Start your best 5 Ben.

[CentralGopher]

Okay, that's this Sunday lol

Yes it is. Time for experimenting is over. Play your best and sub minimal minutes for those that don’t deserve meaningful minutes.

 

[Gophs24]

I like the talent on this team and think they have some great potential. However, it has become apparent that we need better (and more) guard play to maximize that potential. Looking forward I LOVE the talent we have but...we need more guards. For 2023-2024 there are several unknowns---will all/some/none of Garcia, Battle, Ihnen, and Fox be on the roster? If they all come back, do we have any scholarships available or are we 'full'?

can add TT & Cooper to that list as well. there was talk right when cooper committed on whether he was going to stay for 2 years.

regardless....we are currently full but will have roster movement at the end of the year

 

[Otis]

Not sure what to do with Fox and Ihnen if Battle and Garcia return next year.

Pg: Cooper/Christie
Sg: Henley/Carrington
Sf: Battle/JoJ/Ihnen
PF: Garcia/Payne/Betts
C: Evans/Fox/Thompson

What would be the ideal starting 5? I’m forecasting the following:
Cooper
Henley
Battle
Payne
Evans

Before you hammer me for benching Garcia, look at the production between Payne and Garcia. I’d argue PP is the better PF for the B1G. Rebounding and defense is King at that position and we don’t need another hoister of poor 3’s.

I also wonder if JoJ May be better than Battle by then, but let’s not bench the preseason B1G selection just yet.

Evans automatically improves the defense by a large amount, so he gets the nod over Fox.

Just don’t see any minutes for Ihnen. These freshmen look good and I don’t see an opening.

Where will Betts fit in? Logjam of SFs.

I expect TT will transfer and one other SF will bail as well.

It’s a good problem to have depth but the starting five needs to separate.

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

Not sure what to do with Fox and Ihnen if Battle and Garcia return next year.

Pg: Cooper/Christie
Sg: Henley/Carrington
Sf: Battle/JoJ/Ihnen
PF: Garcia/Payne/Betts
C: Evans/Fox/Thompson

What would be the ideal starting 5? I’m forecasting the following:
Cooper
Henley
Battle
Payne
Evans

Before you hammer me for benching Garcia, look at the production between Payne and Garcia. I’d argue PP is the better PF for the B1G. Rebounding and defense is King at that position and we don’t need another hoister of poor 3’s.

I also wonder if JoJ May be better than Battle by then, but let’s not bench the preseason B1G selection just yet.

Evans automatically improves the defense by a large amount, so he gets the nod over Fox.

Just don’t see any minutes for Ihnen. These freshmen look good and I don’t see an opening.

Where will Betts fit in? Logjam of SFs.

I expect TT will transfer and one other SF will bail as well.

It’s a good problem to have depth but the starting five needs to separate.

I'm not big on Henley (made it known), but Battle is too slow to play a SF, he needs to play the 4 (since we rely so much on his offense). Fox is not a center (isn't he like 6'8" and not that thick - he would get killed).

Next Year:
Hopefully a transfer portal road runner / Cooper
Christie (at 6'6" I assume he will not be quick enough to be an elite PG) / Carrington
JOJ / Henley / Thompson (he plays like a SF and is mobile)
Battle / Garcia / Payne / Fox / (even JOJ in a small ball lineup)
Evans / Payne / Garcia

Gophers have problems by having so many duplications on the roster (bigs who do the same thing). This line would hopefully get some space and pace. Evans would anchor the defense and Battle could go back to work offensively against slower PFs. Cooper, Carrington, Garcia and Payne would be good depth off the bench with Payne playing 25+ minutes or more between the PF C position.

In all reality, no minutes for Fox or Ilhnen

*noticed I forgot about Betts*

 

[bga1]

I'm not big on Henley (made it known), but Battle is too slow to play a SF, he needs to play the 4 (since we rely so much on his offense). Fox is not a center (isn't he like 6'8" and not that thick - he would get killed).

Next Year:
Hopefully a transfer portal road runner / Cooper
Christie (at 6'6" I assume he will not be quick enough to be an elite PG) / Carrington
JOJ / Henley / Thompson (he plays like a SF and is mobile)
Battle / Garcia / Payne / Fox / (even JOJ in a small ball lineup)
Evans / Payne / Garcia

Gophers have problems by having so many duplications on the roster (bigs who do the same thing). This line would hopefully get some space and pace. Evans would anchor the defense and Battle could go back to work offensively against slower PFs. Cooper, Carrington, Garcia and Payne would be good depth off the bench with Payne playing 25+ minutes or more between the PF C position.

In all reality, no minutes for Fox or Ilhnen

*noticed I forgot about Betts*

There is no lineup that Payne doesn't start in next year. Ben thinks Christie will be a great PG- better than Holloman.

 

[PhiloVance]

I'm not big on Henley (made it known), but Battle is too slow to play a SF, he needs to play the 4 (since we rely so much on his offense). Fox is not a center (isn't he like 6'8" and not that thick - he would get killed).

Next Year:
Hopefully a transfer portal road runner / Cooper
Christie (at 6'6" I assume he will not be quick enough to be an elite PG) / Carrington
JOJ / Henley / Thompson (he plays like a SF and is mobile)
Battle / Garcia / Payne / Fox / (even JOJ in a small ball lineup)
Evans / Payne / Garcia

Gophers have problems by having so many duplications on the roster (bigs who do the same thing). This line would hopefully get some space and pace. Evans would anchor the defense and Battle could go back to work offensively against slower PFs. Cooper, Carrington, Garcia and Payne would be good depth off the bench with Payne playing 25+ minutes or more between the PF C position.

In all reality, no minutes for Fox or Ilhnen

*noticed I forgot about Betts*

Would you have Braun at shooting guard?

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

Would you have Braun at shooting guard?

I don’t know the name

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

There is no lineup that Payne doesn't start in next year. Ben thinks Christie will be a great PG- better than Holloman.

Well, hate to break it to Ben, he is wrong. It would be like finding a needle in the haystack to be 6’6” and have enough speed to do that.

I’ve watched multiple games of his on YouTube now and he doesn’t even bring it up the floor in high school.

 

[PhiloVance]

I don’t know the name

Time to move her to the men's team.

 

[bga1]

Well, hate to break it to Ben, he is wrong. It would be like finding a needle in the haystack to be 6’6” and have enough speed to do that.

I’ve watched multiple games of his on YouTube now and he doesn’t even bring it up the floor in high school.

OK. I'm just saying what I heard. I'd love to see a 6-2 kid with speed and handles come here as well.

 

[GopherBlood666]

The post game wrap on GI made some good points. A lot of the issues in last night's game came from our more inexperienced players (turnovers, missed assignments, etc...) Does best 5 = best 5 at taking care of ball at this point? This was Ben's strategy last year so...

Samuels, Cooper, Ramberg, Battle, Garcia OR Samuels, Cooper, Battle, Garcia, Thompson

We would probably be a step slower than most teams, but if we aren't getting crazy with our schemes on D and take care of the ball, it could be beneficial. Still plenty of minutes to go around for the freshman. I'm just grasping at straws at this point.