What is this team’s best starting 5?

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Otis

Otis

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Some of the best coaches I’ve ever known have all said the same thing. Start your best 5 and design the style of play to suit their strengths and hide their limitations.

So, who should be starting?

My take of who is currently available:

Pg: Asuma - stat stuffing and efficient
Sg: Rigsby - until a shooter comes along
Sf: Ofukale - need his D, best place to hide on O.
Pf: Garcia - Duh
C: Edmonds - why not? We’ve seen Mitchell and what he provides.
6th man - Parker Fox excels here!

This all changes when they get healthy.

Asuma
Mike Mitchell
Odukale
Garcia
Edmonds
Fox

Would also like to see Edmonds, Garcia and Fox on the floor at the same time with Mitchell and Asuma handling the top.
 

We don't know how the two guys who are out will perform once they return but I agree with your assessment. I agree that Odukale should remain in the starting lineup regardless of the identity of the remaining two starting guards. If you look at Odukale's career statistics, you'll see that he has been offensively challenged throughout his career but he's played big minutes anyway. There are reasons for that.
 

Because Gophers best chance to win will be defense & mucking it up:

G Asuma
G Mitchell Jr.
C Edmonds
W Odukale (defense)
F Garcia

Fox (big)
Rigsby (offense)
Lu’Cye Patterson (third G)

Spot minutes as needed for anyone else.
 


SelectionSunday said:
Because Gophers best chance to win will be defense & mucking it up:

G Asuma
G Mitchell Jr.
C Edmonds
W Odukale (defense)
F Garcia

Fox (big)
Rigsby (offense)
Lu’Cye Patterson (third G)

Spot minutes as needed for anyone else.
Click to expand...

I'd work Edmonds into that rotation consistently.

His length/activity/athleticism is needed in Big10 play down low to give any sort of a chance
 


sometimes, giving a bench player more minutes will reveal the reason why he was a bench player to begin with.

I'm not sure if Edmonds' production would hold up if he was playing 20+ minutes a night. I'm fine with splitting time between Edmonds and Frank Mitchell - or even going to a smaller lineup when the matchups allow.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
sometimes, giving a bench player more minutes will reveal the reason why he was a bench player to begin with.

I'm not sure if Edmonds' production would hold up if he was playing 20+ minutes a night. I'm fine with splitting time between Edmonds and Frank Mitchell - or even going to a smaller lineup when the matchups allow.
Click to expand...
Cochran's stats suggest he is a rebounding beast for a guard. I wonder if Ben has considered going small (as you said there) with Garcia, Odukale, Cochran, Mitchell and Asuma.... when Cochran returns?
 

Honestly, I really don't think a specific starting lineup with this team will ever make a difference in the outcome of the game. There are so many one dimensional athletes on this team that finding a winning combination is nearly impossible.
 

bga1 said:
Cochran's stats suggest he is a rebounding beast for a guard. I wonder if Ben has considered going small (as you said there) with Garcia, Odukale, Cochran, Mitchell and Asuma.... when Cochran returns?
Click to expand...
If the opposition has a 4 that Odukale can guard, I like this small lineup with 4 shooters (anything over 5 feet is an adventure for Odukale). The guard rotation will be the most interesting and important for this team moving forward.

If Cochran can guard and rebound like many think he can, and he shoots reasonably well, I still think this team can win a decent number of Big Ten games. The talent isn't there to do much better than 6-7 wins, but I think they'll get there. Defense counts, and these guys play pretty good defense.

And a reminder to those who think this team is complete garbage: We still haven't seen arguably the best two players besides Garcia play this year, besides Mitchell's brief appearances so far.
 



Will be interesting when TC is healthy.

Mitchell
Garcia
Okudale
Asuma
Edmonds(FM just a half step behind....always... he's slow)
 

FinnGopher said:
Honestly, I really don't think a specific starting lineup with this team will ever make a difference in the outcome of the game. There are so many one dimensional athletes on this team that finding a winning combination is nearly impossible.
Click to expand...
THIS. Guys that can rebound but can't score. Others that play defense that can't score. Still others that can score but can't defend at their position. A few that are athletic but not skilled. A couple of guys that are strong with some skills but not quick enough. Quite a number that can't shoot free throws.
 


When Mitchell is back:

Asuma
M Mitchell
Patterson
Garcia
Edmonds

I know Patterson is not as good on defense as Okudale, but this team needs every ounce of offense it can get.
 



SelectionSunday said:
Because Gophers best chance to win will be defense & mucking it up:

G Asuma
G Mitchell Jr.
C Edmonds
W Odukale (defense)
F Garcia

Fox (big)
Rigsby (offense)
Lu’Cye Patterson (third G)

Spot minutes as needed for anyone else.
Click to expand...

I think this is probably our best chance. It's a massive problem that we didn't add more size and athleticism at the guard/wing spots. Odukale is the only guy who can even masquerade as a 3 on the roster. I'll be interested to see if Cochran's defensive skills in the MAC translate to this level. If they do he could push Rigsby or Patterson out. Any way you slice it, 4 of the top 7 are going to be 6'3 or shorter, yet we're not going to be very fast or skilled compared to the competition.
 

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