Starting line-up Thoughts?
- Thread starter tudirk
- Start date
Almost for sure if Scott doesn't fit in early....The only problem there is who
will be the primary back up for Taplin at point.....Unless one of the freshmen
step forward, that will also be Henderson.....
We will be a much stronger team if Scott, Joiner and/or Jackson become
meaningful contributors early on.....
I keep thinking about the Magnay/Igbanu competition at the 5 position...While
it probably doesn't really matter who starts, I would bet a 12 oz. bottle of
Pepsi (and the obligatory package of peanuts to pour into it) that, barring
injury, Magnay will get more minutes of PT than Igbanu....
P.S. The 12 oz Pepsi bet was from my golfing days as a teenager....The
total cost of the Pepsi and the peanuts was 10 cents, and we played really
hard to be the winner.....
Last edited:
I think it WILL be:
Taplin
Henderson
Jeffries
Etou
Igbanu
It SHOULD be:
Taplin
Scott
Jeffries
Etou
Magnay
Reason being: The second lineup might actually play some good defense, and the Scott + Jeffries combo is an experienced one, having played together in their formative years.
Taplin
Henderson
Jeffries
Etou
Igbanu
It SHOULD be:
Taplin
Scott
Jeffries
Etou
Magnay
Reason being: The second lineup might actually play some good defense, and the Scott + Jeffries combo is an experienced one, having played together in their formative years.
I think the bottom lineup is my pick. But both look OK. I think the locks may end up Taplin, Henderson and Etou with a real battle between Magnay and Igbanu. IMHO
I don't think Henderson is a lock at all. He has 3 or 4 guys gunning for that position alongside him: Jackson, Joiner, Scott, Wheeler. (I wouldn't be surprised if Wheeler ends up starting actually)
Henderson averaged 1.3 TO per game to Wheeler's 2.3. That's not great for Wheeler, but it's not a huge difference. I didn't say I thought Wheeler was going to start, I just said I wouldn't be surprised if Haith started him.
If last season was any lesson at all, we should have learned that playing Taplin
(not fast) and Wheeler (flat out slow) together doesn't give us much speed in
our transition defense....
Wheeler's turnovers were usually costly, as they occurred just after starting his
drives well out on the floor....often leading to a lay up on the other end....
Last edited:
I agree. I'm just saying that he started quite a few games last season. It wouldn't surprise me if he did again, even though I think Scott would be the much better 2 guard. Scott's splits from Charlotte were REALLY good as a freshman:
.452 FG%, .439 3PT%, .830 FT%, 10.5 PPG with a couple of rebounds and a couple of assists to go with those. All in 24 MPG.
That would be good enough to be the best FG%, best FT%, best FT%, and best 3PT% of any of our guards (and most of our team actually). Also, he would have been our second leading scorer.
Scott should start. I just don't know if he will.
Taplin, Etou, Igbanu, ?,?. Haith does odd things with starting lineup so it doesn't mean much. He started Korita the first game last year, then started Atson a few times. The Brown start fiasco against South Carolina was the worst decision of the Haith era.
Wheeler started after his suspension last year and sometimes the second year of the JUCO's is completely different. I remember Tony Heard didn't beat out Shawn Williams at the point until late in his Junior year and was all-everything his senior year.
Jeffries has all the experience and athleticism so I expect he will push for a spot too.
Magnay has the biggest upside of all and was all-conference for three games in a row last year and then faded like a sprinter trying to go a mile and a quarter. Injuries have been mentioned but we have no one of that potential on the roster.
Korita was scared to death as a freshman shooter. Sophs usually make a big leap in confidence.
Etou may remind us of Gary Collier in his senior year....I hope.
Scott and the freshmen are mystery guys. Who knows what happens when the lights go on. Scott had a fairly good freshman year. And is older.
Henderson a streaky pure shooter....can he be more consistent and play defense?
Igbanu posts up better than anyone in recent memory. Best post moves since Anthony Price. Hope he shoots FT better than Price since he gets there a lot.
Artison a pure shooter but his fear of the paint worries me.
Taplin better every year but improvement this year is crucial.
Wheeler started after his suspension last year and sometimes the second year of the JUCO's is completely different. I remember Tony Heard didn't beat out Shawn Williams at the point until late in his Junior year and was all-everything his senior year.
Jeffries has all the experience and athleticism so I expect he will push for a spot too.
Magnay has the biggest upside of all and was all-conference for three games in a row last year and then faded like a sprinter trying to go a mile and a quarter. Injuries have been mentioned but we have no one of that potential on the roster.
Korita was scared to death as a freshman shooter. Sophs usually make a big leap in confidence.
Etou may remind us of Gary Collier in his senior year....I hope.
Scott and the freshmen are mystery guys. Who knows what happens when the lights go on. Scott had a fairly good freshman year. And is older.
Henderson a streaky pure shooter....can he be more consistent and play defense?
Igbanu posts up better than anyone in recent memory. Best post moves since Anthony Price. Hope he shoots FT better than Price since he gets there a lot.
Artison a pure shooter but his fear of the paint worries me.
Taplin better every year but improvement this year is crucial.
What is our style?
High scoring, defensive, 3pters, inside scorers, fast pace, slow down, ?
Down 1 with 30 seconds to go
Who will be our go to guy?
High scoring, defensive, 3pters, inside scorers, fast pace, slow down, ?
Down 1 with 30 seconds to go
Who will be our go to guy?
I think the 'SHOULD be' is my choice also....It combines good offensive
potential with probably our two best defenders (Jeffries and Magnay),
along with experienced D-1 players at every position......While this lineup
isn't loaded with any high level scorers, it would probably be our best in
some time from the perspective of balanced scoring potential....
It will be Taplin, although I've never been a big proponent of the 'clear everyone out and drive for a layup or a foul' endgame hero ball that Haith believes in (unless you have Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, or Russel Westbrook)
I hate the " try to draw a foul at the end of the game" it almost never gets called. Or even worse, trying to do it if you are down by 3
I like Henderson as that go to player. He has the long range shot, but he's also quick enough off the dribble to get a guy backing down and he can pull up from the elbow. He did that a lot last year. In the Cincinnati game, I kept thinking the ball should have been kicked to Henderson for that exact scenario.
Uh... maybe if he's wide open off of someone else's drive. But the kid blew so many layups last season, there's no way I would let him take the last drive in a down 1 scenario.
I think, down 1 with 30 seconds left, depending on the hot hand, I might go with Etou down low actually and have Jeffries crashing the glass to cleanup and putback any misses.
I have to agree on the starters. Not sure who Haith will start as that is not necessarily who gets the most minutes, but here are my thoughts:
Igbanu- Best post moves at TU in a long, long time. Can get his shot off over anybody. Working on 15-20 feet as well.
Etou- Most times was our best last year, but sometimes disappeared. Know he is the man this year. I love his trailing 3.
Jeffries- Looks like Troy Caupain from Cincy. Shoots much better than when with ORU.
Taplin- Gets better every year. We need his shooting this time.
This last spot needs to go to a shooter and can be filled by any of these three:
A. Scott- Has played a season of D-1 and a year to mature. Should adapt quickly.
B. Henderson- The best shooter at times last year but a little streaky .Should be ready for his Senior year.
C. Joiner- Beautiful shot and looks like a ready Freshman . Reminds me a little of a bigger Dante Swanson.
Now if Magnay can play like he did those three December games last year, he can start anytime he pleases. He is still just 18 years old and probably needed a redshirt last year.
As for the rest, Surprise me guys.
Igbanu- Best post moves at TU in a long, long time. Can get his shot off over anybody. Working on 15-20 feet as well.
Etou- Most times was our best last year, but sometimes disappeared. Know he is the man this year. I love his trailing 3.
Jeffries- Looks like Troy Caupain from Cincy. Shoots much better than when with ORU.
Taplin- Gets better every year. We need his shooting this time.
This last spot needs to go to a shooter and can be filled by any of these three:
A. Scott- Has played a season of D-1 and a year to mature. Should adapt quickly.
B. Henderson- The best shooter at times last year but a little streaky .Should be ready for his Senior year.
C. Joiner- Beautiful shot and looks like a ready Freshman . Reminds me a little of a bigger Dante Swanson.
Now if Magnay can play like he did those three December games last year, he can start anytime he pleases. He is still just 18 years old and probably needed a redshirt last year.
As for the rest, Surprise me guys.
Really impressed with Henderson and the defensive practices. Several notches up in intensity resembling the Self era defenses. I am hoping the wide open corner three from opponents will be a rarity this year.
Are you saying you have been to practices, but not actually saying because you were asked not to mention that you were allowed. Tap three times if affirmative. ;0)
Tap tap tap........... Just go to the coach and ask permission. Certain practices may not be open but often they are fine if you ask ahead of time. Don't wear your OSU Mullet shirt when you ask.
I am offended by your remark, I know exactly when to wear my OSU mullet shirt.(never) ;0)
Ok, with you affirmation of coach Haith's optimism, I am ecstatic, and can't wait for basketball season to get underway. Thanks for the suggestion of asking permission. I was just waiting for him/them to have an announced open practice close to a football game time, but I don't think I'll wait now.
