STrib blog: Should Joey King start for Oto Osenieks?

[BleedGopher]

per the STrib:

Maybe a flip-flop would give the Gophers some minor improvement in the production of their power forward spot. Maybe it wouldn’t. Addressing the subject, Pitino said the power forward is the only real position where he’s considered a switch. But as of now, any advantage gained is not notable enough for Pitino to lay down the hammer on the subject, something he says can be damaging for players, mentally.

“In today’s world, starting is so important to the media and it just becomes a big deal, so that if it’s unnecessary to switch it, I’m not going to switch it,” he said. “Like if I started Mo over Elliott, it would be a big story – I understand that. I don’t want it to hurt their confidence and their self esteem. So if it’s not necessary, I’d rather just stick with it because I think everybody else is comfortable with it.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/240113941.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

per the STrib:

Maybe a flip-flop would give the Gophers some minor improvement in the production of their power forward spot. Maybe it wouldn’t. Addressing the subject, Pitino said the power forward is the only real position where he’s considered a switch. But as of now, any advantage gained is not notable enough for Pitino to lay down the hammer on the subject, something he says can be damaging for players, mentally.

“In today’s world, starting is so important to the media and it just becomes a big deal, so that if it’s unnecessary to switch it, I’m not going to switch it,” he said. “Like if I started Mo over Elliott, it would be a big story – I understand that. I don’t want it to hurt their confidence and their self esteem. So if it’s not necessary, I’d rather just stick with it because I think everybody else is comfortable with it.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/240113941.html

Go Gophers!!

I understand the point in the bold. This is why I have often wondered if it would make sense to regularly change up starters based on whether someone is coming off of a strong game or a good week of practice. That way, when a coach makes a change, it is not a rare event and there is less of the "is Player X in Pitino's dog house?" factor in the media.

I think this would do a few things. First, it keeps your bench motivated and working hard because they know they have a fair shot of playing. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be where a starter in any sport is continuously churning out bad performances, and the guy behind him must feel like "jeez, how little does the coach think of me that I am not even getting a shot when the other guy is that bad".

Second, it would leave players less afraid to make mistakes when they do start. This may seem counterintuitive, but I feel like there is a lot of pressure for a struggling starter when he feels like his job might be in jeopardy and he could lose it never to get it back. He might be able to stay looser if/when he gets pulled if he knows he will get a fair shot of earning the job back so long as he works hard.

 

[tmvander]

I kind of like King off the bench personally. Like bleeds pointed out the bench isn't necessarily where your "worse" players are. People play different roles and I think King fits in nicely as a guy who can come in and be aggresive for the stretch he is in.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Oto averaging about 21 minutes a game. King around 18. 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

 

[jaymil]

Oto still isn't setting the world on fire but he has improved this year. I think confidence is the biggest change. If Pitino benches him, some of that confidence might go away. It's not like King has been a whole lot better anyways where you almost have to make a change. Keep it the same for now.

 

[MrAugustana]

per the STrib:

Maybe a flip-flop would give the Gophers some minor improvement in the production of their power forward spot. Maybe it wouldn’t. Addressing the subject, Pitino said the power forward is the only real position where he’s considered a switch. But as of now, any advantage gained is not notable enough for Pitino to lay down the hammer on the subject, something he says can be damaging for players, mentally.

“In today’s world, starting is so important to the media and it just becomes a big deal, so that if it’s unnecessary to switch it, I’m not going to switch it,” he said. “Like if I started Mo over Elliott, it would be a big story – I understand that. I don’t want it to hurt their confidence and their self esteem. So if it’s not necessary, I’d rather just stick with it because I think everybody else is comfortable with it.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/240113941.html

Go Gophers!!

Not necessarily a Gopher fan by any means, just enjoy checking out various message boards in the region. One question I have about Pitino's quote is what does that say to the guys who don't start? He talks about the perceived importance of starting, and I'd imagine it's just as true for some of the players as it is for the media he's referring to. So if you're a guy on the bench working your tail off every day, is it kind of a letdown to find out your odds of overtaking someone's starting spot are pretty slim (based on what Pitino is saying here)?

I know that, in a perfect world, every player would work his butt off and be perfectly satisfied with his situation (starter/non-starter, amount of minutes, etc.), but it's definitely not a perfect world. It seems interesting to me that Pitino would readily admit he doesn't really intend to switch the lineup unless it's "necessary," whatever that means. If I were coming off the bench, one of my main goals would be working my way up to a starting spot. Knowing that possibility probably wasn't much of an option would be a bummer.

Just a question I had. Like I said, I'm not a die-hard fan or anything, so feel free to dismiss this post. Just struck me as an interesting way to explain the situation.

 

[gopherlaney]

Not necessarily a Gopher fan by any means, just enjoy checking out various message boards in the region. One question I have about Pitino's quote is what does that say to the guys who don't start? He talks about the perceived importance of starting, and I'd imagine it's just as true for some of the players as it is for the media he's referring to. So if you're a guy on the bench working your tail off every day, is it kind of a letdown to find out your odds of overtaking someone's starting spot are pretty slim (based on what Pitino is saying here)?

I know that, in a perfect world, every player would work his butt off and be perfectly satisfied with his situation (starter/non-starter, amount of minutes, etc.), but it's definitely not a perfect world. It seems interesting to me that Pitino would readily admit he doesn't really intend to switch the lineup unless it's "necessary," whatever that means. If I were coming off the bench, one of my main goals would be working my way up to a starting spot. Knowing that possibility probably wasn't much of an option would be a bummer.

Just a question I had. Like I said, I'm not a die-hard fan or anything, so feel free to dismiss this post. Just struck me as an interesting way to explain the situation.

Pitino's point is that the team is getting the same production per minute from both guys. The risk/reward is too high to warrant a lineup change at the 4, and I completely agree with him. Both guys are hot and cold shooters, not very athletic, slow, and poor rebounders. Both work hard.

 

[bottlebass]

Pitino's point is that the team is getting the same production per minute from both guys. The risk/reward is too high to warrant a lineup change at the 4, and I completely agree with him. Both guys are hot and cold shooters, not very athletic, slow, and poor rebounders. Both work hard.

This sums it up. Pitino is doing the best job he can with the guys he has at for the 4 spot. I do think that if King would stop taking "poor" shots (highly contested or out of control/low percentage shots) he would move his way up in the line up to a starter but he seems to get too excited or out of control sometimes and forces bad shots when we don't need him to and this gets him in trouble with the coach. I guess maybe I'm biased though because I do think Oto is the worst "starter" I've seen in college basketball this year.. .yeah maybe an exaggeration but still, it hurts to watch him when he has the ball....

 

[gopherskynet]

King is an upgrade to Oto. Period. However, I agree that King has not been setting the hardwood ablaze and thus understand pitino's sentiments. Our 4 position is bad, plain and simple. But Oto, oh boy, he has improved since last year, but he is clearly out of his element when it comes to B1G opposition. Specifically in terms of decision making. Every time I think he is making strides he reminds of his true colors by making a bad mistake. I was at the Purdue game and he did something like, make a real nice put back only to foul a guy going away from the basket with little time on the shot clock on the next position. He makes the worst decisions on the ball out of anyone on the team that sees minutes, if he hasn't decided what he is going to do with the ball prior to receiving it, he freezes up and more often than not it results in a turnover. King is by no means a star, but I think other than set shots and maybe rebounding, by a hair. I think King has Oto beat. Though, this is the achilles heel of this team regardless if it is Joey or Oto starting.

 

[gopherlaney]

King is an upgrade to Oto. Period. However, I agree that King has not been setting the hardwood ablaze and thus understand pitino's sentiments. Our 4 position is bad, plain and simple. But Oto, oh boy, he has improved since last year, but he is clearly out of his element when it comes to B1G opposition. Specifically in terms of decision making. Every time I think he is making strides he reminds of his true colors by making a bad mistake. I was at the Purdue game and he did something like, make a real nice put back only to foul a guy going away from the basket with little time on the shot clock on the next position. He makes the worst decisions on the ball out of anyone on the team that sees minutes, if he hasn't decided what he is going to do with the ball prior to receiving it, he freezes up and more often than not it results in a turnover. King is by no means a star, but I think other than set shots and maybe rebounding, by a hair. I think King has Oto beat. Though, this is the achilles heel of this team regardless if it is Joey or Oto starting.

I agree that King seems to be more comfortable on the floor than Oto. Oto, Jamal Abu Shamala, Kevin Payton, and Travis Busch are my 4 least favorite Gophers of all time.


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[SelectionSunday]

I like King coming off the bench because I think he's more wired to score than Oto. Oto is the better all-around player IMO, so I have no issue with him starting over King.

 

[MadtownGopher]

Benching Oto would absolutely kill his psyche, he is that sort of player. We can't afford to do that right now because we need him and King playing at the highest possible level. Next year when we have Martin (and maybe another post player) we can send Oto to the bench.

 

[Jon]

Bigfoot coming off the bench as a replacement writer? <> His first blog will be on Moose and not about a Goose...

No really everything I write is made up... I have a dart board at home and that is how I pick scores...