The point I was driving at in the other thread (so it doesnt get lost)....

[Coach34]

Which scenario would have put our team and program in better shape?

Scenario A-
Bite the bullett and play Osby and Augustus at the 4. Force them to get better through experience. Getting their *** schooled and having to watch it on gamefilm is a great motivator. It would have forced two valuable guys on our team to work their *** off, because they would know come hell or high water, they were going to be in there battling.
Also, we would have a solid 3 man rotation at the 2 and 3, making sure nobody had tired legs and was full speed at all times. This is very valuable in the last 5 minutes of games, when shots and possessions mean the most.
We get tons of experience during this season, slowly get better, and become a very dangerous team at SEC Tourney time. We finish on a good note, and lots of excitement entering 2010 as we return our entire rotation of 9 players.

Scenario B-
We decide after Stewart goes 1-13 and 0-8 from 3 pt range, that Osby and Augustus arent ready and go to a 4 guard line-up. We win a few games short-term, but people adjust to us, exploit our weaknesses defensively, and extend their defenses to stop the 3pt shooting due to no threat inside. We limp home to a 4th or 5th place SEC West finish, and appear to have quit. We also are looking at possibly 2-4 players transferring in the offseason leaving lots of uncertainty and questions for 2010. Very little excitement ahead leading to 2010</p>

Sometimes a coach does have to think ahead, and whats good for the next month may not be best for the next 5 years</p>

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

at this point in the season, it's fair to talk about getting everyone experience.

But you were doing well at one point, it would have been stupid to give up and go the experience route.

 

[fishwater99]

I have been saying the same thing all season...
Stans must already have some heat from the Ninja to win now or he is just not that smart of a coach...

 

[Coach34]

and should have been 7-2 had it not been for a guard going 1-13 from the field. That was with Augustus starting</p>

We are since 11-9</p>

 

[patdog]

You're really misrepresenting things there. But thanks for starting ANOTHER new thread about this same issue. I often find myself wondering where you stand on an issue and wishing you would just clarify it for us one more time so we can be sure we got it.

 

[Dental Dawg]

The problem with this team is simple. We have committed to this four guard lineup. We do not have a single player on our team that can take the ball to the hole when we have to have a basket. Barry can drive but will not make his shot and hopes to get to the free throw line. Jarvis plays w/ his back to the basket. Bost can drive but he's getting his shot thrown. Ravern will likely dribble off his foot. Phil is in the same boat as Barry and Bost. Losing Jamont Gordon has really hurt this team. Shooting the three ball worked for a while, but teams have made adjustments to this and we are lacking the talent to compete. </p>

 

[dickiedawg]

Losing an all-sec point guard hurt our team? Holy ****, that really changes my perspective.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

No one's really responded when I say this, but I'll say it again, just for kicks. The lineup isn't about Barry Stewart or anybody on the team shooting 0-fer from the floor. It's about defense, and Phil was outplaying Osby and Augustus on the defensive end of the floor, even though he's 6-2.

I am in full agreement that we need to develop bigs, and that Stans has a problem developing players in general. But the idea that we shouldn't put our best 5 on the floor is silly. It's not like we're not willing to play freshman and sophomores (e.g. 60% of the lineup), but if the guys aren't ready and especially if they have 'tude problems keeping them from trying to get ready, I don't see the point.

 

[fishwater99]

Stans has no "go to guy" to run his offense around. In the past we had J-Money, Roberts, Austin, etc... Stans has no clue how to coach offensive team basketball. He has alway had a "playmaker" to run the show, which is not a bad thing in CBB. We have a bunch of role players and no offenisve scheme, except to shoot 3 pointers. This year may have been Stans worst coaching performance in recent years and really shows how inaept his offensive coaching really is.

 

[Dental Dawg]

The thing I hate about message boards is when people like you can't wait to make smart *** post.
The point I was making is that Jamont had the ability to score when we needed a basket by driving to the hole.
We do not have a single guard, center or forward that can do this and consistantly get a basket.</p>