Guards will need more breathers if cutting the nets is the goal

[bballcat4]

This is not a negative post.

The 3 guards dominated both ends of the floor. Briscoe and Ulis's defense totally took Duke guards out of the game. (Briscoe's defense is beyond anything I expected.)

Cal may have played this rotation specifically for this game. He really wanted to win it for multiple reasons. (He doesn't want to have people talking about Coach K beating him on the recruiting trail.)

If cutting nets is ultimate goal then someone else has to step in guard rotation. They can't play those kind of minutes all year without wearing out. Foul trouble will happen somewhere in NCAA tournament.

Hawkins can sub for some mins in spurts. The biggest issue right now is developing someone at the wing. Hopefully, Matthews can earn some more minutes.

Great start. I'm sure Cal will make it work.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

Lol i'd rather all guards play 40 minutes then Hawkins getting some run.

Matthews has been quiet so far. Need him to start using his tools to start impacting on defense.

Cal doesn't seem to like Mulder being 1-dimensional, but hope he gives him run to give him a shot to show how lethal his 3pt stroke is. Lets see if its strong enough to let the other flaws in his game slide.

At the end of the day, I'm fine w/ the guards playing heavy minutes. Sure foul trouble/injuries can happen, but these guys give us the best shot to win.

 

[redsweaterblackjeans]

i agree. matthews and hawkins will work their way into the rotation. the beauty is that briscoe can slide over to point (not completely sold on murray there) when either of those two come in off the bench.

mulder may even have a chance if he can improve his defense. there are definitely options to increase the rotation.

 

[ulismyman]

No they wont

 

[NavyKat]

Players are 17-22 years old. They can handle playing 30-35 min a game two times a week. Not an issue.

 

[Deli owl]

Poythress already started cutting them down with his teeth.

 

[zannmann]

Hawkins should never see the floor in a game like this one unless it is cigar time. Just like he didn't. Poythress can play the three and Cal can rotate the three through the two guard spots if need be. It was working tonight, no since in messing with a good thing.

 

[bballcat4]

Hawkins should never see the floor in a game like this one unless it is cigar time. Just like he didn't. Poythress can play the three and Cal can rotate the three through the two guard spots if need be. It was working tonight, no since in messing with a good thing.

As I stated in my OP, I didn't have a problem with tonight's rotation. I think Cal REALLY wanted to win tonight. I actually think he coached it more like a NCAA game with a tight rotation. (Big men rotation was influenced by fouls.) He knows how big it is to the fanbase and more importantly, for recruiting.

I'm saying if winning it all is the ultimate goal they can't play these kind of minutes for the whole year. Regarding Hawkins, he's already proven he can step in and play for 3-5 min spurts and play good defense. Cal will continue getting some other people some mins at the 3. (Matthews and Willis.).

Tonight's rotation will be the rotation when we roll into tourn. Before then, he'll reduce mins down to 32-35 a game instead of 40.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Lol i'd rather all guards play 40 minutes then Hawkins getting some run.

Matthews has been quiet so far. Need him to start using his tools to start impacting on defense.

Cal doesn't seem to like Mulder being 1-dimensional, but hope he gives him run to give him a shot to show how lethal his 3pt stroke is. Lets see if its strong enough to let the other flaws in his game slide.

At the end of the day, I'm fine w/ the guards playing heavy minutes. Sure foul trouble/injuries can happen, but these guys give us the best shot to win.

I agree. Come tourney time I hope we play those 3 most of the game. Hawkins just has no offensive ability. We pretty much have to make sure we have him in there with our 4 best offensive players in order to justify it.

 

[Big Cat fan]

Our second best guard is Briscoe, I hate when he comes out. We have to play Ulis and Briscoe in the big games.

 

[5iveStarRecruit]

I agree. Come tourney time I hope we play those 3 most of the game. Hawkins just has no offensive ability. We pretty much have to make sure we have him in there with our 4 best offensive players in order to justify it.

Yup, Hawkins is 1-dimensional himself. I;d take a 3 point specialist over a defensive G who's not versatile enough due to his size.

These dudes are young, its a maximum of 40 games and its not like they're playing tons of back-to back games flying all over the country. Give the elite trio as many minutes they can handle and let them take us to the title.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

The 3 headed monster tire? Never!!!

 

[Orange Soda King]

Without Hawkins, we don't go to the championship game in 2014... He could be counted on for a few vital minutes as a freshman, he can be counted on for a few vital minutes as a junior. But I agree that Ulis, Murray, and Briscoe get most of the minutes, though. But Matthews, Hawkins, and Mulder will continue to develop, and Cal will have options off the bench if needed.

 

[hmt5000]

most games we will see willis get some minutes at 3 and matthews as well i would think. got to think cal shortened the rotation because of the matchup.

 

[BBNinSC]

One thing is clear...Ulis can play 40 minutes a game.
We should have a good backcourt rotation going forward.

 

[BlueCat43]

I think they (mainly Briscoe) got tired late, but they were also playing their 3rd game in 5 days early in the season. We won't run into this situation often, and by the time we do I think we will have more time in conditioning and be fine.

 

[LowCountryCat]

Cal addressed it in his postgame presser.

 

[MWes11]

Why are so many opposed to giving Hawkins spot minutes against inferior teams? I don't even see a problem with him playing spot minutes against good teams and throwing him on the best offensive guard from the other team.

 

[bballcat4]

Cal addressed it in his postgame presser.

Prime MF - didn't get a chance to listen to Cal's presser. What did he say?

I forgot about Mulder. (Wow, this team is loaded!) Ullis had some shin issues last year. Totally agree that Ulis can play 40 mins when necessary. Just think Cal throttles them back to that 32-35 min range until March. The key to being able to do this will be someone stepping up to take a few mins in the wing position. I'm hoping Matthews can be the guy. He should be the lock down defender and slasher coming off the bench.

 

[KMKAT]

Poythress already started cutting them down with his teeth.

You can also say Poy is already able to taste a title.

 

[bballcat4]

You can also say Poy is already able to taste a title.

Doubt we see Poythress much any more at the 3 spot. He doesn't have the ball handling skills to play it.

Love him where Cal has him. I salivate when I see teams go zone and especially 1-3-1. I know Alex will be roaming the baseline waiting for some monster put backs or lobs.

I think Cal keeps him where he's at and let's the other guys fight over the wing minutes.