#1 - Wagner has given me more thrills with some of his plays than every other big man combined since Mitch played - he is fun to watch. I get excited to see him enter the game - it's the what will he do feeling - used to get that for Mitch as they worked up his minutes as a freshman. Think Doyle starts into the B10 and beyond - you don't want Wagner picking up a foul in the first few minutes as everyone is playing with an extra step of excitement out there. Mitch didn't start a game until round 1 in the tourney, and Mitch is a more "ready" player.
Don't think Doyle can be your best big as a sweet 16 team - he can be a sturdy 15 minutes guy - Wagner needs to be a 20-25 minute guy by March if we're going Sweet 16 and beyond.
#2 - Sounds like Walton will be OK - sit him this weekend vs Houston Baptist - hopefully ready to go vs SMU - glad we have Rahkman, and can slide Levert to PG for a few minutes. Spike is about 65 percent, but can do a few things right now if necessary - 3-4 minutes a half. The fact that he's playing, seems like it's just conditioning/regaining flexibility in those hips - he was SOOO good end of last year with 2 bad hips - hopefully this surgery didn't limit his ability going forward
#3 - Right now Duncan Robinson is playing better than Dawkins, but no reason to flip them in the lineup - Duncan can play 25 minutes, Dawkins 15 minutes. Dawkins adjusting to being the 3rd or 4th option right now. He's hitting his 3's and getting into the lane on that catch and shoot ball that he catches in mid air, but certainly seems very timid - almost like he should have played last year as a true freshman - has not been the player he was last year, but he really can't be that player with all our options back.
#4 - Levert is a top 5-10 pick - he is currently 21, and is not 22 until August next year, so he will be 21 at the draft - he is not an old senior as the NBA tends to run away from - he would be in the NBA now if not for the injury last year. He is finally "the man" - he struggled early last year taking over for Nik, but he's now the clear #1, and it's great to see.
#5 - Irvin is coming around - again, Walton and Levert are going to handle and create - Duncan is probably the best 3 point shooter now - Irvin is no longer the #1 deep ball man - adjusting - next year will be his year to create - this year, he needs to defend and board at the 4, find his shot and be a piece in the puzzle.
#6 - Back on Doyle for a second - he does a few things well, but struggles with a few - certainly struggles in the post with a low pass, and sometimes one right in the bread basket - if the offense around him is flowing, we can afford that, but if shots are not falling, we may need to play Donnal a bit - Donnal can catch, can hit a jump shot - he struggles around the basket in his finish, but he's an option. If Donnal was a bit stronger at the basket, he's likely still starting.
#7 - Found myself giddy realizing that we have 2 four-star young guys not even seeing minutes in a game where Walton is out and Spike is limited - Wilson and Chatman are fringe pieces this season - will have moments, but will be players down the road. A nice problem to have.
It appears that the coach for the minutes when everyone is healthy is likely the following:
Doyle (15 minutes), Wagner (25 minutes)
Irvin (33-35 minutes), Robinson (5-7 minutes)
Dawkins (20 minutes), Robinson (20 minutes)
Levert (35 minutes), Rahk or Spike (5 minutes)
Walton (30 minutes), Spike (10 minutes)
We've seen Chatman getting backup 4 minutes, but it's because Dawkins has struggled so it's been a straight swap Dawkins/Robinson, and we've played physical teams lately where we don't want those guys at the 4 - I'm OK with Chatman or Wilson at the 4 for limited minutes, but they need to hit shots. Goal is to have 4 shooters on the floor, and a finisher at the 5
Don't think Doyle can be your best big as a sweet 16 team - he can be a sturdy 15 minutes guy - Wagner needs to be a 20-25 minute guy by March if we're going Sweet 16 and beyond.
#2 - Sounds like Walton will be OK - sit him this weekend vs Houston Baptist - hopefully ready to go vs SMU - glad we have Rahkman, and can slide Levert to PG for a few minutes. Spike is about 65 percent, but can do a few things right now if necessary - 3-4 minutes a half. The fact that he's playing, seems like it's just conditioning/regaining flexibility in those hips - he was SOOO good end of last year with 2 bad hips - hopefully this surgery didn't limit his ability going forward
#3 - Right now Duncan Robinson is playing better than Dawkins, but no reason to flip them in the lineup - Duncan can play 25 minutes, Dawkins 15 minutes. Dawkins adjusting to being the 3rd or 4th option right now. He's hitting his 3's and getting into the lane on that catch and shoot ball that he catches in mid air, but certainly seems very timid - almost like he should have played last year as a true freshman - has not been the player he was last year, but he really can't be that player with all our options back.
#4 - Levert is a top 5-10 pick - he is currently 21, and is not 22 until August next year, so he will be 21 at the draft - he is not an old senior as the NBA tends to run away from - he would be in the NBA now if not for the injury last year. He is finally "the man" - he struggled early last year taking over for Nik, but he's now the clear #1, and it's great to see.
#5 - Irvin is coming around - again, Walton and Levert are going to handle and create - Duncan is probably the best 3 point shooter now - Irvin is no longer the #1 deep ball man - adjusting - next year will be his year to create - this year, he needs to defend and board at the 4, find his shot and be a piece in the puzzle.
#6 - Back on Doyle for a second - he does a few things well, but struggles with a few - certainly struggles in the post with a low pass, and sometimes one right in the bread basket - if the offense around him is flowing, we can afford that, but if shots are not falling, we may need to play Donnal a bit - Donnal can catch, can hit a jump shot - he struggles around the basket in his finish, but he's an option. If Donnal was a bit stronger at the basket, he's likely still starting.
#7 - Found myself giddy realizing that we have 2 four-star young guys not even seeing minutes in a game where Walton is out and Spike is limited - Wilson and Chatman are fringe pieces this season - will have moments, but will be players down the road. A nice problem to have.
It appears that the coach for the minutes when everyone is healthy is likely the following:
Doyle (15 minutes), Wagner (25 minutes)
Irvin (33-35 minutes), Robinson (5-7 minutes)
Dawkins (20 minutes), Robinson (20 minutes)
Levert (35 minutes), Rahk or Spike (5 minutes)
Walton (30 minutes), Spike (10 minutes)
We've seen Chatman getting backup 4 minutes, but it's because Dawkins has struggled so it's been a straight swap Dawkins/Robinson, and we've played physical teams lately where we don't want those guys at the 4 - I'm OK with Chatman or Wilson at the 4 for limited minutes, but they need to hit shots. Goal is to have 4 shooters on the floor, and a finisher at the 5
