Roster’s set ... who starts?
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Here’s your options…
SMALLS Pettiford Harris Cuffe Yesufu Rice
MEDIUMS McCullar Dick Wilson KJ Adams
BIGS Udeh Ejiofor Martin Clemence
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This year we started: 1 SMALL (Juan) 3 MEDIUMS (Och, Bruan, Wilson) 1 BIG (Dave)
If that’s the model it would have to be Harris, McCullar, Dick, Wilson, Clemence.
I feel like Rice is Smedium and could fit either category but I don’t know much about him tbh.
But I think there’s a strong chance we start two smalls leaving Pettiford/Yes as the most important battle for minutes on the whole team I think. Really either way I think there’s only ONE truly small guard joining Harris for major minutes this season.
I do think Self showed this year he is willing to play around with lineups early in the year to find the group that gels best together. I think he’s sometimes less concerned with getting the 5 best players on the floor that many board rats would like.
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I already said in another thread that I think it’s going to be Harris, McCullar, Dick, Wilson, and Clemence. I think the new wrinkle we see this year is Self playing quite a bit of 5 out based on personnel. I’m also excited about MJ Rice because of his body and what he can add playing any of the 2-4 spots when needed. McCullar reminds me a bit of Marcus Garrett with his combination of size and skillset.
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Funny, I’ve been comparing McCullar to Garret on the 247 board since we offered.
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@rockchalkjayhawk This is a good list to choose from.
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I think the three that really get squeezed from the rotation early on are Cuffe, Martin, and Ejiofor with Yesufu amd Adams possibly getting squeezed when Self cuts the rotation to 7/8.
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My starting 5 (without knowing too much about the freshmen).
Harris / McCullar / Dick / Wilson / Clemence
That leaves you with two strong defenders at the guard spot (Harris/McCullar). A shooter in Dick. Rebouding/scoring with Wilson and Clemence.
BUT, Self will want another ball handler in that group. So, guessing it’s likely that Dick goes to the bench in favor of whichever small stands out.
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@BShark said in Roster’s set ... who starts?:
Funny, I’ve been comparing McCullar to Garret on the 247 board since we offered.
Yea, he’s been talking about how he’s a bigger PG, right?
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Bill is REALLY excited about McCullar.
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@BShark said in Roster’s set ... who starts?:
Bill is REALLY excited about McCullar.
Well that’s three locks for the starting 5 for sure then: Harris / McCullar / Wilson
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I’ll go…
Harris, Pettiford, McCullar, Wilson, Clemence to start the season.
This is where I think Self maybe leaning.
Personally I’d throw Gradey in the starting lineup for size, playmaking, perimeter shooting.
I think one of the duo of Dick/Rice can make their way in the starting lineup. I think Bill will be hard on those two to develop quickly.
Udeh, Adams, Yesufu to round out the rotation.
Couple thoughts:
Crazy that 2 All American freshman could come off the bench.
Crazy that a Top 50 player (Zuby) could be buried on the depth chart.
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Bobby in the starting lineup at SG
A guy who never made a three yet and will be undersized. I’m high on Bobby but he is not starting this year. The best Shooter will start it’s Gradey job. We legit only have 1 other big body guard which is MJ.Kj is more of a gimme a couple minutes for Jalen at the 4. If KJ will ever be decent enough to hit corner threes consistently he can be a PJ Tucker type tough lockdown corner shooter and Injuries can happen anytime I scratch my head looking at the wing depth
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The way Self talked about Bobby last season before it was derailed with injury makes me think he’s certainly in line for a shot at starting. I also think Gradey is the ideal option long-term but we need to see how he handles what’s thrown at him by Self first.
I also don’t think we have a clear indication of what kind of offensive player Pettiford is yet. I’m confident we’ll see a different player as long as his health allows it
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@BeddieKU23 Yea I’m high as shit on Bobby with Self since the Michigan State game but at Pg. When Self speak high on Bobby he says down the road the next great KU point guard. Unfortunately who knows when his time will come because Juan will never explore the NBA because he know he isn’t a NBA guard but Juan made me a believer. Juan literally got blessed by god because CB mom helped him get the KU offer then Become a decent starter for a Blue blood. Point Guards with Juan build and skill set usually are elite benchwarmers at Bluebloods but I love Juan and we wasn’t a 1 seed without him helping us setup the weirdest luckiest set of unhealthy teams we could of played. Creighton- No Center or Pg Villanova-No Justin Moore Unc-Banged up Bacot
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@BeddieKU23 said in Roster’s set ... who starts?:
I’ll go…
Harris, Pettiford, McCullar, Wilson, Clemence to start the season.
This is where I think Self maybe leaning.
Personally I’d throw Gradey in the starting lineup for size, playmaking, perimeter shooting.
I think one of the duo of Dick/Rice can make their way in the starting lineup. I think Bill will be hard on those two to develop quickly.
Udeh, Adams, Yesufu to round out the rotation.
Couple thoughts:
Crazy that 2 All American freshman could come off the bench.
Crazy that a Top 50 player (Zuby) could be buried on the depth chart.
Pettiford is certainly an option to start. We really haven’t seen enough of him to know. But it does seem clear Self loves him.
I have an odd feeling in the back of my brain that MJ Rice will turn out to be Grimes — and not work out here. Hope I’m wrong.
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I agree Pettiford is a point guard but if Self wants to use 2 littles he’s certainly got options. Bobby with a year in vs freshman (I think we know by now experience seems to beat out inexperienced players, especially early). Once Self latches onto a guard he tends to trust them as well & I think Bobby positioned himself favorably there.
Will be interesting to see what Juan does with even more responsibility this season. I’m hopeful and optimistic he’s got more to give
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I don’t think KU can play Harris and Pettiford together regularly, especially if they also play McCullar, Wilson and a big man tons of minutes. If you do that, you don’t have any dangerous shooters on the floor. The only way Harris and Pettiford can play together regularly is in Wilson and McCullar have improved their shooting significantly, and if Dick plays a ton of minutes (the second part isn’t really that far out there).
I think Rice finds some minutes because of his athleticism and frame, particularly if he can act as a secondary ballhandler in certain lineups. That allows him to spell either Dick or McCullar (or even start in place of Dick). I’m assuming Clemence is the furthest along of the bigs. I am also assuming that KJ Adams has some role on this team. He’s more of a 3/4 than a 4/5, but with Jalen Wilson returning and McCullar joining him, not sure how much time is available in a 3/4 role. But KJ Adams is going to be in there somewhere.
So here it is. Opening night starters: Harris, McCullar, Dick, Wilson, Clemence. Pettiford, Rice, Yesufu, Adams off the bench. Ejifor gets spot minutes. Udeh, Martin, Cuffe barely play. I am intrigued by Cuffe, but can’t really find a rotation spot for him, though he could have a role if there are injuries since he can be a primary or secondary ballhandler.
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@BeddieKU23 said in Roster’s set ... who starts?:
The way Self talked about Bobby last season before it was derailed with injury makes me think he’s certainly in line for a shot at starting. I also think Gradey is the ideal option long-term but we need to see how he handles what’s thrown at him by Self first.
I also don’t think we have a clear indication of what kind of offensive player Pettiford is yet. I’m confident we’ll see a different player as long as his health allows it
I think Bobby is gonna really make people do a double take. This kid is gonna be very hard to keep on the bench , I think Bobby’s injury derailed hi for a minute
The kid has for sure College body stout, quick,I think people will see he can make things happen. - -Very impressed, not sure if I like him playing in a 2 - -think he shoud be at the 1. Bobby and him fills that spot quite nicely
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Hypothetical scenario: Can Bobby take the reigns at the 1 and Juan bump over to the 2? Would probably be like a 1A and a 1B but I think Bobby can be more effective with the dribble drive to the lane as the 1. Have we had any successful teams in the past with a secondary ball handler/facilitator/minimal scoring threat as a 2? Maybe similar to a Dotson/Garrett setup?
Man, if Juan can take that big jump in scoring like some are prophesizing I think this might work out pretty nice.
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@BeddieKU23 said in Roster’s set ... who starts?:
I agree Pettiford is a point guard but if Self wants to use 2 littles he’s certainly got options. Bobby with a year in vs freshman (I think we know by now experience seems to beat out inexperienced players, especially early). Once Self latches onto a guard he tends to trust them as well & I think Bobby positioned himself favorably there.
Will be interesting to see what Juan does with even more responsibility this season. I’m hopeful and optimistic he’s got more to give
What position has historically been the most successful for freshmen to come in and thrive in from Day 1 under Self, especially in the OAD era? The wing. Jackson, Wiggins, Oubre, McLemore, and Henry, were all wings at KU. Where does Gradey Dick play? The wing. No offense to Pettiford intended here, but Dick is a much better player right now than Bobby Pettiford is and it’s much easier for a wing to pick up the system than a PG.
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Definitely the wing. I personally think Dick will be the choice to start.
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In Lawrence with my boys and their families. We ate at Big Mill and coach Self, KT and Case were there. Should’ve asked what they that thought about starters. Lol
My youngest gson, 1 yr old waved at Self and he waved back, graciously. Slightly encouraged by my DIL.
