Speculative Line-Up, Depth Chart, Minutes - Post 2 Scrimmages

[lion1983]

So ... understanding scrimmages are meaningless at one level, and understanding Sydnor is not 100%, so his full minutes are uncertain, and given there are still 2 1/2 weeks of practice before the 1st game ... still, I was at and saw both scrimmages, and here is MY speculation as to the likely starting line-up to begin the season, and the minutes, and the back-ups and their minutes.

Understand that any minutes assumptions are AVERAGES, and could vary wildly depending on foul trouble and match-up.

Also understand that this team could have its rotation change between the start of the season and Big Ten play, given the numerous pieces.

Starting Line-Up:

OG - Lino Mark - 25-28 mpg
2G - T. Francis - 28-30 mpg
WF - Smith - 22-25 mpg
PF - Buchanan - 24-26 mpg
C - Gurdak - 25-28 mpg

I put Buchanan at PF until Sydnor proves he is 100% healthy and ready for 20+ productive mpg. I would prefer Buchanan gets fewer minutes, but until Sydnor is healthy and ready to palym you have to assume more minutes for Buchanan. My PREFERENCE is that Sydnor start at PF, for many reasons. But he has not yet shown he is physically ready. I worry with the ankle, Acuff was brought in to be the 3rd scoring option behind Harper and bailey, a veteran double digit scorer - and hurt his ankle, and though he did play, he was never 100% the entire season. Which really hurt his ability to consistently perform, and really hurt RU.

Reserves:

C: 12-15 mpg spread amongst 3 players: Miteo, Ware and when healthy Buca. We have no idea where Buca slots in when healthy. Miteo and Ware - whoever plays more in any game would appear to be situationally based on match-ups.

PF: Sydnor and Miteo - and you need 16-18 mpg here.

WF: Rasheed Jones and when Sydnor is fully healthy, Buchanan. There are 15-18 pg available here. Until Sydnor is fully back, Jones gets almost all those minutes.

2G: Jones SHOULD be the primary 2G back-up, not Powers, maybe getting 8-10 mog. Powers getting 4 mpg.

PG: Davis, period. 12-15 mpg as PG back-up.

Out until prove can fill a role: Garavaglia and Wooten.

So ...

PG: Mark (28), Davis (12)
2G: Francis (28-30), Jones (8), Powers (4)
WF: Smith (22-25), Jones (10-12), Buchanan (4-6) Powers (2-4)
PF - Buchanan (22), Sydnor (12 - until healthy), Miteo (6)
C - Gurdak (28), Ware (6) Miteo (2-4), Buca (2-4?)


ALTERNATIVE: If Sydnor is healthy and earns the starting spot, he gets 20-24 mpg as starter ... Buchanan is likely the primary reserve at PF - and gets minutes at WF:

PG - Mark (28), Davis (12)
2G - Francis (28-30), Jones (8), Powers (2-4)
WF - Smith (22-24), Jones (10), Buchanan (4-6), Powers (2)
PF - Sydnor (22-24), Buchanan (12-14), Miteo (2-6)
C - Gurdak (28), Miteo, Ware, Buca the rest.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

If we want to have a chance to thread the needle and dance…the bottom minute per game distribution is it …

nice job ……

 

[GM]

I think starters will end up playing a few extra minutes per game. Not that the depth is terrible but def need at least one of Lino and Tariq on court at all times

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

@Lion1983 - is this mean to be the average including the non-conference games? Let’s hope we win some of those pretty big and can get the other guys some reps. Although, if we want to have a chance to be in the bubble conversation, we’ll have to be beating the NJIT types convincingly which might not allow us to unload the bench that much. Not sure.

 

[seansherm]

This is pretty right on. Syndor's ability and availability are the keys to this teams fortunes. I almost wish he hadn't gotten the four minutes the other day as he looked pretty out of sorts out there.

 

[lion1983]

@Lion1983 - is this mean to be the average including the non-conference games? Let’s hope we win some of those pretty big and can get the other guys some reps. Although, if we want to have a chance to be in the bubble conversation, we’ll have to be beating the NJIT types convincingly which might not allow us to unload the bench that much. Not sure.

Sort of am idealized, what-it-might-be look over the course of the season, NOT assuming the minutes deep bench players get in major blowouts in either direction.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

Question for those who better know Sydnor's game:

I'm thinking his availability and effectiveness may be the difference between a meh season (an overall record hovering around .500) and a surprisingly good one (Bubble/Bubble+).

Am I misreading this

@lion1983, @PSAL_Hoops