MulliganMusings
04-08-2014, 07:17 AM
Last night, as a I watched UCONN derail Kentucky, I couldn’t help but think how the college game is so guard driven. Indeed, UCONN essentially featured two point guards in Napier and Boatright along with three serviceable, but certainly not overwhelming, front court players in Giffey, Nolan and Daniels.
I know, many of you will point out, that Napier is an All American and Boatright might not be far behind but looking at next year’s potential roster I can’t help but wonder if we might not have some guards who have the ability to break out and some front court players who can pay effectively within an up tempo offensive and pressing defensive scheme.
Of course then I think of those, on this board and others, that drone on incessantly about the need for bigs even, it often seems, at the cost of great guards. Say what you will about Buzz (and lately that seems to be a stream of invective and criticism) but I always thought his concept of “switchables” was perfectly suited to the college game. A roster of 6-4 to 6-8 players, who can multiple positions, provides you with flexibility and often creates match-up problems for teams with “traditional” bigs who cannot match up with players who are usually quicker and capable of scoring from the perimeter. A good example of this was our own Davante Gardner who when matched up with quicker counterparts with perimeter games was typically at a distinct defensive disadvantage as the opponent would take him outside only to use his quickness to take him off the bounce should Davante migrate out to guard.
Ahh, you might say, but when Davante’s on offense he regains the advantage by posting low and taking the smaller and (always) lighter opponent to the hoop. True, but I would argue the more versatile offensive game of the opponent not only serves to create offense for himself but also for his teammates while providing the additional benefit of causing Davante to work harder on defense causing fatigue that negatively impacts his offense.
Don’t get me wrong, Davante is easily one of my top 10 favorite MU players of all time. That said I take heart in the re-commitment of Sandy Cohen and hope that the other incoming freshman will follow suit; because, if they do, I really like the make-up of this team. While Satchel Pierce might be more of a traditional five it appears Luke Fisher can play in or out. This is a team built for up tempo basketball both in terms of offense and creating a baseline to baseline defensive pressure that last year’s team would not have been able to carry out.
I know, many of you will point out, that Napier is an All American and Boatright might not be far behind but looking at next year’s potential roster I can’t help but wonder if we might not have some guards who have the ability to break out and some front court players who can pay effectively within an up tempo offensive and pressing defensive scheme.
Of course then I think of those, on this board and others, that drone on incessantly about the need for bigs even, it often seems, at the cost of great guards. Say what you will about Buzz (and lately that seems to be a stream of invective and criticism) but I always thought his concept of “switchables” was perfectly suited to the college game. A roster of 6-4 to 6-8 players, who can multiple positions, provides you with flexibility and often creates match-up problems for teams with “traditional” bigs who cannot match up with players who are usually quicker and capable of scoring from the perimeter. A good example of this was our own Davante Gardner who when matched up with quicker counterparts with perimeter games was typically at a distinct defensive disadvantage as the opponent would take him outside only to use his quickness to take him off the bounce should Davante migrate out to guard.
Ahh, you might say, but when Davante’s on offense he regains the advantage by posting low and taking the smaller and (always) lighter opponent to the hoop. True, but I would argue the more versatile offensive game of the opponent not only serves to create offense for himself but also for his teammates while providing the additional benefit of causing Davante to work harder on defense causing fatigue that negatively impacts his offense.
Don’t get me wrong, Davante is easily one of my top 10 favorite MU players of all time. That said I take heart in the re-commitment of Sandy Cohen and hope that the other incoming freshman will follow suit; because, if they do, I really like the make-up of this team. While Satchel Pierce might be more of a traditional five it appears Luke Fisher can play in or out. This is a team built for up tempo basketball both in terms of offense and creating a baseline to baseline defensive pressure that last year’s team would not have been able to carry out.