The Bench.

[GB Warrior]

I know this staff hangs their hats on development, but I just don't see how we are going to be any good next year. We are losing too much and there just doesn't seem to be anything behind them.  I hope I'm wrong. 

Could be a huge step back. Or something could click for the freshmen currently battling through it.

I'm just glad that we are winning thru all the scuffling

[GoldenEagles03]

Next year problem.  Half a season to go.

Yup. This team is going to have a completely different identity. They are adding great outside shooting in Militec and Phillips. They'll have a real 7 footer with a 7'4" (or whatever) wingspan behind Benny G. Zaide and Damarius will have more freedom to be the athletes they are.

No reason to worry now!

[Newsdreams]

Next year problem.  Half a season to go.

I'm worried about 2028

[MUfan12]

Owens, in particular, looks lost right now. If I had to wager, I'd bet that a year from now he's a darn player for us, but it sure would be nice for the starters if we could get some of the juju he had in some of his early games now.

I'd like to see him worked in for Chase/Jop/Stevie and play with four starters. Playing three bench guys at a time is not helping any of them.

[Warrior2008]

The ceiling for this team is considerably lower if the bench cannot take some of the load off of the starters.  Its just not sustainable for guys to be playing 35+ min a night over the course of a Big East season, the conference is just too physical.

I think its safe to say both freshman have hit a wall, Damarious in particular, but they've both shown they can play at this level and have good upside.  Hopefully they get past it soon.  The sophomores though have me concerned.  For having 18 months of college basketball under their belts, neither of them appear to have improved on the offensive end and still make silly mistakes defensively. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Not sure what the best rotation adjustments would be but I do think staggering the minutes more, if possible, would be helpful.

When Kam is out it feels like we need the 4 other starters in.  Otherwise, 2 bench guys at most when Kam is in. 

Obviously this all depends on fouls, game flow, match-ups, etc. and Shaka knows the team and match-ups much more than we do. 

Agreed that Owens and Parham seem to have hit the wall.  Hopefully they can work through it and become trusted options for 8-12 minutes a game when we get to February and March. 

Was a little surprised Zaide only saw 5 minutes - felt he had been playing better lately. 

[Shooter McGavin]

The ceiling for this team is considerably lower if the bench cannot take some of the load off of the starters.  Its just not sustainable for guys to be playing 35+ min a night over the course of a Big East season, the conference is just too physical.

I think its safe to say both freshman have hit a wall, Damarious in particular, but they've both shown they can play at this level and have good upside.  Hopefully they get past it soon.  The sophomores though have me concerned.  For having 18 months of college basketball under their belts, neither of them appear to have improved on the offensive end and still make silly mistakes defensively. 

I agree with this.  And your last paragraph points out my concern.  The fact that experienced sophomores don't hunt their shots more seems concerning. For an athletic guy Zaide doesn't drive to the hoop, at all. Tre is the same but is less athletic and doesn't have a jump shot.  Both are tough on defense but the team needs more out of them.  If they had the ability I believe it would have shown up by now. Shaka has historically encouraged players to play to their strengths.

Think about what Kam was doing his sophomore year for comparison. Stevie as a sophomore was impactful as well (Justin Lewis sophomore year , Kolek sophomore year, Omax sophomore year, Oso when he got playing time).

Extremely random good games, 1 out of every 10 or so, is for projects not high major future impact players.  Parnham and Owens, albeit hitting the freshman wall, at least show inklings of future starter/impact potential. 

And this is not a future concern .  This is a ceiling for this year concern. 

Keep developing fellas!  Plenty of time for Owens and Parnham to get it going. 

[We R Final Four]

Yup. This team is going to have a completely different identity. They are adding great outside shooting in Militec and Phillips. They'll have a real 7 footer with a 7'4" (or whatever) wingspan behind Benny G. Zaide and Damarius will have more freedom to be the athletes they are.

No reason to worry now!

Exactly. Some Scoopers said we needed to go our a get a transfer to fill OMax's departure. Then they said we need a big and a PG when TKO and Oso left.
Here we are top ten in the country after we lost those guys.
For some to say....I know we develop our players and all but next year we are gonna take a step back is unnecessary.
Hasn't Shaka and company earned the opportunity to develop each class before you say we're doomed?
Also.......he's not going out and getting a transfer without season ending injuries.

[1SE]

I agree with this.  And your last paragraph points out my concern.  The fact that experienced sophomores don't hunt their shots more seems concerning. For an athletic guy Zaide doesn't drive to the hoop, at all. Tre is the same but is less athletic and doesn't have a jump shot.  Both are tough on defense but the team needs more out of them.  If they had the ability I believe it would have shown up by now. Shaka has historically encouraged players to play to their strengths.

Think about what Kam was doing his sophomore year for comparison. Stevie as a sophomore was impactful as well (Justin Lewis sophomore year , Kolek sophomore year, Omax sophomore year, Oso when he got playing time).

Extremely random good games, 1 out of every 10 or so, is for projects not high major future impact players.  Parnham and Owens, albeit hitting the freshman wall, at least show inklings of future starter/impact potential. 

And this is not a future concern .  This is a ceiling for this year concern. 

Keep developing fellas!  Plenty of time for Owens and Parnham to get it going. 

This - it's hard to see us cutting down the nets unless we see some significant improvement from the bench - doesn't necessarily have to be the same guy every game - but we need consistent positive contributions from 2 or 3 of the 5 every game so that the bench stat line shows some positive contribution. We've seen that in flashes, but concerning when the entire bench line was 0 pts, 6 rebs, 2 assts, 1 steal and a 1 block on 0-5 shooting (only 5 shots!) in a total of 33 minutes - against the worst or second worst team in the league.

[rgoode57]

What troubles me most about Tre and Zaide is that they both seem to want to get rid of the ball very quickly when it comes to them - no thought of going to the basket, etc. They have both had a couple of positive moments offensively, and I thought maybe they were turning the corner. But, now they both seem to have regressed again on offense. As for the freshmen, they look like they have a long, long way to go. This team is eventually going to pay for its lack of bench strength.

[tower912]

A half season to go.  Plenty of time for the the switch to flip.  And it will probably have to.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Scoop reads like we have a bad team despite being undefeated in 2 conferences so far.

[Its DJOver]

Scoop reads like we have a bad team despite being undefeated in 2 conferences so far.

It is a real concern.  That fact that we've been able to win anyways is always enjoyable, but it will catch up to us if it doesn't improve.  The next 4 in the "easy" first half of the schedule are all either at home, or against the bottom of the conference, hopefully it can get figured out by the time the "difficult" back half arrives.

[Uncle Rico]

Scoop reads like we have a bad team despite being undefeated in 2 conferences so far.

New here?

It is a legit concern that I think works itself out but I also thought this thread was about brunch

[Shooter McGavin]

A half season to go.  Plenty of time for the the switch to flip.  And it will probably have to.

That's what I keep telling myself as well.  Long way to go.  Would be nice to see at least one of the main four bench players have a game against Xavier.  Personally, I'd like to see Owens get going.  His athleticism would really help. 

[GoldenEagles03]

Scoop reads like we have a bad team despite being undefeated in 2 conferences so far.

Not to state the obvious, but if I had to guess, they want to see the next step.

In reality, this team won't take a next step in the regular season from where we are and have been the last 3 years. These last 3 seasons are the peak as far as regular seasons go.

The next step can only be taken in March and to take that step they will likely need production from their bench. Plenty of time to figure it out, and I believe they are capable. Every single one of them.

[tower912]

Shaka could make Duane right for the wrong reason.  Go full Buzz and use the Erik Williams-Jae Crowder strategy.  The question is which starter would be better off the bench, and which bench player could survive until the first media timeout.

Out of character for Shaka and do not think for a second he would do it.  I also do not think it would make this team better.  But it is a strategy.

[Galway Eagle]

In reality, this team won't take a next step in the regular season from where we are and have been the last 3 years. These last 3 seasons are the peak as far as regular seasons go.

Wait till you find out about 1 seeds

[Galway Eagle]

Shaka could make Duane right for the wrong reason.  Go full Buzz and use the Erik Williams-Jae Crowder strategy.  The question is which starter would be better off the bench, and which bench player could survive until the first media timeout.

Out of character for Shaka and do not think for a second he would do it.  I also do not think it would make this team better.  But it is a strategy.

During that few game stretch where Kam was constantly getting whistled I was thinking the same

[GoldenEagles03]

Wait till you find out about 1 seeds

I just don't see that changing much of anything.

Getting 3 consecutive 2 seeds is more impressive than getting a one off 1 seed. They have been right there at the top for 3 consecutive regular seasons. At this point it is a proven sustained top regular season caliber program...and they've improved every season in their March Madness results.

They just need to figure out a way to continue to improve in the March Madness single elimination setting. They are capable.

[mileskishnish72]

How much of a concern?

For a November post, it's aged pretty well.