Starting Lineup (Day 1)

[CoachTalk]

1. Cousins
2. Buddy
3. Cam
4. Spangler
5. Bennett

Jelon first guy off the bench.

 

[garyeb2]

1. Cousins
2. Buddy
3. Cam
4. Spangler
5. Bennett

Jelon first guy off the bench.

That is exactly how I felt about it. But, after considering the opinions of some thoughtful posters, I've started to get a little wobbly on that lineup.

I'm starting to come around to the idea that Kruger may go small and that Kruger might make an early call to go with Woodard. So, until I can see how things shake out when practices start I'll go with the following.

Woodard
Hornbeak
Buddy
Cam
Spangler

If it works that way, I would have Cousins backing up two positions and getting starter minutes. And Bennett backing up both Spangler and Cam and getting near starter minutes. Unless Booker comes along quicker than usual I would guess him to be an every game player but with some what limited minutes.

 

[AdaSooner]

Je'lon may be the best all-around guard on our roster. I can't see him coming off of the bench after starting most of the games last season.

To start the season, I think it will be:

Cousins
Hornbeak
Hield
Spangler
Bennett/Clark

I wouldn't be surprised to see LK go small with Clark in the lineup in place of Bennett to give us a quicker, more athletic team with better on-the-ball defense. I also think that Woodard will beat out Cousins at the point before the season is too far along, and it could happen from the get-go if Jordan is healthy.

 

[WTSooner]

What I'm fairly certain about is that Hornbeak, Hield, and Spangler will start. I have no idea who wins the pg battle between Woodard/Cousins. Woodard's health might factor in there. And while I originally thought Bennett was suppose to be good enough to start rather easily along side Spangler, I do realize that Cam has a chance to beat him out for the starting spot inside.

The difficult thing in predicting what LK will do, is that I don't think last year he necessarily was interested in starting the 5 best players, or at times, even the best player at each spot. I think he tried to fit the pieces together so that the bench could come in as a unit almost, and function alone. That meant having some experience/talent start the game on the bench. I don't know if Kruger will do that every year, or if it was a 1 or 2 year deal because of the roster. That makes it hard to predict, IMO. I also expect there to be changes in the lineup throughout the year as guys get better/worse. LK showed he wasn't afraid to mix things up.

 

[CoachTalk]

From what I know, they want Jelon to be that spark off the bench. I know its old news but cam will be improved and has become the leader of this team.

 

[WTSooner]

From what I know, they want Jelon to be that spark off the bench.

Seems odd to me to set a starting lineup that way, but that is what I alluded to above. Hard to predict a starting lineup if LK is going to intentionally start a guy on the bench to boost the second unit. Much easier to predict the lineup if the best players at each spot start.

 

[garyeb2]

From what I know, they want Jelon to be that spark off the bench. I know its old news but cam will be improved and has become the leader of this team.

If your information is accurate, and there is no reason to question it. Your projected starting line up is perfectly logical. After Buddy finally got his defensive assignments down, he moved in as a starter and Hornbeak came off the bench. In your scenario I would project Hornbeak backing up both Buddy and Cam and getting starter minutes. Also, I would expect the two platoon mass substitution project to end. Different roster-Different level of experienced reserves.

 

[BigTime]

Day 1

Woodard
Hornbeak
Hield
Cam
Spangler

 

[Max Power]

Day 1

Woodard
Hornbeak
Hield
Cam
Spangler

+1

 

[nikebasketball]

Cousins/woodward splitting 20 min each game
Hornbeak
Buddy
Cam
Spangler

 

[AdaSooner]

I think we have essentially identified the top seven players, with Bennett as a possibility, but likely in the eighth spot in our rotation.

While nothing will surprise me when the season starts this fall, I believe Booker could be in the mix, providing he can defend at a high level and knock down shots down from the perimeter on a consistent basis. The biggest question mark I have is if our backcourt players can shoot a decent percentage from deep? If Booker proves he's that man, I think he has a chance of getting quality minutes at some point of the season.

Yes, I realize that's quite a challenge for a kid who has never played a minute at the D-1 level. But with Pledger no longer around, who is going to keep opposing defenses honest by proving they can be a threat to score from the perimeter? Hornbeak, Hield, Clark and Woodard are certainly capable. But Booker is the only one on our roster who has the reputation of being a pure shooter.

 

[nikebasketball]

I think we have essentially identified the top seven players, with Bennett as a possibility, but likely in the eighth spot in our rotation.

While nothing will surprise me when the season starts this fall, I believe Booker could be in the mix, providing he can defend at a high level and knock down shots down from the perimeter on a consistent basis. The biggest question mark I have is if our backcourt players can shoot a decent percentage from deep? If Booker proves he's that man, I think he has a chance of getting quality minutes at some point of the season.

Yes, I realize that's quite a challenge for a kid who has never played a minute at the D-1 level. But with Pledger no longer around, who is going to keep opposing defenses honest by proving they can be a threat to score from the perimeter? Hornbeak, Hield, Clark and Woodard are certainly capable. But Booker is the only one on our roster who has the reputation of being a pure shooter.

Hornbeak sure did have a nice stroke last year and will get a lot more shots this year.Cousins might surprise everyone and be able to hit he was a late HS school bloomer and had his moments last year. Also the 3 the hardway are all gym rats and best friends. I think we can count on them.