New starting lineup

MCC_Cat

Junior
May 29, 2001
1,507
207
63
Ok, so the past couple games sucked, mostly because the defense was outstanding but the offense was dismal. Both games would've been possible W's if we'd just had a mediocre shooting night on either. So, I'm not giving up hope yet, but think we need to get off the bounce better in order to get our mojo back.

I am really, really impressed that Greer is holding his own on defense so well. He really gets in his man's grill and doesn't give up anything easy whatsoever, and he's had plenty of tough on ball assignments. Because he has shown this and is clearly our only option at PG, I would give him the start against PSU and go with a lineup of Law, Taylor, Gaines, and Pardon. Bring AJ off the bench and let him get settled in not rattled at the start. Kopp, Falzon, and Benson should all get quality minutes too and if any of them are clicking then keep them in. I think this should be our starters from now on. Let's see if CCC gives Greer this opportunity.
 

willycat

Junior
Jan 11, 2005
21,448
318
0
Ok, so the past couple games sucked, mostly because the defense was outstanding but the offense was dismal. Both games would've been possible W's if we'd just had a mediocre shooting night on either. So, I'm not giving up hope yet, but think we need to get off the bounce better in order to get our mojo back.

I am really, really impressed that Greer is holding his own on defense so well. He really gets in his man's grill and doesn't give up anything easy whatsoever, and he's had plenty of tough on ball assignments. Because he has shown this and is clearly our only option at PG, I would give him the start against PSU and go with a lineup of Law, Taylor, Gaines, and Pardon. Bring AJ off the bench and let him get settled in not rattled at the start. Kopp, Falzon, and Benson should all get quality minutes too and if any of them are clicking then keep them in. I think this should be our starters from now on. Let's see if CCC gives Greer this opportunity.
You really think that either of the last two games were winnable? I do agree that Greer needs a lot more minutes, as does Falzon and Kopp. Benson is a bit to tentative and Taylor has been mostly disappointing. When is Nance expected back?
 

torque-cat

Redshirt
Dec 11, 2018
1,234
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You really think that either of the last two games were winnable? I do agree that Greer needs a lot more minutes, as does Falzon and Kopp. Benson is a bit to tentative and Taylor has been mostly disappointing. When is Nance expected back?

With decent shooting yes. Because not only do the points matter but the emotion and confidence. We couldn’t hit a barn and still within 11 pretty well into the second half. That means a couple open 3s and it’s a close game and we’d also be playing with more confidence.
 

CappyNU

Junior
Mar 2, 2004
5,156
331
83
Something needs to change with the way we start games, our starting lineup has been outscored in the last 7 games regardless of what combo we've used. The past 3 games, the lineup of Turner-Taylor-Gaines-Law-Pardon has been outscored 50-28 despite having 4 more possessions on offense for a horrible PPP of 0.57. Previously before that became the starting lineup, they had been +17 scoring at a 1.29 PPP. This also happens to coincide with Vic Law's injury and Turner/Taylor struggling in general, but it's a drastic change.

Meanwhile, Falzon has finished positive in +/- each of the past 3 games (+12, +2, +1) while Greer has been holding his own outside of the 2nd half against Wisconsin.

The lineup you propose to start against PSU has been outscored 12-7 with a PPP of 0.44 in just under 9 minutes of play, most recently scoring 0 points in 8 possessions against Wisconsin, so I don't know that it's the answer either. I would propose either going with Gaines-Taylor-Law-Falzon-Pardon or Greer-Gaines-Law-Falzon-Pardon.
 

MCC_Cat

Junior
May 29, 2001
1,507
207
63
Something needs to change with the way we start games, our starting lineup has been outscored in the last 7 games regardless of what combo we've used. The past 3 games, the lineup of Turner-Taylor-Gaines-Law-Pardon has been outscored 50-28 despite having 4 more possessions on offense for a horrible PPP of 0.57. Previously before that became the starting lineup, they had been +17 scoring at a 1.29 PPP. This also happens to coincide with Vic Law's injury and Turner/Taylor struggling in general, but it's a drastic change.

Meanwhile, Falzon has finished positive in +/- each of the past 3 games (+12, +2, +1) while Greer has been holding his own outside of the 2nd half against Wisconsin.

The lineup you propose to start against PSU has been outscored 12-7 with a PPP of 0.44 in just under 9 minutes of play, most recently scoring 0 points in 8 possessions against Wisconsin, so I don't know that it's the answer either. I would propose either going with Gaines-Taylor-Law-Falzon-Pardon or Greer-Gaines-Law-Falzon-Pardon.
I really like the latter of your two proposed lineups, giving Falzon AND Greer the start. Falzon has started lots of games in the past and his defense is much improved from what I'd seen in the past so why not give it a try. Having Turner and Taylor coming off the bench to potentially provide a major scoring punch would be very intriguing, and might just be the thing to settle them down watching a few minutes from the bench.