Possible controversial tweak

[ImUTGagain]

I don’t think it would be the end of the world to see 3 guards with Toppin/Brooks for stretches, especially against teams that are going small.

For small stretches I think this causes more problems for the opposition than it creates for UK

But obviously we need OT on the floor as much as possible

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I think Wheeler will be fine, assuming it's not a serious wrist injury. The good news is that you can play with a banged up wrist and its mostly only going to get re-injured if it's hit again.. unlike a lower body injury that takes wear during a game.

I think Wheeler might be back as soon as Tuesday and definitely by next tuesday.

Ty is a little iffy.. but I can't see him not being available by the start of the tournament.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost_rivals]

Poss controversial because of play style, but Toppin needs to be starting and playing 30mpg. This means benching Wheeler and making TyTy the primary ball handler. Wheeler would basically exchange minutes with Toppin and play 16mpg (or less) instead of the 30 he’s at now. We pretty much all, myself included wanted a 3 guard offense, and it’s been good obviously but I think going forward Toppin starting and playing minutes gives us the best chance in March. He is so versatile defending and his offense is not only picking up, he’s becoming one of the most efficient and productive offensive players on the team.

This basically comes down to Toppin > Wheeler which isn’t too controversial by itself. The argument against playing 3 bigs is obviously spacing. Toppin can put the ball on the floor though and both he and Keion are very good mid range shooters. And obviously the offensive production was still great with both in yesterday. TyTy and Grady are our best shooters and you’d still have Mintz with 20mpg+ off the bench who has been shooting great. Actually has 2nd best 3pt shooting percentage on the team now.

Yesterday was a great argument for a tight rotation and I think that’s the other obvious tweak. Play our 6 best as many minutes as they can handle. I think those 6 are established. It’s what we did in 2012 too. You have Ware or Collins to back up Oscar for 6-8 minutes, either or just depending on the matchup. I really like Hopkins going forward but it’s clear at this point he’s a spot minutes player on this team. He possibly gets 3mpg in some games if we have a lead and want to steal some quick rest for Toppin or Brooks. Allen should only play if there’s heavy foul trouble.

Tshiebwe- 34mpg
Brooks - 24mpg
Toppin- 30mpg
Grady - 36 mpg
Washington- 35 mpg

Mintz - 23mpg
Wheeler- 12mpg
Ware/Collins - 6mpg

I’m not trying to **** on Wheeler, but I want number 9. I’m convinced this rotation would give us the best chance.

Bench the SEC leading assist man and 3 in the nation, Thank God you aren’t the coach,what NONSENSE

 

[Tubbyfan78]

Wheeler is the most important player on our team. This team can not make it past the elite 8 without Wheeler playing a lot of big minutes and playing well. It doesn’t matter if you have “bad” Wheeler or no Wheeler. Either way, they lose by the elite 8. If we get good Wheeler we can win a title.

 

[Cleisthenes]

Wheeler runs the offense great. Only 2 areas I want him to improve in when he hopefully gets back during the tournament are 1) Initiate the offense more quickly and don't lapse into dribble, dribble, dribble a la Saul Smith. 2) Don't take any 3 pt shots.

Brooks is another night and day player. Like Wheeler, Brooks is awesome when he plays to his strengths. For Brooks, that is in and around the basket and stepping out for his midrange shot. When he drifts out to the 3 pt line and starts trying to go into Kobe Mamba mode and take his man off the dribble and pull up off the dribble he just kills us. Work the paint and you have a couple spots you can't miss that midrange from. Work those and we'll be fine.

Need to get everyone playing to their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses for this team to reach its full potential. Still a couple guys that like to revert to the player they think they are instead of the player they actually are.

 

[kb22stang]

I prefer Wheeler starting to set the tempo, but it’s nice to know the Toppin/Brooks lineup can work. Wouldn’t want to be married to it, mostly because it would be an ugly rock fight on a cold shooting night.

This, Wheeler is constantly stressing the defense with his tempo.

 

[RACdad]

It's nice to know we can play many styles. Wheeler Is the starting PG

 

[king of cali]

I could get behind the idea of Toppin starting over Wheeler if either he or Brooks played with any sort of consistency. But the fact of the matter is they don’t. One or the other is much more likely to lay an egg on Tuesday than replicate what happened yesterday.

With that being said, keep Wheeler on the floor and you ride the hand of whoever is playing better between Toppin and Brooks.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

We should play everyone for 40 minutes.
Run a 5-4-5 zone on defense
Run a 9 man weave out front Have Ware set set down screens for oscar. Have Toppin flash toward rim when it’s there while Grady and Mintz and Allen zip around the arc.
No 5 guys could stop that.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

UK, without 2 starting guards, spotted a top 25 team a 13 point lead and then went on an epic 46-17 run that blew Alabama out and back to Tuscaloosa. If that type of run and performance doesnt impress the committee then F em and we’ll just win it as a 2 seed.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Poss controversial because of play style, but Toppin needs to be starting and playing 30mpg. This means benching Wheeler and making TyTy the primary ball handler. Wheeler would basically exchange minutes with Toppin and play 16mpg (or less) instead of the 30 he’s at now. We pretty much all, myself included wanted a 3 guard offense, and it’s been good obviously but I think going forward Toppin starting and playing minutes gives us the best chance in March. He is so versatile defending and his offense is not only picking up, he’s becoming one of the most efficient and productive offensive players on the team.

This basically comes down to Toppin > Wheeler which isn’t too controversial by itself. The argument against playing 3 bigs is obviously spacing. Toppin can put the ball on the floor though and both he and Keion are very good mid range shooters. And obviously the offensive production was still great with both in yesterday. TyTy and Grady are our best shooters and you’d still have Mintz with 20mpg+ off the bench who has been shooting great. Actually has 2nd best 3pt shooting percentage on the team now.

Yesterday was a great argument for a tight rotation and I think that’s the other obvious tweak. Play our 6 best as many minutes as they can handle. I think those 6 are established. It’s what we did in 2012 too. You have Ware or Collins to back up Oscar for 6-8 minutes, either or just depending on the matchup. I really like Hopkins going forward but it’s clear at this point he’s a spot minutes player on this team. He possibly gets 3mpg in some games if we have a lead and want to steal some quick rest for Toppin or Brooks. Allen should only play if there’s heavy foul trouble.

Tshiebwe- 34mpg
Brooks - 24mpg
Toppin- 30mpg
Grady - 36 mpg
Washington- 35 mpg

Mintz - 23mpg
Wheeler- 12mpg
Ware/Collins - 6mpg

I’m not trying to **** on Wheeler, but I want number 9. I’m convinced this rotation would give us the best chance.

Not