Who really thinks Cal will change his starting lineup? He hasn't changed it since Bradshaw became available and has 2 potential first round picks coming off of the bench. I figure Z will join the Shep and Dilly rotation. If Adou were healthy I could see a platoon system coming back. Hope I am wrong! My opinion, not worth much!
Who really thinks.......?
- Thread starter Shep2win
- Start date
Don’t see Edwards or Bradshaw not starting. Cal knows his recruiting one and dones would take a hit. It will cost us in the tournament when we get behind and Cal puckers like he always does. He gets nervous before big NCAA games and it rubs off
It is pretty crazy that Cal doesn’t start at least 2 kids who should start, maybe three now, and all in all likely hood his three highest draft picks, which NEVER happens!
I've never seen another coach more stubborn and rigid about sticking to his original lineup plan. It's very clear that Cal already had Wagner/Reeves/Edwards/Mitchell/Bradshaw penciled in as his starting lineup before practice even began. And, by God, he's still sticking by it despite months of overwhelming evidence that he needs to make a change.
That said, the past shows he will make the change if his hand gets forced far enough. For example, the 2020 season began with Khalil Whitney penciled in as our starting three. But after it became painfully apparent that Whitney couldn't even dribble ...and Quickley was playing like a superstud ...he finally made the switch.
With Whitney, the difference was so dramatic ...as he was simply unplayable ...that Cal realized he had no choice. I'm not sure if we've reached that point with Edwards yet ...but we are getting close.
That said, the past shows he will make the change if his hand gets forced far enough. For example, the 2020 season began with Khalil Whitney penciled in as our starting three. But after it became painfully apparent that Whitney couldn't even dribble ...and Quickley was playing like a superstud ...he finally made the switch.
With Whitney, the difference was so dramatic ...as he was simply unplayable ...that Cal realized he had no choice. I'm not sure if we've reached that point with Edwards yet ...but we are getting close.
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I don’t think he’ll change anything.
And at this point I have no idea what he should do (outside of benching Edwards).
Game in and game out he’s probably just going to have to ride the guys who are performing best.
If Wagner is launching threes and missing layups, pull him and see what Dilly or Reed bring. Same for Bradshaw. Not rebounding? Getting dominated down low? Bring in Big Z. Edwards struggling mightily? Bring in Adou.
I don’t know if that’s the best thing to do, but I imagine this is how Cal will do things.
It’s working good the way it is so far. The 3 losses all went down to the final plays and I know the UNCW game should have been a blowout win for us but hiccups do happen. We are scoring insane amounts of points. Defense is the one thing that needs work, not the starting lineup IMO.
Don't know why he'd change it now. Having a great rotation off the bench is as important as who starts the game. Besides, it's who finishes the game, not who starts it. I wouldn't disrupt it.
Potentially four out of five of our bench players are better than the starters in front of them. I can’t decide if that’s insanely great news or just regular old insane.
Updated mock drafts will:
1. Again have Dilly and Reed in or near lottery and have DJ late-first or early second round.
2. Have Big Z in or near the lottery
3. Again have Bradshaw in the second round
4. Again have Reeves in the second round
5. Again have Edwards in the second round
And I firmly believe that if Thiero were healthy and got more PT, he’d be a late-first round consideration this year.
So we are without a doubt playing three in the starting lineup who will be drafted behind three guys who come off the bench.
So you think a guaranteed 6-8 minutes of game time is fine with a bad lineup on the floor? And this doesn’t account for other parts of the game like twice at least last night cal had a stupidly bad lineup on the floor in the middle part of the half.
Its nice to be LOADED . Man we have talent . So damn good . I'm not sure even Cal can mess a Final Four . But lets get # 9
So Cal’s recruiting will take a hit for starting players who don’t deserve it, but won’t take a hit for having deserving players come off the bench?
I'm saying I wouldn't mess with it. It's becoming obvious Edwards' intended minutes are dwindling. Reed and Dilly get starters mins. You're likely gonna have a stretch or 2 anyway in every game where things aren't clicking. So yea, I'm not oevrerly concerned about 6 minutes. And "bad lineup" isn't what I'd call it. We've had worse. Much worse.
That logic makes no sense...as the one and dones (Edwards and Bradshaw) you say to be benched (not starting) would then be replaced by other one and dones.
Yep...that will really cost Cal in recruiting...sigh.
People always complain saying Cal favors the one and done higher draft picks but are now saying he is keeping the higher one and done types on the bench. Crazy.
It's holding guys accountable, you're spot on. But Cal lets guys hold the team's success hostage even though he states he was never going to allow that again.
Z will be 10 times the player Bradshaw is. To be honest, its such a glaring difference i can"t believe that cow wouldn't be totally embarrassed if he doesn't add Z to the starting lineup and be called out by every single commentator of CBB.
Not a single player is “holding the teams success hostage “. Cal is doing a wonderful job with the rotation.
Having an opponent that’s had to run with our high octane offense for 3-5 game minutes , only to have a fresh crop ( that’s maybe even better ) replace our starters can be a tactical advantage on its own
We have had numerous players that are great players in practice. For one or more reasons they can't bring it to the live game. I think Edwards is one of these players or Cal has made another promise to a 5 star recruit. We are 17 games in, what we do now through the SEC tourney directly controls the seed we get in March. Its time to hurt some feelings and finish the deal.
Cal is doing what needs to be done. Cal doesn’t care about every commentator or you. I agree that Z appears to be better, however, so. They get their minutes either way. Also it’s spelled, Cal. Your attempt at belittling the coach seems sad and petty.
That is the best thing to do, but has cow ever done that? how many times had he played a guy that wont defend or couldnt hit the ocean from a boat and let them stay in the game until we lost?
It is based on their recruiting rankings not draft projections. It’s obvious that it happens and may be a necessary evil but wanted to clear that point up for you since you misstated the premise of one of the main criticisms of Cal.
Except:
He gave Derrick Willis more minutes than Gabriel and SKJ.
He gave Quade's starting spot to SGA.
He benched Khalil Whitney so hard the kid up and left the program.
Cal gives them a lot of leash. But he does adjust. The only kid that shouldn't be starting right now is Edwards. But he's cut Edwards minutes a great deal. He only played 12 minutes vs. UGA.
The goal posts keep moving here. It’s starting spots not most minutes that’s been the source of people’s ire.
Ugonna a one and done? What about Thiero? Maybe an argument can be made about Shep- but I don’t think he is a one and goner.
Let me make sure I got this correct here:
If Edwards played 35 minutes, but came off the bench--you'd be fine with that? This is a ridiculous argument. You can't believe that.
Minutes played matter way more than who starts. I'd be losing my damn mind right now if Edwards were still getting 25-30 minutes a game.
You don’t think benching Edwards and Bradshaw will hurt his recruiting. Maybe you are right. Don’t see any reason that Edwards starts.
the rub is the others were not supposed to be one and dones, only Bradshaw, DJ, and Edwards were and they are the three that cal promised would get their roles. DJ has earned his, Bradshaw is a bench player and should be playing a backup role and Edwards, while I really like the kid and have been pulling for him, doesn’t bring anything to the table at this stage.