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Starting Five?

R

Ryan Lemonds Hair

Heisman
May 31, 2018
15,279
30,690
98
With the roster as it is now, assuming the only returner in limbo is Brooks, who would you expect the starting 5 to be. I know it doesn't matter who starts it's who finishes the game but just for fun who will hear their name called during introductions for the first game? This could change as we get closer to October but as of now I would go with.......

TyTy
Wheeler
Grady
Brooks
Oscar
 
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C

Chris Mallory

All-Conference
Jun 24, 2009
1,303
1,829
67
Creed Bratton said:
With the roster as it is now, assuming the only returner in limbo is Brooks, who would you expect the starting 5 to be. I know it doesn't matter who starts it's who finishes the game but just for fun who will hear their name called during introductions for the first game? This could change as we get closer to October but as of now I would go with.......

TyTy
Wheeler
Grady
Brooks
Oscar
Click to expand...
Not very exciting
 
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M

mcwildcats04

Heisman
Jul 19, 2003
9,158
12,657
93
Creed Bratton said:
With the roster as it is now, assuming the only returner in limbo is Brooks, who would you expect the starting 5 to be. I know it doesn't matter who starts it's who finishes the game but just for fun who will hear their name called during introductions for the first game? This could change as we get closer to October but as of now I would go with.......

TyTy
Wheeler
Grady
Brooks
Oscar
Click to expand...
I think I'd go Toppin over Brooks. Also wouldn't be shocked if Collins is a starter at some point.
 
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Yardeth

Yardeth

Heisman
Jan 2, 2007
13,414
17,599
67
Collins might start in the beginning but SEC players will push him around, but I like options.
 
W

wccat

All-American
Apr 8, 2009
5,269
8,004
66
Will be interesting to see how Cal uses the minutes since in the past he has deferred to the 5 stars. With Brooks and Toppin back he has some veterans.
 
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B

BGCATFAN2012

All-American
Aug 19, 2020
3,765
5,300
113
I'm hoping Toppin breaks through hes the only one besides Allen that is UK through the way that can be respected. Everything else looks like we are at the park choosing teams after every game and not for sure I like it. Gonna be fun but it does aggravate me alittle what cbb has become.
 
C

CrazyCat74

All-Conference
Nov 7, 2018
1,413
2,442
0
Well Toppin and Brooks cant ask for much more than this.

-Actual Point guards
-Shooters on both sides of the court
-Wide shoulder man child down low

If their games and consistently dont take huge leaps it's on them, but I fully expect All SEC type seasons from them.
 
B

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
My hope:

G Washington
G Fredrick
G Grady
F Toppin
F Tshiebwe

Give me some shooters all day with Big O in the paint.

My expectation:

G Wheeler
G Washington
G Grady
F Brooks
F Tshiebwe
 
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kywildcat1021979

kywildcat1021979

Heisman
Jan 10, 2015
18,720
31,385
62
Creed Bratton said:
With the roster as it is now, assuming the only returner in limbo is Brooks, who would you expect the starting 5 to be. I know it doesn't matter who starts it's who finishes the game but just for fun who will hear their name called during introductions for the first game? This could change as we get closer to October but as of now I would go with.......

TyTy
Wheeler
Grady
Brooks
Oscar
Click to expand...
I'd replace Brooks with Collins because I think Collins starts from day 1. I just think Collins is going to be a defensive monster for us from day 1!
 
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J

jcmc225

All-American
Nov 12, 2015
3,602
6,133
0
kywildcat41086 said:
I'd replace Brooks with Collins because I think Collins starts from day 1. I just think Collins is going to be a defensive monster for us from day 1!
Click to expand...
Collins gives us that rim protection Cal covets and he fits well next to Oscar, but just dont see him being a better overall player than a junior Brooks. Think Brooks, with the spacing and passing added, will be really good at the 4 this year.
Fwiw though Collins might be our next best option at Center behind Oscar bc of that length, so he should see plenty of time on the court. Ill wait and see on Wares improvement
 
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R

Rideordiewildcat

Heisman
Jan 30, 2018
16,155
24,635
0
PG 6ft3 TyTy-I really hope he gets his shot to run the team with WHeeler as a backup.

SG 6ft5 Grady

SF 6ft3 Fredrick

PF 6ft9 Toppin

C 6ft9 Oscar

I'm hoping Toppin has a better jumper and if so that puts 4 guys on the court that can score from outside. Oscar is a beast on the glass and rebounds 1 out of every 5 rebounds when he is on the court. This isn't a huge lineup, but there is good size throughout the entire lineup.
 
revcort

revcort

Heisman
Feb 20, 2003
32,522
30,904
113
I'll tell you what I see when I look at this roster: good options. We just didn't see that last season.

I see consistent perimeter shooters who will make you pay if you leave them.

I see some guys who can create for others or themselves if needed and have the quickness to penetrate into the lane to get it done.

I see some muscle inside that will be hard to push around.

Our problems last season were well documented but one of the biggest was that we just couldn't make open shots. Forget guarded shots, we couldn't make wide open shots. And the guy taking the most shots was also one of the least efficient. That just doesn't work.

At crunch time last season, our biggest problem (in my humble opinion) was that we lacked anyone who could create shots for themselves or anyone else. When the defense tightened up, which always happens down the stretch, we just struggled getting penetration and creating. Mintz did some of this late in the season, but he was limited too. You've got to have guys who can break down their man and create a shot.

And how many times last season did the ball enter the post and either come right back out or we were too weak with the ball to make a move, turned it over couldn't get a decent shot off? You gotta have a guy who can't be shoved off the block and is strong with the ball. In his defense, that's really just not Sarr's game. Never was. He needs to get stronger if he wants to have NBA success.

So, I look here and I see options, which is very good. I see some experience. I see some depth, too, which we have often lacked in recent years.
 
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C

cats#1again

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2011
8,011
4,587
0
I think this may end up being one of our better teams. We are loaded everywhere. When you give cal and Antigua experience, they become dangerous.. our roster doesn't even look like a uk team.
Wheeler
Tyty
Grady
Hopkins
Oscar

Fredrick
Allen
Toppin
Collins
Brooks
Splitting pg you could literally play 2 dif teams if you wanted and have the same success
 
H

hotelblue

Heisman
Jul 6, 2006
41,683
13,121
0
no matter how you slice it we have a heck of a bench, with not just talent but experience. our starting 5 may not be extra special per say but the collective is going to be on par with the best teams around.
 
F

fatguy87

All-American
Oct 8, 2004
13,764
9,093
0
Tyty
Fredrick
Grady
Brooks
Oscar

That seems to be the best collection of skill and perimeter shooting that we can put out there. A four guard lineup would surpass that, but I doubt Cal will roll with that, especially since either Grady or Allen picking up defensive roles around the hoop doesn't seem like a tradeoff Cal would like to make in the paint.

I think Hopkins could be a darkhouse. At 6'7'' 220 pounds, he's quite large. He has the frame to defend and rebound under the hoop and a versatile skillset. He's particularly intriguing if we ever experience with mega small lineups.
 
L

Lord Z

Senior
Apr 24, 2021
521
830
0
Most important thing is who ends the game. In close games what gets you over the line is to D the other team up on one end then put the ball in somebody's hands that can score in the other. High efficiency basketball in crunch time.
 
A

AGEE11

All-American
Jan 10, 2014
3,222
6,651
0
I think starters are:

Wheeler
Washington
Grady
Brooks
Oscar or Collins

The team I am most excited to see on the court is:
Washington
Fredrick
Grady
Allen
Oscar or Collins

4 guys that shoot at or over 40% from 3 and a good big man. Yes I know we would struggle against a physical PF, but they would struggle against a perimeter team like this as well.
 
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J

JonathanW_rivals

Heisman
Jan 3, 2003
145,534
15,709
0
I think the OP had it right, but could be toss of the coin between Toppin and Brooks.
BUT...
I would like to see the platoon back. This roster is made for it, where there isn’t much difference in the talent between the 1st guy and the 10th guy. And the platoon could be a 20/20 split, or something else (like 24/16).
With a platoon, I would split up Tyty and Wheeler.

Blue: Washington, xxx, Grady, Toppin, Oscar
White: Wheeler, Fredrick, Allen, Brooks, Collins
And if anyone doesn’t perform or injury or fouls, you could insert and shift around Hopkins (or possibly Ware)
I would like to see Mintz be “xxx”

I know Wheeler isn’t the best shooter, but with Allen and Fredrick on floor with him he would get some wide open looks for him improving his shooting.

If Jackson were to return, I think Brooks leaves.

There are no star/elite players on our team, but I think 10, possibly 11 good ones. So not a top 5, but maybe a top 10, certainly a top 15. I think a platoon could make the team better than the talent.
 
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W

woodberry79

Junior
Nov 15, 2019
233
284
0
Cal won't start both Oscar and Collins. Both are too limited offensively and lane cloggers. Oscar starts and Collins might have something to say about it by February if he can adjust to the speed of the game.
 
F

FinalF

Senior
Apr 28, 2020
287
447
57
1. Tyty has a 6-9 wingspan he should be an above average on ball defender and our best option at pg as the year goes on.
2. I’m not sure about Fredrick on D. That will be the only thing keeping him off the floor. Mintz here if he comes back.
3. I believe Grady is a lock at 3.
4 should be interesting. If you have Tyty, Cj or Allen, and Grady in you could start Collins here and Oscar at the 5. That is a stout interior D at the expense of spacing. Unless Brooks or Toppin take a huge step forward shooting from the 4 will be terrible and will limit some lineups. This is where Willis and PJ were so great
5. Probably the easiest to call Oscar.

I’ve always believed Brooks could be a star and if he makes that jump I really like this team. But we need a star to be great.

Just my early thoughts not saying they are good ones.
 
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wildcatbd21

wildcatbd21

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2007
1,260
1,675
103
Blue Platoon:
TyTy
Grady
Allen
Brooks
Thiebwe

White Platoon:
Wheeler
Fredrick
Toppin
Hopkins
Collins/Ware

Realistic:
Wheeler / Washington
Washington / Fredrick
Grady / Allen / Toppin
Brooks / Collins / Hopkins
Tshiebwe / Ware / Collins
 
C

Chris Mallory

All-Conference
Jun 24, 2009
1,303
1,829
67
Creed Bratton said:
You should probably not watch then. I have heard from Zags fans that apparently post on this board that Gonzaga has an exciting team though. 🤣
Click to expand...
Just saying, it’s missing that Wall or Davis or Bam. That one or two players that can bring excitement and dominate the game
 
jameslee32

jameslee32

Heisman
Mar 26, 2009
33,663
22,359
83
Probably the 5-stars and grad transfer to start the season.
TyTy
Grady
Brooks
Collins
Oscar
 
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