If thats the reality, then we are toast. (I disagree with your assessment)
Windham and Ciaravino are both better right now than Mullins, who is the first sub off the bench for 4 positions.
Both freshmen can create their own shot. We only have 2 other guys on the roster who can say that with confidence.
Windham and Ciaravino are both willing, athletic, inexperienced defenders.
For the time being it may be better to play Mullins when Hunger is on the court - to shore up the defense.
But I can't make a case for putting Mullins out there with Nicholson.
Leach is ahead of the freshmen right now when it comes to creating his own shot. It’s not just about the offensive moves. It’s also about what the defense has to prepare for. When you're a focal point of the defense's game plan, it’s that much harder to score. Leach, at this stage, is better equipped for that challenge.
The difference in terms of defensive impact between Mullins and the freshmen is more noticeable than the gap offensively. Now, let’s set the record straight on Mullins. This whole idea that he’s not quick enough is off base. He’s our most athletic guy, hands down. His length, his speed, his hops, his basketball IQ... it all makes him an elite defender. He’s not the flashiest scorer, but he’s a willing, smart passer. Yeah, he had a couple of lazy passes in the MSU game, but that happens. But when it comes to defense, Mullins is an elite. He creates turnovers, makes timely switches, communicates like a vet, and is second only to Barnhizer on the defensive end. That’s why he's getting major minutes, because he can lock it down defensively.
As for the freshmen, being willing on defense doesn’t mean you’re good on defense. They’ve got the tools, Windham especially can be really good down the road, but right now, they’re still making mistakes. Miscommunications, bad switches, getting bullied by stronger players, that’s normal for freshmen. But that’s also why freshmen typically aren’t relied on for heavy minutes early in their career. If you’re ranking them over Mullins, it tells me you're prioritizing shooting over defense and ball movement, and that’s not the whole picture.
Berry and Leach have a higher ceiling than anyone on the bench, but the problem is they don’t hit that ceiling often enough. That’s why the freshmen are getting more minutes, they’re showing flashes of something really good down the line. But if this team wants to get back to the tournament, it needs more out of Berry and Leach at that ceiling level. The freshmen aren't at that level yet, and that's fine, they shouldn’t be expected to be. They're not ready to consistently impact games without making mistakes that hurt us, especially on defense. They’ve got a lot of potential, but right now, that’s all it is at the moment potential. I am not saying that there won’t be a game or two where one of them will get red hot and make a huge impact on a game. I just don’t think they are ready to do that consistently yet.
Bottom line: we need more consistency from the upperclassmen if we're going to make a run. The freshmen can help, but they’re not the foundation yet. We should be expecting more out our seniors at this point. They need to step up.
