Starting Lineup and PT

[Sweetlou10]

The qualifier is: Nate Oats is a phenomenal coach and way smarter than me. Okay, got that out of the way.

We have got to start rolling with the guys that give us the best chance to win from tip. I know I’m definitely a broken record, but there is zero reason to have a 10 man rotation on this team. It’s borderline insanity to have JQ on the bench for the first 4 minutes of every game. Equally questionable to have Primo in the starting lineup. We wonder why we’re getting off to slow starts? Because we’re playing with an arm tied behind our back until the first media TO.

Also, Juwan Gary needs to be one of the first guys off the bench. He’s earned it.

 

[BeastofBourbon]

JQ and Gary might be playing the best basketball on the team right now, and it is baffling neither of them are in the starting 5. I've said it before, I know Gary is a few inches smaller than Bruner, but seems to me he plays much bigger.

 

[frazor]

I think you still see a 10 man rotation because of the incomplete play of our bigs. Every game Oats has to use some combination of Reese, Bruner, Rojas, and Gary (even though he isn't a big) to do what ideally 2 guys could do. Which guy is shooting well tonight? Which guy is going to get 2 fouls in 45 seconds?

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

Primo doesn't need to start until he gets his confidence back. Offensively, JQ and Shaq have been carrying this team. Petty will chip in a couple of points if he's not too busy adjusting the band on his dreads. I am still having trouble with his missed wide open dunk.

 

[Jordan Harper]

JQ has played his best off the bench so I wouldn’t mess with what’s working right now. I’d start Ellis over Primo, but I understand they’re trying to get Primo going but Ellis offers a lot more on both ends right now. I like Gary and his energy, but he’s lost on the offensive end so it’s tough to trust him for more minutes.

 

[aggietider]

JQ has played his best off the bench so I wouldn’t mess with what’s working right now. I’d start Ellis over Primo, but I understand they’re trying to get Primo going but Ellis offers a lot more on both ends right now. I like Gary and his energy, but he’s lost on the offensive end so it’s tough to trust him for more minutes.

How lost can a guy be? We always have a guy standing in the dunkers spot. We shoot it really fast. We hardly run sets. Very little motion and movement. Not sure how you can get so lost in that.

 

[mtmax]

Agree Harper and Oats said as much yesterday. I think he likes Primo in the starting lineup to see if he is on from behind the 3 point line. He learns that quickly and knows if he needs to pull him out after first timeout break. Remember, we are only talking the first 4 minutes of the game before the timeout and lineup changes.

 

[Sweetlou10]

JQ has played his best off the bench so I wouldn’t mess with what’s working right now. I’d start Ellis over Primo, but I understand they’re trying to get Primo going but Ellis offers a lot more on both ends right now. I like Gary and his energy, but he’s lost on the offensive end so it’s tough to trust him for more minutes.

I would argue Gary sprints to every spot on the floor on offense and it actually keeps the defense off balance because guys are chasing him. He sets hard screens and grabs offensive boards at a higher rate than anyone. Regarding Q, he hasn’t started in 18 games. So, it’s hard to say whether or not he’d be as effective starting. It’s time to try. He’s our best offensive player

 

[TideFever]

We'll need more than 7 or so in the SEC tournament if we make it to Sunday. Maybe not so much in the NCAA where you get a day to rest and only play at most 2 games in 3 days.

I also suspect there's a recruiting angle in play here. Keep promising "everyone will get their chance" and then show it on a minutes played chart.

I have noticed though that for certain teams some guys just never see the court but against teams with a different setup that changes.

 

[budog]

I would argue Gary sprints to every spot on the floor on offense and it actually keeps the defense off balance because guys are chasing him. He sets hard screens and grabs offensive boards at a higher rate than anyone. Regarding Q, he hasn’t started in 18 games. So, it’s hard to say whether or not he’d be as effective starting. It’s time to try. He’s our best offensive player

I agree big time Lou, I did not realize that it had been 18 games since he started, but that even makes it more of a stretch to say that he is better off the bench (not saying anyone here says that, but I do hear it). I may be a little off here, but I would think that Quinerly basically went 3 years without seeing any live game action, so I could easily see it taking him 10-12 games for him to catch up with the game and get his bearings back. IMO we are much more talented than a Wisconsin or Loyola Chicago type team, but a slow start against a team like that if they are knocking down their 3’s we could be down 15-2 in 4 minutes and have to play catch up all game. As you said Oats knows much more than I, but JQ needs to start. Just my 2 cents!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!

 

[EugDan]

I personally like Gary & Ellis coming off of the bench as they bring quickness, energy and effort on Defense which typically translates in more tempo and somewhat better offense.

Rojas does bring some energy as he is active, but usually in a negative sense, although he does bring forth effort. The appropriate nickname for Rojas would be "Calamity James"

 

[pfaud001]

I would argue Gary sprints to every spot on the floor on offense and it actually keeps the defense off balance because guys are chasing him. He sets hard screens and grabs offensive boards at a higher rate than anyone. Regarding Q, he hasn’t started in 18 games. So, it’s hard to say whether or not he’d be as effective starting. It’s time to try. He’s our best offensive player

This guy is our best offensive player right now. I love Q, but Shack has been the heart and soul of the team in February.

 

[EugDan]

I agree big time Lou, I did not realize that it had been 18 games since he started, but that even makes it more of a stretch to say that he is better off the bench (not saying anyone here says that, but I do hear it). I may be a little off here, but I would think that Quinerly basically went 3 years without seeing any live game action, so I could easily see it taking him 10-12 games for him to catch up with the game and get his bearings back. IMO we are much more talented than a Wisconsin or Loyola Chicago type team, but a slow start against a team like that if they are knocking down their 3’s we could be down 15-2 in 4 minutes and have to play catch up all game. As you said Oats knows much more than I, but JQ needs to start. Just my 2 cents!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!

I think CNO brings JQ off of the bench because, if the 3's are falling or offense is flowing properly, no problem as JQ is a continuation of the same.

But if the O is stagnant, JQ off the bench tends to slow the offense down, as CNO wants paint touches, methodical multiple touches, and Iso drives to the rim.

 

[GOBAMA100]

Primo doesn't need to start until he gets his confidence back. Offensively, JQ and Shaq have been carrying this team. Petty will chip in a couple of points if he's not too busy adjusting the band on his dreads. I am still having trouble with his missed wide open dunk.

Awesome points lol . Watch basketball all weekend college and NBA and you will not see the rubber band adjustment . Wear a headband and all of a sudden he is knocking down 6 three pointers a game . I have faith we will fix our slow start and player rotation.

 

[Sweetlou10]

This guy is our best offensive player right now. I love Q, but Shack has been the heart and soul of the team in February.

Hard to argue against Shack. I like him, but he's a volume guy. Q is more efficient. Shack is always going to shoot a ton so he's going to score more, but the percentage isn't where we need it to be.

 

[Jordan Harper]

I would argue Gary sprints to every spot on the floor on offense and it actually keeps the defense off balance because guys are chasing him. He sets hard screens and grabs offensive boards at a higher rate than anyone. Regarding Q, he hasn’t started in 18 games. So, it’s hard to say whether or not he’d be as effective starting. It’s time to try. He’s our best offensive player

Shack is our best offensive player, but JQ is second. In the games he started before his illness, he struggled with efficiency but has been the most efficient player off the bench. I’m not against starting him, but I wouldn’t want him and Shack together for long stretches defensively.

 

[Sweetlou10]

Shack is our best offensive player, but JQ is second. In the games he started before his illness, he struggled with efficiency but has been the most efficient player off the bench. I’m not against starting him, but I wouldn’t want him and Shack together for long stretches defensively.

Good point on defense. I struggle with Shack from an efficiency standpoint because he’s very much a volume scorer. I have Q as our best offensive player because of what he does from the point in terms of keeping the defense off balance and distributing.

 

[pfaud001]

Good point on defense. I struggle with Shack from an efficiency standpoint because he’s very much a volume scorer. I have Q as our best offensive player because of what he does from the point in terms of keeping the defense off balance and distributing.

The only knock I will put on Q is that he has been a turnover machine at times. He has also taken some ill advised shots. He has played great as of late and I think he will continue to play well. He played beautifully last night and came up big when we needed him.

 

[aggietider]

We won’t go deep without JQ playing big minutes and playing in crunch time. You have to have a guy that can break things down and finish and he can. Whether he starts or not, not a huge deal. But he has to finish games for us, like the Arkansas game. We needed the ball in his hands at the end, not Herb.

 

[tydzbk]

Seems like he may be our most effective offensive player, but I'm still holding on for him to play his best or close to it against the better competition. He's been very good lately. We really need his game and leadership to show up all the time. Tall task, but effective/efficient point guard play is required to get deep in any tournament.

 

[N ALbamafan]

Here's the way I see it. Some kids have the ability to read things immediately and adjust. Some need to be coached through a situation. Its possible that some of these players are "adjustment" players and are sent in with the knowledge that "player x is playing the drive more" so they drift out to the 3 point line at a certain spot, or drift out to the "dunker spot" etc. I've had some experience with these types of players in the past and for some reason if they sit and watch for a few min in game then it clicks and they go out and play amazing, but if you had them start the game they'd look lost out there. Idk just a thought not saying its whats going on,

 

[Jordan Harper]

Good point on defense. I struggle with Shack from an efficiency standpoint because he’s very much a volume scorer. I have Q as our best offensive player because of what he does from the point in terms of keeping the defense off balance and distributing.

I love JQs ability to distribute and break down a defense, but Shack has really developed in that aspect as well. JQ is more efficient, but I’d still take the guy who could go off for 35 any night and can distribute some as well. Just my opinion though.

 

[BaselineLeaner4]

There is zero reason for Rojas to see the court with Bruner back. He does nothing good for us.

JQ is our best offensive player hands down. He is the only true ball handler on the team as well. All the others are below average.

 

[oslim]

rojas and gary are both like a bull in a china shop at times, but they both hussle like hell and bring a lot of energy to the team as well. i think ambrose-hilton is still very raw, but i think he will be very good at bama before he is thru.

 

[PlaidandParquet]

rojas and gary are both like a bull in a china shop at times, but they both hussle like hell and bring a lot of energy to the team as well. i think ambrose-hilton is still very raw, but i think he will be very good at bama before he is thru.

 

[winin11]

There is zero reason for Rojas to see the court with Bruner back. He does nothing good for us.

JQ is our best offensive player hands down. He is the only true ball handler on the team as well. All the others are below average.

I bet you were really hating on Rojas when he hit the three pointer late in the game to put Bama up by 6

 

[Sweetlou10]

I bet you were really hating on Rojas when he hit the three pointer late in the game to put Bama up by 6

That was a huge shot, but we’ve all seen enough over the course of the year. That was open as a three gets and I’m glad he hit it. But, he does not need to be in the rotation imo

 

[BaselineLeaner4]

I bet you were really hating on Rojas when he hit the three pointer late in the game to put Bama up by 6

I cused the screen when he shot it. Of course I’m happy it went in but Rojas has NO business being on the court for a top 10 team. Take your crimson glasses off.

 

[Jordan Harper]

I cused the screen when he shot it. Of course I’m happy it went in but Rojas has NO business being on the court for a top 10 team. Take your crimson glasses off.

Apparently neither does Herb Jones to some so that’s where we are at in the season

 

[winin11]

I cused the screen when he shot it. Of course I’m happy it went in but Rojas has NO business being on the court for a top 10 team. Take your crimson glasses off.

I guess you need to get in touch with. Nate Oats to air your concerns about Rojas since he is the one that put him in that situation.
No crimson glasses, I just don’t dump on these kids playing for us.
Roll Tide

 

[Sweetlou10]

Apparently neither does Herb Jones to some so that’s where we are at in the season

Well those who don’t want Herb on the floor are either trolls or just crazy people. The gap between Herb and Rojas is about the same as the gap between Rojas and me.

 

[budog]

Well those who don’t want Herb on the floor are either trolls or just crazy people. The gap between Herb and Rojas is about the same as the gap between Rojas and me.

Not a big fan of adults writing lol on things, but I truly lol’ed my ass off when I read that.

ROLL TIDE!!!!

 

[Sweetlou10]

Not a big fan of adults writing lol on things, but I truly lol’ed my ass off when I read that.

ROLL TIDE!!!!

Haha! Same here. Especially when it's sarcastic. "Your opinion is dumb, lol."

 

[anon_z8qxv7qt5719f]

With the disappearance of Primo and Petty, I'm all for keeping JQ and Shack on the floor for 40 minutes.

 

[Sweetlou10]

With the disappearance of Primo and Petty, I'm all for keeping JQ and Shack on the floor for 40 minutes.

I wouldn't count Petty's disappearance on the same level as Primo's. Even when Petty "disappears" he's still scoring around 10 ppg and is an above average defender and rebounder as a guard. Primo on the other had has been, to quote Dr. Emmett Brown to Marty McFly, "Erased from existence."