Playing Time

[PhillySpider]

I think its encouraging that as I look at the roster, I see 11 players (if we include Josh J) who could end up having some at least somewhat regular role in our rotation THIS year. We can't and won't play 11 with any regularity, but its great to see!

A lot will depend on what the starting group looks like. If - - as some other threads have suggested, we start a frosh at the 2, the first 5 (SDJ, Frosh, TD, TA, TJ) is a bit smaller, quicker and more offensively minded. This makes a lot of sense to me as it allows DT to be a big back-up which is where I think he fits best. DT and MW both still get time up front and one of the other frosh probably gets some minutes at the Point/2 with Trey also swinging back there at times. Mooney seems to think all 3 frosh guards will play, but that I don't see! Which 2 end up getting time is a very interesting question!

If TD starts at 2 and DT (or MW) at the 3, we are bigger, more athletic probably and more defensively minded. This also brings PF possibly into play a little more as he might be needed some up front to back up. It also almost certainly means we cant play all three freshman guards is that starting lineup is one we are giving meaningful time to.

I am gonna go way out on a limb and say Chris is going to change his stripes some and make a move to play faster and start (maybe not game 1, but by game 7 or 8) a freshmen 2 and bring DT off the bench and we settle on an 8 man rotation - - SDJ, a freshman 2 (Jules J?), TD, TA and TJ starting, with DT, MW and KF working into the rotation regularly with JP and PF (and Josh if he is with the team) getting sporadic minutes. JP, Jules and Kwame could all settle anywhere from starting to very inconsistent minutes as is looks right now.

 

[spiderman]

agreed. I think we'll likely have 9 getting regular minutes because we're deeper than usual. #10 and #11 get time in comfortable games. and I believe CM thinks highly enough of the freshmen to play them early. it's a very strong class with another coming behind them.

 

[TBSpyder]

CM in a recent interview, said we may have a larger rotation than normal. Certainly, one possibility is to have a different rotation for every game, so, you could play all 12 players in a 9 or 10 man rotation, over the season. Actually, with Josh's suspension, we are currently down to just 11 scholarship players. Very doable. I also see differing starting teams. I see starting as less important than minutes played, but it's obviously a big thing to the players. I think it was a key to ANO's decision to transfer, he saw Marshall coming on board this season, and TA and TJ playing very well. The starting lineup for JMU game, will be SDJ, TD, DT,TA and TJ. But I expect some other players, will have opportunities to start some games, as season advances.

Of course, I realize that we actually have 12 scholarship players, with Kirby just being awarded one, but CM had indicated, that that didn't mean that Kirby would be getting playing time.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

I think its encouraging that as I look at the roster, I see 11 players (if we include Josh J) who could end up having some at least somewhat regular role in our rotation THIS year. We can't and won't play 11 with any regularity, but its great to see!

A lot will depend on what the starting group looks like. If - - as some other threads have suggested, we start a frosh at the 2, the first 5 (SDJ, Frosh, TD, TA, TJ) is a bit smaller, quicker and more offensively minded. This makes a lot of sense to me as it allows DT to be a big back-up which is where I think he fits best. DT and MW both still get time up front and one of the other frosh probably gets some minutes at the Point/2 with Trey also swinging back there at times. Mooney seems to think all 3 frosh guards will play, but that I don't see! Which 2 end up getting time is a very interesting question!

If TD starts at 2 and DT (or MW) at the 3, we are bigger, more athletic probably and more defensively minded. This also brings PF possibly into play a little more as he might be needed some up front to back up. It also almost certainly means we cant play all three freshman guards is that starting lineup is one we are giving meaningful time to.

I am gonna go way out on a limb and say Chris is going to change his stripes some and make a move to play faster and start (maybe not game 1, but by game 7 or 8) a freshmen 2 and bring DT off the bench and we settle on an 8 man rotation - - SDJ, a freshman 2 (Jules J?), TD, TA and TJ starting, with DT, MW and KF working into the rotation regularly with JP and PF (and Josh if he is with the team) getting sporadic minutes. JP, Jules and Kwame could all settle anywhere from starting to very inconsistent minutes as is looks right now.

Hope that you are correct. It would be best for the team.

Based upon what we have seen and heard (admittedly limited) I think that Marshall Wood is going to play a lot more than we initially thought that he would.

 

[urmite]

Hope that you are correct. It would be best for the team.

Based upon what we have seen and heard (admittedly limited) I think that Marshall Wood is going to play a lot more than we initially thought that he would.

Well, since I initially thought he would play as much as Greg Stevenson then that would really be something.

 

[urmite]

within each group3 weeks ago this is how I was viewing our team.

Front Court - Terry, TJ, Marshall, Paul
Back Court - Shawndre, Kwan, Julius, Jesse
Specialists - Trey, Deion, Josh
Depth - Kovien, Joe

That isn't saying anything about minutes between groups and doesn't account for any changes individual players have made since last season. But left to right was my opinion of who was most ready to play last May within in each group.

 

[SpiderFan]

I agree and think a lot of the guys could play--9, 10, etc player rotations. However if history has taught us anything about the Mooney era is that he gets comfortable with about 7, maybe 8 guys and uses those core guys to the almost all the minutes. We'll see if that changes this year.

 

[fan2011]

Hope that you are correct. It would be best for the team.

Based upon what we have seen and heard (admittedly limited) I think that Marshall Wood is going to play a lot more than we initially thought that he would.

I just don't see where Wood's minutes are going to come from. The 4/5 minutes are going to TA and TJ with about 25 backup minutes a a game split between Wood/Taylor/Friendshuh. I cannot imagine Wood is going to take all of those minutes, I see at most 10 minutes a game for him barring injury to another player.

One scenario where Wood could get more minutes is if we go big at the 3. I think Trey will be getting ~30 minutes per game at the 3, and I think one of our freshmen is more likely to push for time at the 3 than Wood is. I don't know, just can't wait for the season to start.

 

[spiderman]

Well, since I initially thought he would play as much as Greg Stevenson then that would really be something.

yeah, I initially thought he'd start at the 4 moving TA to the 3. still think we could see some of that, but we've got a lot of talent at guard to play.

 

[NewURfan]

Our starting line up will change after few ooc games but it will start with sdj td dt ta tj this will the core group. Next mw will break into the line up or sub in alla sdj last year. Next guys will be kf then Jesse with about 4min ppg. I don't see Julius or kov seeing much of the floor as it stands right now. Although we all wanna see big rotation and playing time for frosh we need to keep it simple . Keep it tight and let the chemistry with the vets play out. This senior junior class is strong enough to make ncaa this year. IMO us playing big with td at 2 and dt in line up will have a perfect blend of 3 offensive weapons size and defense. Similar to last years UVA Duke and UConn from two seasons ago. With 3 offensive weapons you need some role players that just at gritty. This year we won't have to worry about off/def subs cause they will already be in the game so our flow won't get disrupted. No need to look over shoulders let the core group play and we will be successful.

 

[fan2011]

Our starting line up will change after few ooc games but it will start with sdj td dt ta tj this will the core group. Next mw will break into the line up or sub in alla sdj last year. Next guys will be kf then Jesse with about 4min ppg. I don't see Julius or kov seeing much of the floor as it stands right now. Although we all wanna see big rotation and playing time for frosh we need to keep it simple . Keep it tight and let the chemistry with the vets play out. This senior junior class is strong enough to make ncaa this year. IMO us playing big with td at 2 and dt in line up will have a perfect blend of 3 offensive weapons size and defense. Similar to last years UVA Duke and UConn from two seasons ago. With 3 offensive weapons you need some role players that just at gritty. This year we won't have to worry about off/def subs cause they will already be in the game so our flow won't get disrupted. No need to look over shoulders let the core group play and we will be successful.

In March 2014 Kenpom had Mooney as the 4th best coach in the last minutes of the game statistically, which probably means offensive and defensive substitutions work.

 

[NewURfan]

Fan was no mention it did not work in post was saying the flow of momentum of the games we was ahead in and lost may not be stalled THIS year with this teams make up. Although we bring back mostly same players the identity of this year's team is different from last year. We have great coaches and staff top to bottom without question but we can't talk to each player the same coach each team same as previous team. We have experienced talent..no reason why we shouldn't be very good this year.
That is great about 4th best in last minute but we need him delivering that last minute best all game especially 8 minute mark when we stall out..

 

[97spiderfan]

I would say that is about right for the last minute, because it is usually in the prior 3-4 minutes of the game, where we piss away our lead, and then we are in a dogfight the last minute.

 

[Eight Legger]

I expect Wood to play 20+ minutes a game. He better. He only has two years left. If we wasted a slot on a transfer with only 2 years of eligibility for him to play 10 minutes or less a game, that was stupid.

 

[fan2011]

I expect Wood to play 20+ minutes a game. He better. He only has two years left. If we wasted a slot on a transfer with only 2 years of eligibility for him to play 10 minutes or less a game, that was stupid.

When we took Wood we didn't know what we had in TJ yet. If TJ wasn't so good I think Wood would get more time. We have the best front court duo in the conference in TA and TJ, it will be hard to take time from them unless Wood is very very good.

Wood could get some time at the three, but he needs to be fast enough to defend an opponent 3. He will be fighting for time their with our best defenders, Trey and Deion, and possibly the freshmen as well if they are big enough offensive threats,

 

[urmite]

I expect Wood to play 20+ minutes a game. He better. He only has two years left. If we wasted a slot on a transfer with only 2 years of eligibility for him to play 10 minutes or less a game, that was stupid.

Is that at the beginning of the season or the end? Or could he have trajectory like TJ?

 

[Ulla1]

When we took Wood we didn't know what we had in TJ yet. If TJ wasn't so good I think Wood would get more time. We have the best front court duo in the conference in TA and TJ, it will be hard to take time from them unless Wood is very very good.

Marshall does not play the same position as Terry or TJ. He is a 6'8" small forward with solid ball handling skills and a good outside shot. The fact that he can rebound well is a bonus. Thus, the best for us would be to have a front line comprised of TJ, Terry and Marshall. I suspect this is where it ends up by the latter part of the season if not earlier.

 

[CatfishKhan]

Marshall does not play the same position as Terry or TJ. He is a 6'8" small forward with solid ball handling skills and a good outside shot. The fact that he can rebound well is a bonus. Thus, the best for us would be to have a front line comprised of TJ, Terry and Marshall. I suspect this is where it ends up by the latter part of the season if not earlier.

Will Friendshuh be ready to get significant minutes by the end of the year? Or do you think we can play Wood at the 3 without a lot of help from Friendshuh as a backup post?

 

[UR Fan 2]

SDJ 32 mins
TA 29 mins
TJ 28 mins
KF 20 mins
TD 18 mins
DT 18 mins
JP 15 mins
MW 14 mins
PF 10 mins
JJ (both) 8mins each

 

[UR Fan 2]

Basically paint me on the Fore bandwagon. He was supposed to be a big contributor as a frosh last year pre injury. I think he will get the most minutes of the newer players.

 

[fan2011]

SDJ 32 mins
TA 29 mins
TJ 28 mins
KF 20 mins
TD 18 mins
DT 18 mins
JP 15 mins
MW 14 mins
PF 10 mins
JJ (both) 8mins each

Compared to last years numbers:
SDJ: 28.5
TA: 31.2
TJ: 23.2
TD: 30.6
DT: 23.5
Josh Jones: 10.0

I don't see TA losing minutes, especially since we lost ANO. TA and SDJ will be getting close to 35 per game. I also think Trey is closer to 30 minutes than 18 this year.

 

[sdspider]

My money is on experience over youth based on Mooney's past. I would love for Marshall to bring a defense like Deion but be more of a scoring threat. I still think we go with Shawndre, Davis, Taylor, TJ, and Allen playing starters minutes and the rest of the gang filling in. The guard spot intrigues me the most. I think Fore will fill most of nonstarter minutes there but would nice for the other two fresh guys to get some contributions. Wood is also a wildcard I wonder how much time he gets.

 

[Eight Legger]

When we took Wood we didn't know what we had in TJ yet. If TJ wasn't so good I think Wood would get more time. We have the best front court duo in the conference in TA and TJ, it will be hard to take time from them unless Wood is very very good.

Wood could get some time at the three, but he needs to be fast enough to defend an opponent 3. He will be fighting for time their with our best defenders, Trey and Deion, and possibly the freshmen as well if they are big enough offensive threats,

I think Mooney knew exactly what kind of player TJ was and would be for us before last year. And between TJ and TA, there will be at least 15 minutes a game when one of them is out. Assuming Wood takes all of those minutes, he only needs to find another 5 somewhere. They may come from Taylor or from Trey.

 

[TBSpyder]

The only way TA gets just 29 minutes, is, if all our games are blowouts. In some of our toughest contests, he played 36 minutes. We don't need, or necessarily, want him to play that many minutes every game, but unless it's a blowout, he should be over 32 minutes. Like Kendall last year, Terry is very fit. As much as I like TJ, I think he could use a little more rest than TA, so minutes are available to relieve him. But he may prove me wrong this year, as well. .

 

[coachfezz]

I think Mooney knew exactly what kind of player TJ was and would be for us before last year. And between TJ and TA, there will be at least 15 minutes a game when one of them is out. Assuming Wood takes all of those minutes, he only needs to find another 5 somewhere. They may come from Taylor or from Trey.

I think I can ask who will be MrBlock the Shot leader this year. I think it will be CLine.

 

[GKiller]

newurfan, how did Khwan jump over Kirby in your depth chart so quickly?

 

[NewURfan]

newurfan, how did Khwan jump over Kirby in your depth chart so quickly?

Kirby will compete with Kwan if kf is back to format he gets nod. My opinion Jesse is only frosh that will play about 4 to 6 min...so Kirby n Jesse whomever coach deems had best practice that week ..so you will see various garbage time guys game to game...Kwan looks good right now so we will see who has better full practices and grasps our structure best in next two months as we get into ooc deeper. The beginning of our season is no Brainer the vets will play and start.

 

[64Spider]

Kirby looks same as last year. Only difference is the scholie. I don't see him getting minutes.

 

[Eight Legger]

Yeah, Khwan is definitely ahead of Kirby. He was a pretty good recruit for us, whereas Kirby was a recruited walk-on.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

TA in interview referred to bigger lineup with Trey at guard. I think that will be
part of defensive setup. Several comments have circulated about MW's shooting
ability. Did not see at VPI but if he can then we will be in high cotton and will create
a lot of headaches for opponents.

 

[keefusb]

Anyone who thinks TD will get much less than 30 minutes per game is smoking crack. Mooney has shown year after year that he favors the seniors. One of the freshmen will have to step up in a HUGE way in order to put any kind of dent in TD's playing time.

I think you will see this team rank near the top of the NCAA in several defensive statistical categories, other teams will dread playing us for that reason alone. Say what you will, but TD and DT will get a lot of playing time, and much of that time will see them on the floor together, barring injury.

 

[ur2K]

All 3 interviews from practice this week referred to TD as a guard. He's going to start there, like he did in games last year.

 

[spiderman]

Trey will play a lot but not just because he's a senior. he's one of our best players. I know the shot hasn't been great, but there's nothing else that he's not exceptional at.

 

[keefusb]

I think one thing that hurts relative to TD is that he is a great slasher, and in theory he could get to the line a lot, but his FT shooting is dreadful. Other than that and his 3 point shooting, the rest of his game is outstanding, which is why he will likely start, and play a ton of minutes.

 

[MrTbone]

Just because trey is listed as a guard doesn't mean he will play as our two. He fits our system and we regularly go with someone 6'4" to 6'6" at the three.

I think most folks see him as more naturally a three.

I'm buying more futures on a freshman getting meaningful minutes at two.

 

[fan2011]

I think one thing that hurts relative to TD is that he is a great slasher, and in theory he could get to the line a lot, but his FT shooting is dreadful. Other than that and his 3 point shooting, the rest of his game is outstanding, which is why he will likely start, and play a ton of minutes.

Trey will also benefit from the expanded restricted area. He got called for a charge for what seemed like at least once a game. Expanded restricted area = fewer charges (basically a turnover + a foul) = more points.

 

[MrTbone]

So listening to the player interviews from Media day where both Shawndre and Terry discussed their expectations for the Spiders, both guys made specific reference to Trey being a clear guard and that he will continue to see a lot of playing time. Mooney said he expects all three of the freshmen guards to see decent time as well. I wonder if that's setting us up to play more of a three guard set? I don't know how to reconcile those expectations from the interviews without this being the case.

 

[spiderman]

doesn't matter what we call him. we usually have a high post and either 4 perimeter guys or 3 with a low post. either way he's a perimeter guy. and he can defend anyone.

 

[MrTbone]

true, but I guess i think of it as a difference in how big of a line-up we are going with. We could be somewhere between 6'-6'5" at the 2-3 spots as opposed to 6'5"-6'8" at the 2-3 spots. I'm just curious what we are looking like size-wise.

 

[spiderman]

well, might be a little of both. we'll see some bigger lineups. but like you said ... if the young guards are going to play at all then I expect Trey more at the 3, whether we call that a guard or not.