball handling. Whereas Nolan is already more well-rounded and Phillips is actually showing YOY improvement (more muscle, athleticism, ball handling). Hence, 6th-7th best player.

The starting lineup as I see it is:
Nigel
Adrien
Minessale
Parham
Fru

But I could definitely see Damarius start at the 3 for defense and bring Minessale and Phillips off the bench for immediate offense. That's among the best "top 7's" in the Big East IMO. Then it's anyone's guess what Miletic, Walker, Egbuonu, Johnston, Clark do. You figure 2 of those round into shape as solid rotation pieces and that's really all you need.

I think we're a top 3 team in the Big East, a top 25 team throughout the season, and closer to a 4 seed than Dayton. Call me glass half full but when you have bankable Nigel, Royce, Fru to go with "one year better" Adrien, Michael, Minessale, Damarius...I'm very bullish on the season.

[Shooter McGavin]

Agreed onepost.  Stay healthy and should be fun.

[tower912]

Instead of "Oshkosh, b' gosh", he could make some money selling "big boy" sized outfits of his own design-. "Oshkosh b' Josh."

I'm bored today.

He becomes super physical...
Joshmosh b'gosh

[tower912]

IMO, MU has only 3 high major guards, one has to come off the bench.  Ergo, an actual SF starts at SF.

[mug644]

Shaka answering questions tonight. If interested, I will submit serious questions and see if he responds.

I've read the useful observations from folks who attended, but haven't seen any comments from Shaka, or if he actually had a press conference and/or responded to questions. Any updates from you?

[PointWarrior]

but can we beat Dayton if we played them this year?

It's not that I think Damarius's *ceiling* is the 6th-7th best player, just that in the afternoon I saw him it was more of the same: great defense, great length, decent shooting, little to no ball handling. Whereas Nolan is already more well-rounded and Phillips is actually showing YOY improvement (more muscle, athleticism, ball handling). Hence, 6th-7th best player.

The starting lineup as I see it is:
Nigel
Adrien
Minessale
Parham
Fru

But I could definitely see Damarius start at the 3 for defense and bring Minessale and Phillips off the bench for immediate offense. That's among the best "top 7's" in the Big East IMO. Then it's anyone's guess what Miletic, Walker, Egbuonu, Johnston, Clark do. You figure 2 of those round into shape as solid rotation pieces and that's really all you need.

I think we're a top 3 team in the Big East, a top 25 team throughout the season, and closer to a 4 seed than Dayton. Call me glass half full but when you have bankable Nigel, Royce, Fru to go with "one year better" Adrien, Michael, Minessale, Damarius...I'm very bullish on the season.

[Captain Quette]

Agree w OP on starting 5. Thinking we need more offense and a 3rd ball handler on the wing. Thus, Mins over Owens. I also like then having Owens come off the bench as a sub. Gives us some size on perimeter.

Would Phillips be a suitable replacement for Parham at the 4 as PF? Thanks

[JakeBarnes]

Agree w OP on starting 5. Thinking we need more offense and a 3rd ball handler on the wing. Thus, Mins over Owens. I also like then having Owens come off the bench as a sub. Gives us some size on perimeter.

Would Phillips be a suitable replacement for Parham at the 4 as PF? Thanks

Not sure he has enough bulk to guard a power-style 4. If it's more of a shooting wing, maybe--could help him from a speed of defense perspective compared to facing a guard, who I dont think he could keep in front of him.

[JoanofArcMascot]

Minessale might be one of the five best players on the roster, but I have him coming off the bench since he might be only one of three guards in the rotation. Will get starter's minutes.
My starting five:
PG: James.
2G: Stevens.
SF: Phillips.
PF: Parham
C: Fru
6th: Minessale
7th: Owens (PF and SF backup.)
8th: Clark
9th: Johnston

[Captain Quette]

Curious why we would want our 3rd ball handler on the bench to start. If to have a sub, we could rotate the top 3 and then close the game or sub w top 3 ball handlers. Starting w top 3 ball handlers, likely captures our best starting 5 and allows us to get off to the best start in games.

[tower912]

More size and athleticism, for one.  To establish a solid rotation for two.

IMO, it makes zero sense, if a team only has 3 high major guards, to start all 3, particularly when there are an abundance of talented wings.  All 3 will play starters minutes.   Balance the rotation, always have a fresh guard to bring off the bench.

[Captain Quette]

Tower. That makes a lot of sense. My only thought would be to start our best 5, whoever that is. Three amigos come to mind under this premise as to starting 3 ball handlers.

Watching Owens play last year, he is very athletic w size and able to cover any type of wing player. He has attributes.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

More size and athleticism, for one.  To establish a solid rotation for two.

IMO, it makes zero sense, if a team only has 3 high major guards, to start all 3, particularly when there are an abundance of talented wings.  All 3 will play starters minutes.  Balance the rotation, always have a fresh guard to bring off the bench.

Yeah, I think this makes sense.  I was initially thinking that Minessale was likely going to start, however, if he is essentially also the back-up PG, it could make more sense for him to be our 6th man while still playing starter minutes.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[tower912]

Tower. That makes a lot of sense. My only thought would be to start our best 5, whoever that is. Three amigos come to mind under this premise as to starting 3 ball handlers.

Watching Owens play last year, he is very athletic w size and able to cover any type of wing player. He has attributes.

I understand that reasoning.  I look at it as balancing the rotation in order to have our best 5 for that particular game with their minutes managed going into the last 4 minutes of a game.   AND, not getting caught in a situation where all 3 are gassed or have picked up early fouls.

[MU82]

The best situation IMHO would be if either Owens or Phillips earns the starting 3 spot with several months of outstanding work leading up to the season opener. (Emphasis on earns.)

That would give us the most athletic starting lineup possible, and it would let Minessale come off the bench to back up either the 1, 2 or 3 as soon as the situation dictates (foul trouble, a starter needs rest, change of pace, etc).

But while that would be my preference, I do hope that Minessale gets the starting assignment if he has obviously earned it.

[Shooter McGavin]

The best situation IMHO would be if either Owens or Phillips earns the starting 3 spot with several months of outstanding work leading up to the season opener. (Emphasis on earns.)

That would give us the most athletic starting lineup possible, and it would let Minessale come off the bench to back up either the 1, 2 or 3 as soon as the situation dictates (foul trouble, a starter needs rest, change of pace, etc).

But while that would be my preference, I do hope that Minessale gets the starting assignment if he has obviously earned it.

I like your and Tower's best case scenario.  Shaka subs early, liberally and often.  I don't suspect Minessale will have a problem with it either.  As others have said he will get plenty of playing time as the third guard. 

[Captain Quette]

Having Phillips progress to where he gives us positive minutes would be very beneficial. Especially if we have 1 of Mins or Owens off the bench as well. 2 very good depth pieces, which is an improvement versus last year. I was at the DePaul game in Chicago last year, we were gassed and beaten down in 2nd H.

Now as to a true front court sub or our 3rd sub, not sure we know the answer. An important issue to track. Need 8 to play in my mind.