Will it be Baker, Mathis, Harper, Carter, Doorson?
First off the bench? Johnson, then McConnell, then Kiss, then Thiam?
First off the bench? Johnson, then McConnell, then Kiss, then Thiam?
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Who starts at Minny?
- Thread starter BillyC80
- Start date
Sounds good to me, would like to see kiss get all Thiams minutes to see what production we can get. I always have rooted for Issa but he just isn't giving anything to warrant the minutes he gets.
Thiam will continue to get minutes because Pikiell values his defense
If we use more zone again Thiam will get minutes because of his length
A game after Kiss was a DNP Coach's Decision, you want him to get all of Thiam's minutes?
Right now we have a choice between Thiam (defense and no offense) or Kiss (sporadic offense and little defense). I think Pike will mostly stick with Thiam until Kiss can show him a definite uptick in practice on the defensive end.
My guess for minutes breakdown against Minny, barring foul trouble:
30-35 Baker, Mathis
25-30 Harper, Carter
20-25 Doorson
15-20 McConnell, Johnson, Thiam
10-15 Kiss
And I agree with a starting lineup of Baker, Mathis, Harper, Carter Doorson.... with Johnson and McConnell first off the bench.
I like Thiam for defense as long as he doesn’t get beat on jab-step/step-back threes. I definitely like his length in a zone.
It's about the opponent.
They will look like us with length at every position. Given they start 2 bigs I agree with the starting lineup.
I fully expect Kiss took the DNP in a positive way and I expect him to play by the 2nd media TO.
If Pike wants to play a lot of man you won't see 25+ minutes from Carter. I fear we get pounded on the offensive glass if we play zone.
They will look like us with length at every position. Given they start 2 bigs I agree with the starting lineup.
I fully expect Kiss took the DNP in a positive way and I expect him to play by the 2nd media TO.
If Pike wants to play a lot of man you won't see 25+ minutes from Carter. I fear we get pounded on the offensive glass if we play zone.
From discussion with a MD fan, their game cards MN was close at halftime.
2nd half MD switched to zone and they blew them out in the 2nd half.
I would start Thiam to confirm ensure he gets at least 15 to 20 minutes....and I'd mix zone and man early in each half to make sure Minnesota stays off balance.
Baker, Mathis, Harper, Thiam, Doorson.
I believe with Amir Coffey, take your chances with Thiam's length and if fouls Coffey a couple of times and has to sit, I won't complain.....if we play zone, Thiam will at least divert shot attempts.
I would also mix Thiam on Gauchner, who is Minnesota's best shooter (frosh guard).
I would also try and save Shaq Carter and Myles Johnson to mix on Oteru, their high caliber frosh big man, to give different looks. But I would vary the zone looks a lot and shorten the amount of time early in each half with Shaq Carter. We need production off the bench and if he gets in foul trouble early, we will struggle. If Thiam gets in foul trouble with ticky tack calls early in the game or 2nd half, then I bring Carter off the bench for offense and mix a heavy dose of Myles Johnson as well.
I wanted to consider going very small and start McConnell at guard with Geo and Tez and play Harper at the 4 with Doorson, but I respect Jordan Murphy enough, to not ask Harper to start the game guarding Murphy with fouls......it's tough trying to keep him off the glass. Let Issa defend Murphy with his length on some possessions and see if he responds to the challenge of playing the 4 on offense (Carter or Myles as your 5 when Doorson is resting)....maybe issa being a perimeter threat, drags defenders away from the basket, creating driving lanes for Mathis and Harper off the wings.
Spacing would appear to be a little better with just 1 big starting vs Doorson and Carter on the court a lot at the same time....and a basket by Thiam early in the game, could do wonders.
Baker, Mathis, Harper, Thiam, Doorson.
I believe with Amir Coffey, take your chances with Thiam's length and if fouls Coffey a couple of times and has to sit, I won't complain.....if we play zone, Thiam will at least divert shot attempts.
I would also mix Thiam on Gauchner, who is Minnesota's best shooter (frosh guard).
I would also try and save Shaq Carter and Myles Johnson to mix on Oteru, their high caliber frosh big man, to give different looks. But I would vary the zone looks a lot and shorten the amount of time early in each half with Shaq Carter. We need production off the bench and if he gets in foul trouble early, we will struggle. If Thiam gets in foul trouble with ticky tack calls early in the game or 2nd half, then I bring Carter off the bench for offense and mix a heavy dose of Myles Johnson as well.
I wanted to consider going very small and start McConnell at guard with Geo and Tez and play Harper at the 4 with Doorson, but I respect Jordan Murphy enough, to not ask Harper to start the game guarding Murphy with fouls......it's tough trying to keep him off the glass. Let Issa defend Murphy with his length on some possessions and see if he responds to the challenge of playing the 4 on offense (Carter or Myles as your 5 when Doorson is resting)....maybe issa being a perimeter threat, drags defenders away from the basket, creating driving lanes for Mathis and Harper off the wings.
Spacing would appear to be a little better with just 1 big starting vs Doorson and Carter on the court a lot at the same time....and a basket by Thiam early in the game, could do wonders.
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That’s a huge “as long as.” But should be excellent zone defender.
I think the defense we intend to play early will dictate who starts. It is very possible to see a substitution 2 minutes in to the game. Given that I would expect us to initially start playing man to man NJH lineup could be the one.
Am I underrating Shaq Carter's ability to defend a mobile player? I'd be VERY nervous seeing him try to defend Murphy. My biggest fear would be Murphy attacking the offensive glass from the perimeter.
Am I underrating Shaq Carter's ability to defend a mobile player? I'd be VERY nervous seeing him try to defend Murphy. My biggest fear would be Murphy attacking the offensive glass from the perimeter.
Has anyone been watching the games?
Thiam gets beat every time on a step back 3. He has no legs and stumbles and cant close out on the guard even tho he is 6'10. Happened 3 or 4 times against OSU
Thiam gets beat every time on a step back 3. He has no legs and stumbles and cant close out on the guard even tho he is 6'10. Happened 3 or 4 times against OSU
Agree. He should be a fine defender in a zone. I could even see him as the “point” in a 3-2.
I think we will see a similar game plan to Ohio State, where we play a mix of zone & man. Minnesota is not a strong shooting team especially from 3 (just under 32% on the season). If we had more frontcourt depth I would say we would stick to mainly man as they also do not shoot FTs well at all but with the limited front court depth this will allow the bigs to stay out of foul trouble & limit the amount of banging that goes on in the paint. Of course this exposes us to offensive rebounds which is an area Minny excels in. Guards will need to do a good job on the glass to contain the 2nd chance points.
As a general comment I'd expect both Issa & Kiss to play, you cannot just have one or the other play with EO out again after just playing 48 hours ago. They will need both (prayers that Issa finds some confidence & a shot to fall) but if not for his defense on the perimeter.
As a general comment I'd expect both Issa & Kiss to play, you cannot just have one or the other play with EO out again after just playing 48 hours ago. They will need both (prayers that Issa finds some confidence & a shot to fall) but if not for his defense on the perimeter.
Geo Mathis Harper Carter Doorson will be the starting lineup. Anything else would be a surprise.
Thiam's defense is overrated. At first I ignored people who said it, but it's true. He really stumbles a lot and gets wrong footed. If you drive and step back he will stumble seemingly almost every time or at least not be able to contest the shot.
Carter should and most likely will be playing major minutes with EO out. It's his time to shine. Need him to stay out of foul trouble
Thiam's defense is overrated. At first I ignored people who said it, but it's true. He really stumbles a lot and gets wrong footed. If you drive and step back he will stumble seemingly almost every time or at least not be able to contest the shot.
Carter should and most likely will be playing major minutes with EO out. It's his time to shine. Need him to stay out of foul trouble
It’s a testament to the depth that Pike has assembled, that our most productive player on both ends of the court can go out with an injury and we still have the horses to pull an upset over a ranked team. This Minny game will give us a clue as to whether or not we can sustain our level of play without EO. I believe our guys are up to the challenge.
I have been saying his lateral quickness and balance is an issue on defense for 2 years
However ...he is the guy you want in there if we will Zone for that 2-3 minute stretch to change it up
Mathis and Harper on the floor together are big time floor runners that require great athletes to cover them.
Opens the floor for Doorson, Carter and Johnson.
Opens the floor for Doorson, Carter and Johnson.
Agreed. This is why we will present a matchup problem for other teams, which gives us a chance to win.
Love Harper as an athlete, and his court sense is outstanding. While he’s still trying to find his stroke from deep, he doesn’t make mistakes and his confidence, like Mathis, is through the roof.
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