I was always wondering why we don't play more of our bench guys, not necessarily this year but in years past. The last few games have proved me wrong (yet again) in the fact that we look better playing 7 or 8 guys. The roles look more defined and the guys seem to know what is expected of them. Kudos to the staff, keep it rolling. Lets Go Duke!!
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- Thread starter duhondukie
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So, you have to play it based on personnel. K has won so many games because he plays his BEST players the most minutes. Common sense says if you’re BEST players are getting the most minutes, you’re going to be successful. And he has been. Where it comes to bite him is when one or two of those BEST players get injured or in foul trouble.
When K does it this way with no injuries/foul trouble, it’s beautiful to watch. When one of his BEST players is injured/foul trouble, its UGLY because now he’s inserting a player who isn’t game ready into pressure situations. Now, sometimes it work (Casey Sanders in 2001 and J-Rob this season) and some seasons it doesn’t work.
HIS way has brought about THE best result in college basketball besides Wooden. Also, to be honest, there is no ONE way to win, either. He’s played a deep bench this season and we still have 6 losses, just like we had last season playing a limited bench. Roy still plays a deep bench and they have 18 losses. Why not play your elite players elite minutes? Since we don’t have that many elite players this year, he’s replying on more players to make up for that deficiency and it’s yielding similar results thus far.
In 2015, 8 was enough; in 2019 it wasn’t.
When K does it this way with no injuries/foul trouble, it’s beautiful to watch. When one of his BEST players is injured/foul trouble, its UGLY because now he’s inserting a player who isn’t game ready into pressure situations. Now, sometimes it work (Casey Sanders in 2001 and J-Rob this season) and some seasons it doesn’t work.
HIS way has brought about THE best result in college basketball besides Wooden. Also, to be honest, there is no ONE way to win, either. He’s played a deep bench this season and we still have 6 losses, just like we had last season playing a limited bench. Roy still plays a deep bench and they have 18 losses. Why not play your elite players elite minutes? Since we don’t have that many elite players this year, he’s replying on more players to make up for that deficiency and it’s yielding similar results thus far.
In 2015, 8 was enough; in 2019 it wasn’t.
Agreed! K pushed ALL the Right buttons yesterday, and both games this week. Any naysayers who mention a poor rotation and/or Baker/O'Connell not playing yesterday are just Debbie Downers. Coach K "cut off the head" yesterday in Anthony, a phrase Al McGuire made famous on tv as a commentator years ago.
#LoveThisTeam
OFC
That's good Q. Over the years you've becomeva favorite poster of mine. Your research is very valueable to me. OFC
Oh wow! Thanks sky and I look forward to your perspectives as well.
Yes, cut off the head! Great analogy! K loves doing that. Like a boa constrictor, K wants to squeeze the life out of the opponent by using his best players to go up against a team that isn’t playing their best players that many minutes.
If our best players, playing 30-35 minutes, is only having to face our opponents best players for 20-25 minutes, we’re going to be successful. Highly successful. But it’s high risk; high reward as well. We love it when it works and hate it when it doesn’t.
He’s developed his bench this year. I mean look at a guy like Goldwire. Spot minutes to key contributor/starter. And AOC and Baker have contributed at times. If they need to be inserted in the tourney due to injury or foul trouble they should be tested enough to expect a contribution. And I’m excited with what JRob can bring with his shot blocking and three ball which allows them to spread the floor.
Good thread with great insight. It seems to be the ebb and flow of team development. In a recent thread someone made the analogy of JRob being this year's Brian Zoubek. That remains to be seen, but the very thought of it makes me smile! Anything is possible with this coach and this team.
On a related point, what do you think happens to Alex, Joey, Matthew's minutes moving forward? I feel like we might not see Alex or Joey again except for spot minutes.
On a related point, what do you think happens to Alex, Joey, Matthew's minutes moving forward? I feel like we might not see Alex or Joey again except for spot minutes.
J Rob has given us a jolt at the right time for sure. If he continues this you have to play him over Jack and Baker. As much as I like those guys with J Rob you seem to know what you are going to get. His length causes problems for the other team. Small sample size but he has been amazing.
We’ve finally found our best all around lineup. J Rob is the kind of stretch 4 we’ve been looking for. He makes our offense and defense better. He’s that senior leader that will talk and help the freshmen out. Can’t ask for more from someone who makes threes and block shots. You’re just not going to pick on him defensively like a Hurt. This is some movie type ish right here. Either J Rob or Carey needs to be on the floor at all times moving forward
These guys will get their shot. But if J Rob continues his good play then they will either have to perform when called upon or get buried on the bench. Hopefully J Rob continues to be consistent. Can he do it in a tournament setting? I hope so.
Duke has good depth but unfortunately it garners very inconsistent performances. (AOC, Baker, White, etc) J Robinson’s emergence is likely pushing some of the others minutes further down.
I think the biggest reason we’ve seen the rotation shortened over the last few games is because the guys at the bottom end of the rotation haven’t been contributing much recently. We’ve had 9 players that have played in at least 28 games this season and we would have 10 players that have played in at least 28 games this season if Moore hadn’t missed as many games as he did because of the broken hand. JRob has essentially replaced one of the bottom of the rotation players in the rotation because he’s proven that he’s earned a sport in the rotation. Hopefully those bottom of the rotation players step it up in the postseason because we’ve going to need them to be able to contribute some so that our top of the rotation players can get a break for some rest in our postseason games.
Everyone on the roster (scholarship players) has had ample opportunities. And I think it’s fair to say everyone has had moments where they’ve taken advantage of said opportunities. But eventually it comes down to consistency....and that tends to win out.
I wouldn’t rule out Joey and AOC in spots the next few weeks, but I think their chances of playing extended minutes have diminished greatly. With Matthew, I still think he can blow up with his skill set....but I’ve sort of given up on that being a consistent thing, too.
I wouldn’t rule out Joey and AOC in spots the next few weeks, but I think their chances of playing extended minutes have diminished greatly. With Matthew, I still think he can blow up with his skill set....but I’ve sort of given up on that being a consistent thing, too.
I think its clear what is happening. Coach K has decided he doesn’t want to play the white kids.
Hurt is gonna have a few more big games this year. I think next year (I hope) we will see it consistently.
Very good point. Also, teams that we have to play again in the post season now have to game plan for him.
Q is loved over at thr and rump rafters as well
Wow! I am?
Being loved by THOSE people is truly an honor!
Hokie and I had a pretty heated discussion on the podcast and off the podcast on this topic. I think this is right though- i think both guys will see action at some point coming up, but it’s going to be situationally for them. But right now, nothing Joey or Alex are doing, warrant minutes vs the guys that are playing. Just the hard truth. Matt, he will continue to play bc of what he offers and if he gets hot it’s a matchup nightmare. But he will he watched closely as he has the last couple games.
Agreed. K has so much flexibility with the players we have but it doesn’t mean anything if they aren’t contributing. All Baker/AOC need to do is hit 2-3 3’s while on the court; Hurt as well along with rebounding; Jack White needs to focus on defensive rebounding and blocks and only shoot 3’s if he’s wide open. That should be their roles. I’m really high on Jack every since what he did in the Kentucky game last year but it seems he has strong starts (last year and this) and he starts fading towards the end of the season—when we need his defense the most.
I think they each know what their roles are, have accepted them. The final part though is the confidence and execution. None of those three have both. JRob does, he’s going to play and he should. Hopefully when those other three guys have their number called, they can step up.
At least Joey and Alex seem like amazing teammates. I don't think them getting zero minutes in some games will hurt this team, they both still seem really engaged on the bench against UNCheat. One of them is gonna hit a massive 3 this weekend.
