4-guard Lineup

[mj2k10]

You keep hyping Matthews, I hope you are right about him.

I just hope he adds some muscle, if he is going to be used that way.

6'6, 190 is a far cry from 6'8, 230-240 (average PF size in college). Giving up 40-50 lbs. is a bigger deal than the two inches or so of height when we are talking about banging down low.

Winslow was able to handle that spot for Duke because he was a solid 225 lbs. Connaughton played that spot for ND, but was a solid built 215 lbs. Senior.

I'd like to see Matthews at least north of 200 lbs. before he plays any at PF.

The idea that the "average" size of a PF in college is 6'8" 230-240 is wrong. That's the stereotype of a PF, but the truth is that not a lot of teams have a guy that size + another quality big guy to play center.

Let's look at the top SEC teams last season besides UK. Arkansas had 1 guy 6'8" or taller who played at least 20 minutes per game. Ditto Texas A&M. Ole Miss had 2, but one of their most common lineups had 4 guards- Moody, Summers, White, and Newby (none over 6'6"). Georgia had more traditional lineups, with Thornton and Djurisic, but they played no one over 6'8". LSU had 2 quality big guys in Martin and Mickey, but almost everyone else who played for them was a guard.

Not saying that 4 guards is ideal, but it's doable exactly because it's pretty rare for there to be two 6'8", 240 lbs guys on the floor for UK's opponents.

 

[psuweather]

OP...PSU weather?? That's Penn State Weather. I've never seen you post here before.

Yep, I'm a PSU meteo grad. But I was raised in KY and have returned to live here.

 

[lkc1234]

Im pretty sure there will be games where Poy and Lee are struggling and Skal gets in foul trouble. 4 guards will happen at times if UK gets Murray.

No

 

[Aike]

Yeah, I've always liked that type of team as well.

I remember back in 2008, hoping everyone would get healthy and that we would play Bradley, Meeks, Crawford, and Jasper together with Patterson inside. We saw it briefly against UF at Gainesville that year, but Jasper and Meeks just couldn't get healthy enough to keep that lineup on the floor.

I always thought that team could make a deep run if those guys could get on the floor together. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

One of my all-time favorite non-UK teams to watch was that 1989 Illinois squad without a starter taller than 6'7". That style can be a thing of beauty.

 

[bucsrule8872]

The idea that the "average" size of a PF in college is 6'8" 230-240 is wrong. That's the stereotype of a PF, but the truth is that not a lot of teams have a guy that size + another quality big guy to play center.

Let's look at the top SEC teams last season besides UK. Arkansas had 1 guy 6'8" or taller who played at least 20 minutes per game. Ditto Texas A&M. Ole Miss had 2, but one of their most common lineups had 4 guards- Moody, Summers, White, and Newby (none over 6'6"). Georgia had more traditional lineups, with Thornton and Djurisic, but they played no one over 6'8". LSU had 2 quality big guys in Martin and Mickey, but almost everyone else who played for them was a guard.

Not saying that 4 guards is ideal, but it's doable exactly because it's pretty rare for there to be two 6'8", 240 lbs guys on the floor for UK's opponents.

True.

Probably went a little high for college PFs, especially on the weight.

 

[mj2k10]

Play whoever you want. Cal chokes in the end.

2014- Mercer 78, Duke 71
2013- Louisville 85, Duke 63
2012- Lehigh 75, Duke 70
2011- Arizona 93, Duke 77
2009- Villanova 77, Duke 54
2008- West Virginia 73, Duke 67
2007- VCU 79, Duke 77