Who will not start off of last year's squad?

[BigTime]

We've got to think M'Baye will take somebody's spot.

I think Cam or Fitz comes off the bench. If Cam hasn't improved his shot then I think it will him. I'm hoping it's Fitzgerald though as I think he can come off the bench and bring instant offense.

Thoughts?

 

[TheGimper]

I think from Day 1 M'baye will come off the bench. As the season progresses I undoubtedly assume he will make the starting line-up and replace Cam. Although, I agree, and would rather see Fitz come off the bench.

 

[campbest]

Fitz should be coming off the bench, I am a huge proponent of bringing a scorer off the bench and that is more what he brings to the table. If we are playing a team that is sticking to a 2-3 zone, his ability to hit those 10-15ft baseline jumpers in the short corner will be huge. Hitting those shots (and passing out of) will deter many teams from trying to zone if they start to key on M'Baye.

Until someone besides Pledger starts to shoot the three at a higher clip, think we may see a lot of zone thrown at us.

 

[soonernutt]

I think from Day 1 M'baye will come off the bench. As the season progresses I undoubtedly assume he will make the starting line-up and replace Cam. Although, I agree, and would rather see Fitz come off the bench.

I think it can only help us to have M'Baye pushing Cam for the starting spot. Cam is a guy with a world of athletic talent, but for whatever reason, hasn't been able to turn that into consistently great play. Maybe this will put a fire under under his butt.

Either way though, both will find their way on the court alot.

 

[ArdmoreSooner]

Completely based of last year you have to say Cam, he was very inconsistent. Who knows what has happened during the summer and preseason. Based on Kruger saying they really worked on M'Baye's perimeter game I think means they want to play him at the 3.

 

[globecode]

I think Cam showed last year that his production did not suffer when he came off the bench. I also think Fitz's production would not suffer if he came off the bench although there is no evidence to support that theory.

So for me it is one of those two but it doesn't really matter which, maybe it depends on who we are playing???

 

[WTSooner]

The only thing I don't like about moving Cam to the bench, is that, well, I really don't like what he brings off the bench. That, and it likely means that we have a bunch of similar guards/wings on the bench to start every game (Hornbeak/Cousins/Hield/Cam).

 

[campbest]

The only thing I don't like about moving Cam to the bench, is that, well, I really don't like what he brings off the bench. That, and it likely means that we have a bunch of similar guards/wings on the bench to start every game (Hornbeak/Cousins/Hield/Cam).

Exactly my premise. We would be a thin bench when it comes to size...Bennett is an unproven JUCO and Arent is Arent.

 

[garyeb2]

A good basketball team is better than the sum of it's parts. Last years starters were a fragile, flawed, underperforming bunch. As a team they were worse than the sum of their parts.

I know that the majority feel that bulking up the roster and improving the bench along with adding an athletic big in M'Baye will be the answer. I just think it is more complicated than that. I also think that Kruger will have the parts to put a pretty decent team on the court.

It won't be a couple of simple chess moves that gets the job done. It will be getting better performance from last years players or a deeper and more balanced rotation. Understanding that I am in the minority, I believe that going deeper more often will be the most likely route to improved performance.

 

[CoachTalk]

M'Baye will start, I assure you from Day 1. And would've last year as well. I think it almost has to be Cam, M'baye can play inside and out. Fitz's minutes will go down, with the addition of bennett. But he still will play a ton.

 

[BigTime]

A good basketball team is better than the sum of it's parts. Last years starters were a fragile, flawed, underperforming bunch. As a team they were worse than the sum of their parts.

I know that the majority feel that bulking up the roster and improving the bench along with adding an athletic big in M'Baye will be the answer. I just think it is more complicated than that. I also think that Kruger will have the parts to put a pretty decent team on the court.

It won't be a couple of simple chess moves that gets the job done. It will be getting better performance from last years players or a deeper and more balanced rotation. Understanding that I am in the minority, I believe that going deeper more often will be the most likely route to improved performance.

Micheal Scott would definitely drop a "that's what she said" to your last line.

I agree with you and I think most folks do as well. We are going to need more quality depth in order to win more games as evidenced by the fact that we were leading several of the Big 12 games and the cincy game well into the second half before falling apart.

Our differences may lie in how Coach Kruger will get the new guys involved. I posted my minutes prediction in another thread and think it will be pretty accurate.

The two most likely starting lineups would be:

Grooms
Pledger
Cam
Osby
M'Baye

Or

Grooms
Pledger
M'Baye
Osby
Fitzgerald