Too soon?

Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
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Since Jon Rothstein posted his starting lineup for SHU what better segue to asking of the board the same question.

There will obviously be many factors, including matchups with the opponents., But I'll throw out this knowing that the twin towers might be an issue against smaller athletic teams. And of course how wise it to start both of your potential centers knowing that foul issues right off the bat could hurt you later in a game.

C 6-10 Hines
PF 6-10 Erheriene/6-9 Payne
Wing 6-4 Staton-McCray
Wing 6-6 Elijah Fisher
PG 5-10 Clark
 
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Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
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Good point, but against certain teams you might need their size and physicality. But no doubt the twin towers can only be used in certain situations.

I actually might try it against overmatched teams in the OOC games to see if there is chemistry with them on the floor together.
 

Hall84

Senior
May 23, 2023
331
451
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If Payne can shoot at least a decent 10 foot baseline jumper I could see him starting at the 4. I would think Hines & Godswill would go 20 minutes each at the 5. I could see going a little smaller at times with Dar at the 4 with Clark, Fisher, and either Simpkins or Staton Mcray to round it out.
 

Seton75

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
36,365
2,500
113
I would not be surprised to see GE and Hines starting. We seem to know the PG. I am clueless on the rest. All I know about them is that they are my guys!
 
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jack 1970

Sophomore
Feb 12, 2022
238
182
43


Since Jon Rothstein posted his starting lineup for SHU what better segue to asking of the board the same question.

There will obviously be many factors, including matchups with the opponents., But I'll throw out this knowing that the twin towers might be an issue against smaller athletic teams. And of course how wise it to start both of your potential centers knowing that foul issues right off the bat could hurt you later in a game.

C 6-10 Hines
PF 6-10 Erheriene/6-9 Payne
Wing 6-4 Staton-McCray
Wing 6-6 Elijah Fisher
PG 5-10 Clark
Hard to comment given only guy I've seen play is Godswill I do believe he can play center or PF depending on the match up.
 
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doctorcb12

Sophomore
Feb 1, 2018
58
167
33
PG Budd Clark
SG AJ Stanton Mccray
SF TJ simpkins
PF Elijah Fisher
C Godswill
Bench Trey Parker, josh Rivera, stephon Payne, Haines.
 
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Fishjam

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2016
653
2,264
93
Several possibilities. Can play Small or play big.

Payne, Hines & Godswill will all play minutes at the 5.

1 - Clark
2 - Staton-McCray
3 - Simpkins
4 - Fisher
5 - Payne
 

HALL85

Heisman
Jul 5, 2001
29,813
10,949
113
1-Clark (no brainer)
2-Stanton-McCray (best of 2’s)
3-Simpkins
4-Fisher (versatility)
5-Godswill (to start season, but will flip with Hines at some point - but a platoon)

Rotation
6-Hines
7-Parker
8-Payne
9-Rivera
 
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PirateBlue08

Junior
Jul 25, 2025
332
359
63
Starting Lineup to begin the year:
PG - Clark
2G - Staton-McCray
SF - Fisher
PF - Dar
C - Ehrierene

Bench:
PG - Parker/Felton
2G - Simpkins/Williams/Parker
SF - Rivera/Dar
PF - Payne/Rivera/Suemnick
C - Hines/Payne/Mbaye

First three off the bench:
Parker
Hines
Simpkins

Others in rotation:
Payne
Williams

Questionable minutes/contribution:
Felton
Rivera
Suemnick
Mbaye

Notes:
-I hesitate to see Dar as a starting PF but I put him there because A) we need his shooting and he is the best shooter on the team B) athleticism at the PF position is a big plus C) Sha said in an interview he reminds him of a more offensively polished Ish Sanogo who needs to develop defensively D) because we have nobody else at this position

-I see Erheriene starting the year at C but can certainly see a platoon very quickly with minutes being split with Hines, or even Hines starting

-I don't see Felton getting an abundance of minutes because I have a hard time thinking he is better than Parker, Staton-McCray, Simpkins, or Williams unless he makes a huge jump in the offseason.

-I see Parker as arguably our second most talented guard, but due to his size and ability to play the point, I think he comes off the bench at least to start the year as a PG/combo guard who is 6th man.

-If I am correct that Fisher and Dar both see minutes on the floor together, then I can see Simpkins getting time at the SF position coming off the bench.

-I don't see Payne starting at PF because of offensive limitations in combination with both of our centers also having similar limitations. All are 5 ft and in players and none can stretch the floor or even be counted on for dependable back-to-the-basket offense. This is why I see Dar at PF also, as we will need to stretch the floor in order to make our offense work. Dar hanging out on the perimeter should help open up driving lanes for our guards who will seek to employ Sha's "get to the basket and go to the line" offense.
 

Hall Is Life

Senior
Oct 15, 2019
321
482
63
Starting Lineup to begin the year:
PG - Clark
2G - Staton-McCray
SF - Fisher
PF - Dar
C - Ehrierene

Bench:
PG - Parker/Felton
2G - Simpkins/Williams/Parker
SF - Rivera/Dar
PF - Payne/Rivera/Suemnick
C - Hines/Payne/Mbaye

First three off the bench:
Parker
Hines
Simpkins

Others in rotation:
Payne
Williams

Questionable minutes/contribution:
Felton
Rivera
Suemnick
Mbaye

Notes:
-I hesitate to see Dar as a starting PF but I put him there because A) we need his shooting and he is the best shooter on the team B) athleticism at the PF position is a big plus C) Sha said in an interview he reminds him of a more offensively polished Ish Sanogo who needs to develop defensively D) because we have nobody else at this position

-I see Erheriene starting the year at C but can certainly see a platoon very quickly with minutes being split with Hines, or even Hines starting

-I don't see Felton getting an abundance of minutes because I have a hard time thinking he is better than Parker, Staton-McCray, Simpkins, or Williams unless he makes a huge jump in the offseason.

-I see Parker as arguably our second most talented guard, but due to his size and ability to play the point, I think he comes off the bench at least to start the year as a PG/combo guard who is 6th man.

-If I am correct that Fisher and Dar both see minutes on the floor together, then I can see Simpkins getting time at the SF position coming off the bench.

-I don't see Payne starting at PF because of offensive limitations in combination with both of our centers also having similar limitations. All are 5 ft and in players and none can stretch the floor or even be counted on for dependable back-to-the-basket offense. This is why I see Dar at PF also, as we will need to stretch the floor in order to make our offense work. Dar hanging out on the perimeter should help open up driving lanes for our guards who will seek to employ Sha's "get to the basket and go to the line" offense.
This is an impressive scouting report, to say the least. I’ve heard of and know exactly 3 guys on our roster and those are the 3 guys that were here last year. I trust your judgment. I’m in.
 

Wolf11642

Freshman
Apr 23, 2023
61
53
18
Since Jon Rothstein posted his starting lineup for SHU what better segue to asking of the board the same question.

There will obviously be many factors, including matchups with the opponents., But I'll throw out this knowing that the twin towers might be an issue against smaller athletic teams. And of course how wise it to start both of your potential centers knowing that foul issues right off the bat could hurt you later in a game.

C 6-10 Hines
PF 6-10 Erheriene/6-9 Payne
Wing 6-4 Staton-McCray
Wing 6-6 Elijah Fisher
PG 5-10 Clark
The spacing in this lineup would be absolutely god awful
 

Wolf11642

Freshman
Apr 23, 2023
61
53
18
Starting Lineup to begin the year:
PG - Clark
2G - Staton-McCray
SF - Fisher
PF - Dar
C - Ehrierene

Bench:
PG - Parker/Felton
2G - Simpkins/Williams/Parker
SF - Rivera/Dar
PF - Payne/Rivera/Suemnick
C - Hines/Payne/Mbaye

First three off the bench:
Parker
Hines
Simpkins

Others in rotation:
Payne
Williams

Questionable minutes/contribution:
Felton
Rivera
Suemnick
Mbaye

Notes:
-I hesitate to see Dar as a starting PF but I put him there because A) we need his shooting and he is the best shooter on the team B) athleticism at the PF position is a big plus C) Sha said in an interview he reminds him of a more offensively polished Ish Sanogo who needs to develop defensively D) because we have nobody else at this position

-I see Erheriene starting the year at C but can certainly see a platoon very quickly with minutes being split with Hines, or even Hines starting

-I don't see Felton getting an abundance of minutes because I have a hard time thinking he is better than Parker, Staton-McCray, Simpkins, or Williams unless he makes a huge jump in the offseason.

-I see Parker as arguably our second most talented guard, but due to his size and ability to play the point, I think he comes off the bench at least to start the year as a PG/combo guard who is 6th man.

-If I am correct that Fisher and Dar both see minutes on the floor together, then I can see Simpkins getting time at the SF position coming off the bench.

-I don't see Payne starting at PF because of offensive limitations in combination with both of our centers also having similar limitations. All are 5 ft and in players and none can stretch the floor or even be counted on for dependable back-to-the-basket offense. This is why I see Dar at PF also, as we will need to stretch the floor in order to make our offense work. Dar hanging out on the perimeter should help open up driving lanes for our guards who will seek to employ Sha's "get to the basket and go to the line" offense.
This is outstanding analysis. Thank you!!
 

Piratz

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2004
1,313
2,576
113
Hard to see Hines & Godswill on the floor together when neither can shoot outside of 5 feet from the hoop.
GE didn't look nearly as fluid enough to me to play the 4. That would be surprising. I also think Hines will outplay him eventually even though it's a good problem to have with two talented young guys at the 5.
 
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Halldan

All-American
Staff member
Jan 1, 2003
183,615
5,407
113
The spacing in this lineup would be absolutely god awful
I think most of us would agree. But unfortunately all three of our bigs have limited offensive games close to the basket. Meaning short of going small that is going to be a problem. So you counter that by seizing on the match-ups. There will be times when you have to thwart a team with physical plodders on the interior. So you go big or you force them to go small with a quicker athletic lineup.

PLaying Hines, Godwells or Payne together will need some early work to see if that is conceivable. For me early against weaker teams I would experiment a little. The point is we have options. Maybe not the high level ones we want, but options nevertheless.
 

SeanieWard

Redshirt
Jun 15, 2023
3
4
3
C: Hines/Godswill/Suemnick
PF: Dar/Payne
SF: Fisher/Rivera
SG: Stanton-McCray/Simpkins/Williams
PG: Clark/Parker/Felton
 

shu67

Senior
Jun 12, 2021
683
479
63
I thought I would bring some excitement with my picks and I was not wrong.
 

shu67

Senior
Jun 12, 2021
683
479
63
Agitation? It got reaction? Anyway you guys know I would love for Mbaye to contribute. Having a 7'2" kid who can spend some time in the post during games would be most welcomed! By me at least. Sha must see something in the kid to keep him around. It would be a great story.