Current Roster, Positions, Depth

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Scottsdale Gopher

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Prior to the Palmer commitment, reporting indicated the Gophers were going to add one more NIL player and then a scholarship-only (walk-on) player. Assuming this is still the case, I thought I'd take a stab at displaying the current state of the roster. Obviously the playing style includes a lot of positional exchange, so I've used a primary and secondary column to display the players that play a position as their primary spot and the other positions they play.

Interested in what people think, particularly about who will lead the team in minutes at each spot. I think we will see a small-ball lineup with JCJ at the five and Durkin at the four periodically.

Position​
Primary​
Secondary​
Expected Minutes Leader​
CenterGrove, Kordel, MpoyiCrocker-JohnsonGrove?
Power ForwardCrocker-JohnsonGrove, Durkin, PalmerCrocker-Johnson
Small ForwardDurkin, Groves, Grady, AndersonPalmer, ShinholsterDurkin
Shooting GuardAsuma, Palmer, Shinholster, LorensonGrady, GrovesAsuma?
Point GuardEvans, TomesAsuma, LorensonEvans
 

Scottsdale Gopher said:
Prior to the Palmer commitment, reporting indicated the Gophers were going to add one more NIL player and then a scholarship-only (walk-on) player. Assuming this is still the case, I thought I'd take a stab at displaying the current state of the roster. Obviously the playing style includes a lot of positional exchange, so I've used a primary and secondary column to display the players that play a position as their primary spot and the other positions they play.

Interested in what people think, particularly about who will lead the team in minutes at each spot. I think we will see a small-ball lineup with JCJ at the five and Durkin at the four periodically.

Position​
Primary​
Secondary​
Expected Minutes Leader​
CenterGrove, Kordel, MpoyiCrocker-JohnsonGrove?
Power ForwardCrocker-JohnsonGrove, Durkin, PalmerCrocker-Johnson
Small ForwardDurkin, Groves, Grady, AndersonPalmer, ShinholsterDurkin
Shooting GuardAsuma, Palmer, Shinholster, LorensonGrady, GrovesAsuma?
Point GuardEvans, TomesAsuma, LorensonEvans
Click to expand...
It is pretty apparent that depth is really good everywhere but PF- if we need to play big. The guy who we will need to sweat out staying healthy the most is JCJ. At least if JCJ goes down, we have the option of still having size at the C position and using a shooter at the 4. This will be a very fun roster to watch develop as the season goes along. I expect the Niko system veterans to take the lead early and then we will watch who emerges. I would expect more balance next year. I doubt there is a 20 point scorer but more guys around the 8-12 point mark and a bunch of guys capable of going off on any given night. We should be able to play a little faster, rebound a little better and shoot a little better.
 

Scottsdale Gopher said:
Prior to the Palmer commitment, reporting indicated the Gophers were going to add one more NIL player and then a scholarship-only (walk-on) player. Assuming this is still the case, I thought I'd take a stab at displaying the current state of the roster. Obviously the playing style includes a lot of positional exchange, so I've used a primary and secondary column to display the players that play a position as their primary spot and the other positions they play.

Interested in what people think, particularly about who will lead the team in minutes at each spot. I think we will see a small-ball lineup with JCJ at the five and Durkin at the four periodically.

Position​
Primary​
Secondary​
Expected Minutes Leader​
CenterGrove, Kordel, MpoyiCrocker-JohnsonGrove?
Power ForwardCrocker-JohnsonGrove, Durkin, PalmerCrocker-Johnson
Small ForwardDurkin, Groves, Grady, AndersonPalmer, ShinholsterDurkin
Shooting GuardAsuma, Palmer, Shinholster, LorensonGrady, GrovesAsuma?
Point GuardEvans, TomesAsuma, LorensonEvans
Click to expand...
It is going to be really interesting to see how it shakes out.

I think Evans and Asuma are the starting back court but wouldn't shock me to see us role out a 3 guard lineup.

JCJ seems locked into a starter spot as well.

I would love to see Durkin off the bench in a 6th man role but to start the year at least I will be surprised if he isn't a starter.

Center spot will be most intriguing. In a perfect world Kordel is ready to start, Mpoyi can back him up and Grove can serve as a backup power forward behind JCJ. But that is asking an awful lot on two unproven guys. Niko seems to like a smaller more dynamic lineup and this roster should provide a lot of flexibility with guys who can play both Guard and Forward.

Lots of unknowns but starting from a much better position than last year and hopefully will be able to build on the success the very short handed and undersized team was able to produce last year. If some of the new faces like Groves and Grady reach their potential this could be a really fun team.
 


I think you could see situational starting lineups at times if everyone stays healthy.

But here is my shot at the starting lineup:

Evans
Asuma
Palmer ( he looks better than Durkin)
JCJ
Kordel ( establish defense to start the game)

6th man: Durkin
Then the G-men

Question is, who closes?

Evans
Asuma
Durkin
Palmer
JCJ

would be my bet, but would depend a lot on who has the hot hand.

Could we have a playing time problem? Probably!
 


Tha
Scottsdale Gopher said:
Prior to the Palmer commitment, reporting indicated the Gophers were going to add one more NIL player and then a scholarship-only (walk-on) player. Assuming this is still the case, I thought I'd take a stab at displaying the current state of the roster. Obviously the playing style includes a lot of positional exchange, so I've used a primary and secondary column to display the players that play a position as their primary spot and the other positions they play.

Interested in what people think, particularly about who will lead the team in minutes at each spot. I think we will see a small-ball lineup with JCJ at the five and Durkin at the four periodically.

Position​
Primary​
Secondary​
Expected Minutes Leader​
CenterGrove, Kordel, MpoyiCrocker-JohnsonGrove?
Power ForwardCrocker-JohnsonGrove, Durkin, PalmerCrocker-Johnson
Small ForwardDurkin, Groves, Grady, AndersonPalmer, ShinholsterDurkin
Shooting GuardAsuma, Palmer, Shinholster, LorensonGrady, GrovesAsuma?
Point GuardEvans, TomesAsuma, LorensonEvans
Click to expand...
 


My prediction is:

1. Evans
2. Asuma
3. Durkin
4. Palmer
5. JCJ

6. G. Grove
7. Winter
8. Tomes

9. N Groves
10. Kordel
11. Shinholster

12. Anderson (possible redshirt)
13. Myopi (probable redshirt)

Practice Players:
14. Lorenson
15. TBD
 

Otis said:
I think you could see situational starting lineups at times if everyone stays healthy.

But here is my shot at the starting lineup:

Evans
Asuma
Palmer ( he looks better than Durkin)
JCJ
Kordel ( establish defense to start the game)

6th man: Durkin
Then the G-men

Question is, who closes?

Evans
Asuma
Durkin
Palmer
JCJ

would be my bet, but would depend a lot on who has the hot hand.

Could we have a playing time problem? Probably!
Click to expand...

Durkin shot 57.6% / 41.7% / 89.5% after January 1. Niko has signed several players that overlap positions with him, but I would be surprised if he isn't in the top 4 of minutes played next season.
 



Ben would have nightmares trying to keep 13 guys happy...
 

howeda7 said:
My prediction is:

1. Evans
2. Asuma
3. Durkin
4. Palmer
5. JCJ

6. G. Grove
7. Winter
8. Tomes

9. N Groves
10. Kordel
11. Shinholster

12. Anderson (possible redshirt)
13. Myopi (probable redshirt)

Practice Players:
14. Lorenson
15. TBD
Click to expand...
That's an interesting lineup and I do think we will see that, but it is too small for the Big Ten to be a staple- it would leave us the same as last year. I see Tomes as a more likely redshirt than Anderson or Mpoyi and Grove, as admirable as his play was last year, will have to improve a lot to be the 6th guy.
Tomes can be groomed for the Evans slot the following year. To be honest, I really don't know why a coach would bother to redshirt anybody in this era. No one stays 4 years...so it would have to be the player's preference.

I think that Evans, Asuma, Palmer, JCJ, Kordel may be our lineup by conference season time.
That has Big Ten size to it.
Durkin would be amazing instant offense off the bench along with Groves, Grady and Anderson.
Grady and Kordel left Michigan to get big playing time- that had to be the draw here and I suspect they will get it.
It is all fun conjecture though and the puzzle will be solved by the players and how hard they work at getting better in the offseason.
 

bga1 said:
That's an interesting lineup and I do think we will see that, but it is too small for the Big Ten to be a staple- it would leave us the same as last year. I see Tomes as a more likely redshirt than Anderson or Mpoyi and Grove, as admirable as his play was last year, will have to improve a lot to be the 6th guy.
Tomes can be groomed for the Evans slot the following year. To be honest, I really don't know why a coach would bother to redshirt anybody in this era. No one stays 4 years...so it would have to be the player's preference.

I think that Evans, Asuma, Palmer, JCJ, Kordel may be our lineup by conference season time.
That has Big Ten size to it.
Durkin would be amazing instant offense off the bench along with Groves, Grady and Anderson.
Grady and Kordel left Michigan to get big playing time- that had to be the draw here and I suspect they will get it.
It is all fun conjecture though and the puzzle will be solved by the players and how hard they work at getting better in the offseason.
Click to expand...
They played their best basketball last year when JCJ was healthy and playing the 5. Niko seems to value having 5 guys who can shoot over having a true center.

I don't see Grayson or Kordel starting at center. I could see Kordel starting or at least playing a lot in certain games, but he seems too raw to be an every game starter.

I think Anderson might be a more polished player than Tomes, but we don't have a back-up PG besides him. And I don't think they'd want him to go from red-shirting to starting. The 3/4 spot is a lot more crowded.
 

howeda7 said:
My prediction is:

1. Evans
2. Asuma
3. Durkin
4. Palmer
5. JCJ

6. G. Grove
7. Winter
8. Tomes

9. N Groves
10. Kordel
11. Shinholster

12. Anderson (possible redshirt)
13. Myopi (probable redshirt)

Practice Players:
14. Lorenson
15. TBD
Click to expand...

There won't be any more redshirts after the May vote. All players will receive 5 to play 5, no medical RS, no traditional RS, etc.

Go Gophers!!
 





I'm guessing Groves and Grove off the bench. Possibly Durkin is off the bench like he was to start the season before all the injuries.

Starters: Evans, Asuma, Palmer, JCJ, Kordel.

Bench of Durkin and Grove with Groves/Shinholster/Winter/Anderson all contributing.

Tomes is a wildcard.
 

howeda7 said:
They played their best basketball last year when JCJ was healthy and playing the 5. Niko seems to value having 5 guys who can shoot over having a true center.

I don't see Grayson or Kordel starting at center. I could see Kordel starting or at least playing a lot in certain games, but he seems too raw to be an every game starter.

I think Anderson might be a more polished player than Tomes, but we don't have a back-up PG besides him. And I don't think they'd want him to go from red-shirting to starting. The 3/4 spot is a lot more crowded.
Click to expand...
Both Asuma and Evans will play the point. An injury to either puts Tomes into action.
 



Roland Brooks said:
The team is better with Durkin starting
Click to expand...
There is no doubt that Durkin is a key piece for next year but like others I feel like his best role is as a 6th man and not a starter. Let him come in when guys are starting to wear down some and maybe not closing out quite as fast giving him more open looks.
 


Roland Brooks said:
The team is better with Durkin starting
Click to expand...
That may be the case. BUT, if Durkin is the 6th man, it means we have a better team than we know today. Speaking from the known- Durkin starts. The hope is that someone is better and Durkin is a great 6th man who gives instant offense- meaning we are probably darn good.
 

Scottsdale Gopher said:
Prior to the Palmer commitment, reporting indicated the Gophers were going to add one more NIL player and then a scholarship-only (walk-on) player. Assuming this is still the case, I thought I'd take a stab at displaying the current state of the roster. Obviously the playing style includes a lot of positional exchange, so I've used a primary and secondary column to display the players that play a position as their primary spot and the other positions they play.

Interested in what people think, particularly about who will lead the team in minutes at each spot. I think we will see a small-ball lineup with JCJ at the five and Durkin at the four periodically.

Position​
Primary​
Secondary​
Expected Minutes Leader​
CenterGrove, Kordel, MpoyiCrocker-JohnsonGrove?
Power ForwardCrocker-JohnsonGrove, Durkin, PalmerCrocker-Johnson
Small ForwardDurkin, Groves, Grady, AndersonPalmer, ShinholsterDurkin
Shooting GuardAsuma, Palmer, Shinholster, LorensonGrady, GrovesAsuma?
Point GuardEvans, TomesAsuma, LorensonEvans
Click to expand...
I think you have it correct. The questions would be at Center (is Grayson Grove really our best option?) and the Guard positions (are Asuma and Evans, as a tandem, our best options?). I am going to go with YES on both but am also super intrigued as to what Grady might provide. He could easily be a starter by game 6 or 7
 


combes1 said:
No coach is going to keep 13 players happy, at least as far as playing time. No matter how much depth it seems like you have, almost all coaches will roll with a 8-9 man rotation.
Click to expand...
Confident we will play 8 or 9, if everybody is healthy. But, who doesn't play? And maybe, depending who we play, it's not the same 9...insert "bigs".

I think as much emphasis as was put on recruiting Grady and Groves they'll play more than most are suggesting. Grady is a big time recruit...he just didn't play at Michigan. He has the most potential to emulate Tyson. Groves has scoring potential, he works hard, he's physical, he's versatile ...I can't imagine he doesn't earn minutes.
But who sits? Just shoot me, I know...but I think Asuma's minutes are shortened.
Niko likes small...so come Big Ten time ... I think Evans is the point guard. Grady is your shooter.
Nolan Groves is the 3, Durkin is the 4 and JCJ is the 5.
Asuma and Palmer are 6th and 7th guys. Or we could flip flop Groves out for either of Asuma and Palmer starting. But those 7 guys play. No idea who the first 5 off the bench is but we need one of them likely...Grove, Kordel, or Myopi...but guessing only one.
So, that's 8...leaves two bigs sitting for total of 10 guys...Tomes, Anderson, Shinholster, Lorenson? round things out making 14 accounted for.
Anderson plays if he earns the 9th spot in the rotation.
 

Indiana Gopher said:
I think you have it correct. The questions would be at Center (is Grayson Grove really our best option?) and the Guard positions (are Asuma and Evans, as a tandem, our best options?). I am going to go with YES on both but am also super intrigued as to what Grady might provide. He could easily be a starter by game 6 or 7
Click to expand...

Grady probably the highest ceiling of anyone on our team. Grove from Orono also really high basketball IQ. We are going to have some very friendly competition on this roster to see who gets minutes
 

bga1 said:
That may be the case. BUT, if Durkin is the 6th man, it means we have a better team than we know today. Speaking from the known- Durkin starts. The hope is that someone is better and Durkin is a great 6th man who gives instant offense- meaning we are probably darn good.
Click to expand...
Durkin is probably the least athletic player on the team cashing a check.

I'd be shocked if he doesn't start due to familiarity in the system & his shooting, but the hope should be one of the younger, more athletic guys can displace him as the season goes on & he can move to the 6th man role he's probably better suited to.

A similar dynamic to Grove starting, with Kordel hopefully overtaking him at some point in the season.
 

combes1 said:
No coach is going to keep 13 players happy, at least as far as playing time. No matter how much depth it seems like you have, almost all coaches will roll with a 8-9 man rotation.
Click to expand...
I doubt any of the freshman get much run. If they do then it means they are playing way above expectations.
 

60's Guy said:
Confident we will play 8 or 9, if everybody is healthy. But, who doesn't play? And maybe, depending who we play, it's not the same 9...insert "bigs".

I think as much emphasis as was put on recruiting Grady and Groves they'll play more than most are suggesting. Grady is a big time recruit...he just didn't play at Michigan. He has the most potential to emulate Tyson. Groves has scoring potential, he works hard, he's physical, he's versatile ...I can't imagine he doesn't earn minutes.
But who sits? Just shoot me, I know...but I think Asuma's minutes are shortened.
Niko likes small...so come Big Ten time ... I think Evans is the point guard. Grady is your shooter.
Nolan Groves is the 3, Durkin is the 4 and JCJ is the 5.
Asuma and Palmer are 6th and 7th guys. Or we could flip flop Groves out for either of Asuma and Palmer starting. But those 7 guys play. No idea who the first 5 off the bench is but we need one of them likely...Grove, Kordel, or Myopi...but guessing only one.
So, that's 8...leaves two bigs sitting for total of 10 guys...Tomes, Anderson, Shinholster, Lorenson? round things out making 14 accounted for.
Anderson plays if he earns the 9th spot in the rotation.
Click to expand...
We’ll see, its hard to project. I think barring injury, Asuma will be a top 3 minutes guy on the team along with JCJ and probably Evans. He’s the only guard that’s proven anything at the high major level coming into this season. He made a big leap this past year, I think he’ll be our backcourt MVP.
 


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