Our starting 5 for basketball...

Nov 16, 2005
27,445
20,336
113
Hubbard, Epps, McGhee, Davis-Fleming, and Ballard.

Off the bench - Jones, Macura, Walker, Achor??, Warren
As much as I don’t like Jones starting I think you have to and let Epps or McGhee come of the bench to rotate with Hubbard. Warren can come in but I don’t trust him to be very effective.
 
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Aug 24, 2012
1,166
561
113
Hubbard, Epps, McGhee, Davis-Fleming, and Ballard.

Off the bench - Jones, Macura, Walker, Achor??, Warren
That starting 5 gives is our best scoring team. But there’s not enough length on the perimeter to defend the 3. Will also have trouble rebounding. Just my take.
 

thekimmer

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2012
8,078
2,094
113
If McGhee can consistently do what he did against Utah we might make the NIT.
 

dawgstudent

Heisman
Apr 15, 2003
39,422
18,841
113
That starting 5 gives is our best scoring team. But there’s not enough length on the perimeter to defend the 3. Will also have trouble rebounding. Just my take.
Jones is in a huge funk. He's not doing the little things that makes him effective and he can't shoot. I was hoping he would be more of a Cam type without the size but that isn't playing out to be the case.
 

MSUDOG24

All-Conference
Mar 31, 2021
1,378
1,291
113
Hubbard, Epps, McGhee, Davis-Fleming, and Ballard.

Off the bench - Jones, Macura, Walker, Achor??, Warren
(y)Good as any and better than some, why not. Really disappointing we are still trying to figure things out at this point and how terrible we've looked so far. Top of the list is "my guy" SJJ and what in theory is Achor's role? Walker has been fun to watch so far.
Guess we'll see if we can get some positive carry over from the Utah game tomorrow night against the mighty Sharks of LIU and Memphis this week. Will be nice to see the men finally play at the Hump again .... or I hope it will be nice, we'll see.
 
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Darryl Steight

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
3,784
6,354
113
Sure could have used KeyShawn Murphy's 6'11" frame and for him to be a starter here and improve on his 12 pts, 8 rebs and a block per game from last year. But no, go play fewer minutes and contribute less for 17'ing Auburn, dipshit.
 
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Aug 24, 2012
1,166
561
113
Jones is in a huge funk. He's not doing the little things that makes him effective and he can't shoot. I was hoping he would be more of a Cam type without the size but that isn't playing out to be the case.
He started to show his worth when we went to the 2-1-2 trap against Utah. He caused problems for them when they were trying to bring the ball up the court. I like his length and I haven't given up on him. Still think he can contribute if he doesn't let the game get ahead of him. It was good to see Grace work into the rotation. Hopefully he'll be able to contribute when he catches up to the speed of the game.
 

dawgstudent

Heisman
Apr 15, 2003
39,422
18,841
113
Sure could have used KeyShawn Murphy's 6'11" frame and for him to be a starter here and improve on his 12 pts, 8 rebs and a block per game from last year. But no, go play fewer minutes and contribute less for 17'ing Auburn, dipshit.
You made me look up his stats. He is averaging 10 and 5 at 22 minutes per game.

Last year, he was 12 and 7 at 24 minutes per game. I do think he would have played more minutes at State this year.
 
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Darryl Steight

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
3,784
6,354
113
Jones is in a huge funk. He's not doing the little things that makes him effective and he can't shoot. I was hoping he would be more of a Cam type without the size but that isn't playing out to be the case.
Him being forced into a new role as a guy we had to count on for offense early in the season was the worst thing for his game. Some guys are naturally defenders/hard working rebounders/6th man types, and that fits him to a tee. I love to see his high flying dunks and athleticism, but those are in spurts when he makes a steal or grabs a huge rebound by out hustling the other guy.

Trying to be a spot up shooter at the beginning of the year made him lose confidence and stifled effort at the other end. That's what it looks like to me. The end of Saturday night's game was Jr. being Jr. That's his game - defend, steal, dunk.
 

dawgstudent

Heisman
Apr 15, 2003
39,422
18,841
113
He started to show his worth when we went to the 2-1-2 trap against Utah. He caused problems for them when they were trying to bring the ball up the court. I like his length and I haven't given up on him. Still think he can contribute if he doesn't let the game get ahead of him. It was good to see Grace work into the rotation. Hopefully he'll be able to contribute when he catches up to the speed of the game.
He did do well in the 2-1-2 but his complete lack of offense is troubling. And he almost missed that dunk in the last minute of the game.
 

Darryl Steight

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
3,784
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You made me look up his stats. He is averaging 10 and 5 at 22 minutes per game.

Last year, he was 12 and 7 at 24 minutes per game. I do think he would have played more minutes at State this year.
Excuse me, 7.4 rebs, not 8 as I exaggerated. You caught me**

Yeah, he would have started every game, played more, and should have bumped up all his stats. Would have helped our new guys transition in, too, and we'd probably have 2 more wins. Oh well.
 
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MSUDOG24

All-Conference
Mar 31, 2021
1,378
1,291
113
Him being forced into a new role as a guy we had to count on for offense early in the season was the worst thing for his game. Some guys are naturally defenders/hard working rebounders/6th man types, and that fits him to a tee. I love to see his high flying dunks and athleticism, but those are in spurts when he makes a steal or grabs a huge rebound by out hustling the other guy.

Trying to be a spot up shooter at the beginning of the year made him lose confidence and stifled effort at the other end. That's what it looks like to me. The end of Saturday night's game was Jr. being Jr. That's his game - defend, steal, dunk.
Nice summary of "my guy". Honestly been my favorite player since he's been here but to your point, has looked awful out of the role he has always played. Wonder if there was an attempt to "add to his game" (either by request or by Chris) that just hasn't worked. Who knows, we'll see how he's used going forward but give me back my "defend, steal, dunk" SJJ.
 

josebrown

All-Conference
Aug 4, 2008
2,941
1,191
113
Nice summary of "my guy". Honestly been my favorite player since he's been here but to your point, has looked awful out of the role he has always played. Wonder if there was an attempt to "add to his game" (either by request or by Chris) that just hasn't worked. Who knows, we'll see how he's used going forward but give me back my "defend, steal, dunk" SJJ.
He’s been fighting injury this year too, I believe. Remember Tolu’s final season struggle? He couldn’t jump all year it seemed. I think Murph is having that season this year. He’s always had health issues, but last year was more able to play thru them it seemed. He’s always been ‘my guy’ too.
Hubbard, Epps, McGhee, Davis-Fleming, and Ballard.

Off the bench - Jones, Macura, Walker, Achor??, Warren
id like to see Ali in the mix again. After the UNO game Jans went on and on about his ability to shoot, saying it’s much better even than what we’ve seen, then back to the bench. Now that he’s playing more zone, might be an opportune time to inject his secret scoring weapon. Give him a call and remind him please.
 
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PrimeDog

Senior
Jan 2, 2025
624
691
93
Jones can start, come off the bench whatever but his minutes need to be reduced. He can’t play 22-27 minutes and put up the putrid stat line that he is currently.

Euro needs a chunk of those minutes. He has a better ability to score and he can rebound. Achor and Walker can be breather guys that get single digit minutes. Same for Grace and Warren.

To have any chance at winning, the 3 guards are all going to have to play 28+ minutes.
 

onewoof

Heisman
Mar 4, 2008
14,844
12,919
113
He started to show his worth when we went to the 2-1-2 trap against Utah. He caused problems for them when they were trying to bring the ball up the court. I like his length and I haven't given up on him. Still think he can contribute if he doesn't let the game get ahead of him. It was good to see Grace work into the rotation. Hopefully he'll be able to contribute when he catches up to the speed of the game.
Jones needs to at this point double down on being Mr Hustle and a defensive steal specialist. Sure, every 12th game he might go 4 for 6 from 3 but his stats say he's not a dependable consistent offensive guy. He's a db playing ball on the court.
 

DT4248

Senior
Apr 22, 2025
570
710
93
Jones is in a huge funk. He's not doing the little things that makes him effective and he can't shoot. I was hoping he would be more of a Cam type without the size but that isn't playing out to be the case.
He's been in that funk for 4 years unfortunately.

At some point having hustle defense as your only positive quality should mean you're relegated towards the end of the bench as a spark plug.