Here’s the thing I don’t get: this is so obvious. What is the advantage you get
with the other players out there? The lineup I wanted, and thought we would
play with in crunch time, has Jefferies, Etou, and Igbanu in together. That
would have been long enough to cause them problems. Apparently we don’t
practice that one.
Similar to my thoughts in that each year he has been here, his early season
M.O. is to try almost every possible line-up combination in practice, as well as
in the early games....While he apparently thinks this will help develop depth and
confidence in the non-starting members of the squad, I think it delays team
cohesiveness, especially among the seven or eight players that will be in our
game rotations.....Early each season, we appear disorganized, and not as tight
knit as we should be (especially this season, with the talent and experience we
have)....Ergo, the early losses to near nobodies that we shouldn't lose to.....
Why not start out with a starting five of the best at each position, and substitute
only as the situation merits....At least until the game is well in hand....In other
words, develop rapport between the players that will be at the core of our
success....
On the other hand, can you substitute too little....Yes, I think you can...I
remember that Willie Biles spent most of his Soph. year on the bench....He was
our leading scorer (and all conference) his last two years....Ken Hayes played
the starters until their tongues hung out, and sometimes ignored everyone else...