It's been a long time since we had such a stacked roster from top to bottom like this. In my view, we haven't had anything remotely close to this level of talent and depth since 2015. Thinking about starting lineups and combinations is fun, but at the end of the day, by the end of the season, I beleive we wil see this :
Scenario One :
JQ is not ready to go at the beginniing of the year, spot minutes as he is slowly worked into shape. Ready to go full tilt by SEC play would be my best guess. If he isn't ready to go from the get-go :
Starters : Lowe, Oweh, Aberdeen, Mo. D., Garrison
Scenario two :
JQ is ready to go from the start ... no issues means we're good to go.
Starters : Lowe, Oweh, Aberdeen, Mo. D., JQ
I think Coach Pope has constructed another team to fit into his system much like the first team he brought on board.
Lowe takes over from Butler, Williams comes in as a sixth man sharpshooter in the shoes of Brea, Oweh and Garrison same as aled and now the leaders of the team.... Aberdeen and Mo. D. coming in with invaluable experience, toughness, athleticism and talent. Aberdeen seems to me to be much like Jaxson's role on this team, very similar game and skillset.
Williams looks to me to be the 6th man off the bench and in the same role as Brea, had everyone stayed healthy,. Brea would have remained our primary 6th man, sharpsooter from the bench.
JQ is another stud of the group. Unique skillset for this team that may be the singular difference in how great this team will be. I think he will give us a rebounding and shot blocking presence that we lacked from the outset last year.
Mo. D. and JQ are the two keynote players for our defensive and rebounding improvement.
When you look at the bench, Chandler, Williams and Noah coming off the bench gives us a superior three point shooting presence. Perhaps not as good as last year, but I think Coach Pope's system is better served having guys like them, as well as JJ to stretch teams out and create space.
I'm not convinced we will not be as lethal offensively as we were last year. I think we will be ... better.... Why ?
Butler ----- Lowe (May have even better offensive proiduction and three point shooting from Lowe, but a dropoff in defensive intensity on the ball looks to be the case. His offensive ability is not needed as much with the other pieces out there, imo)
Oweh ------ All American potential season in store
Jaxson ---- Aberdeen - Similar game, and style of play, looks to me to be equally important for next season
Brea ------ Williams - I'm going to say he's going to be as lethal as Brea within this system. We shall see.
Almonor ----- Jelavic --- Another incremental upgrade, perhaps even better than incremental. All across the board, plugging him into a lineup with any of the other allows him to have a big impact on games when he gets his playing time, and he will have playing time.
Chandler --- A better and more experienced version, a huge leap may be in store
Noah ---- improved with more experience !
Perry ---- JJ - another sharpshooting sensation waiting to get PT on a spread out floor where he can catch and shoot, as lethal as Brea potentially ... having him off the bench gives us yet ANOTHER three point threat
Carr ----- Mo. D. --- And upgrade across the board, perhaps a slight fall off from three point shooting, but that will not be his primary value, it will be in what he brings with rebounding, hustle and defensive intensity that should make him a better fit and player within Pope's system.
Garrison --- Again, improved and more experienced, only net positives from him staying here, at this point
Williams ---- JQ - I have to think this is an area where we will be better served defensively and with rebounding.
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TLDNR :
We're going to be a better three point shooting team next year.
we were looking primarily at : Jaxson, Brea, Chandler, Perry, Noah and Almonor as our primary three point shooters last year, with key contributions from Butler, Oweh, Garrison and Carr from 3 point territory, because the system allows for them to have the chance at good looks from the perimiter.
next year we will have : Aberdeen, Williams, Chandler, JJ, Noah, Jelavic, again, looking to have Lowe, Oweh, Garrison, Mo. D., take the shot when the opportunity presents itself within the system and the game.
It looks to me to be almost the same, if not slightly better because of the improvement defensively, with rebounding as a big improvement, it should make for a better team and easier offense within the system.
In short, we got a monster team next eyar. I hope everyone sleeps on us.
They won't be asleep when they see this team in action.....
Go Big Blue !
