Your Rotation: Now and March

First things first, though…great post. I love these types of things, and with football being what it is (or isn’t), I’m more than happy to look forward to basketball.

Regarding the frontcourt: I think we’re far more likely to see Mario Little playing the 4 a little bit than we are seeing Releford do so. Little played the 4 a bit two years ago, and played it pretty darn well, as I recall. He creates significant matchup problems at the 4. Therefore, I think it’s far more likely that we see Releford at the 3, and often, especially at the beginning of the year (even more so if Selby is out for any significant stretch). Releford is a Langford-esque slasher who can get to the rim. I’m also curious if his red-shirt year has helped him improve his outside shot. If so, he could be a VERY dangerous player out on the wing. Maybe not Brandon Rush or Xavier Henry, but not bad either. Remember, had Xavier not come here last year, Releford and Little both play the 3 the majority of the available minutes.

Regarding Brady: It’s easy to look on paper and say Brady gets left off. I just don’t see HCBS doing that, at least not to start the year (as you’ve indicated). I think we all hope BM’s role decreases as the year goes along (meaning, ostensibly, that younger, more athletic players are making a bigger contribution), but I don’t think it’ll happen right away. The other thing to think about is BM’s defense. If Little or Releford can become a lock-down defender, that will speed the transition, no doubt.

Lastly, if Withey is healthy, I expect he’ll be in the rotation at the end of the year. If so, I would expect Reed and Releford to fight over the remaining minutes at the 3 (assuming Releford doesn’t overtake Little for the starting position).

I can hardly wait. Nov. 2 can’t get here soon enough.

To start:

Taylor
Selby
Releford
Marcus
Markieff

First off the bench: Little (at the 4 or the 3), Robinson (4 or 5), Reed (at the two), Morningstar (2 or 3).

I think Little and Releford’s minutes will be close to even, and he will play either/or depending on the matchup. Releford is super fast and a great defender, so I see him getting the nod at the three in non-con matchups where he is more of a matchup problem athletically.

When Withey gets healthy the post rotation changes a bit obviously. I see Morningstar’s minutes to decrease.

Also, unfortunately, I don’t see Elijah factoring in much this season. But he will get a ton of minutes next year once Morningstar and Reed graduate. We really should have redshirtted him last year

Its like Sampson after a haircut…

to start

1. Tyshawn
2. Selby
3. Reed
4. morris
5. Morris

off the bench EJ to relac either TT or Selby. morningstar/releford to get Reed. Trob to get most of the bigs minutes

a few interesting lineups we could throw out there

Athletic
1. Tyshawn
2Selby
3. EJ
4 Morris
5. Trob

Big
1. Selby
2. EJ
3 Morris
4 Morris
5. Whithey

shooting

1. Selby
2 Reed
3 Morningstar
4/5Morrisx2

Shelby
Taylor
Little
Marcus
Markieff

Releford/Reed/EJ/Thomas coming off the bench. Sorry Brady, you had a good run but it’s time to put the athletes on the court. I’ve never been a big Brady fan anyway. I think if Little, and Releford wouldn’t of redshirted, Brady wouldn’t of played as much last year.

That should say, I wasn’t latin attention too, and my phone auto-corrects it. Once again I need to proof read my messages. But I’m goin to shut up now because my typing his horrible tonight ha ha.

Frontcourt depth doesn’t worry me—especially if Withey showed his true potential in that Iowa State game last year. Also, watch out for Keith Langford’s cousin, a 6’8 walkon with some real athleticism- could be another Moody situation.

I’m actually more worried about the backcourt. We have no idea what to expect from Little or Releford at this point. Same could be said for Elijah, and really, the two freshmen. The known quantities are 28 year old Brady Morningstar, Reed, and Taylor. Taylor is “supposed” to have a breakout season, but he’s never been an on-court leader in his life. Can he do it?

If our crunch-time lineup is Taylor/Reed/Morningstar/Morrii, and none of those backcourt players have improved at all from last year, I don’t think we’re better than third in the Big 12.

I call it the “run like bastards” offense:

Selby
Johnson
Releford
Little
Marcus Morris