My dream starting five for the upcoming season!

[CatsScratch67]

This season I would love for Coach Collins to be a bit unconventional and move players around in the line-up and start:

Taylor (LG)
Law (SG)
Benson (C)
Pardon (PF)
Nance (SF)

I would love to see the athleticism and length of this group on the floor! I think they would be great defensively and create match-up problems on the offensive end. Let's remember that Benson and Pardon played well together near the end of the season. And, Benson can play away from the basket at times with his jumpshot range reaching to the free throw line. Taylor and Nance are good ball handlers and all five guys are good passers. I think Pardon would excel at the more traditional power forward spot. Taylor, Law, and Nance can all stretch the floor for the coach. And finally, this line-up is also a very mature group.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Not quick enough. You need faster guys. A bit smaller lineup

 

[Mossreportdos]

Agree.

Pardon
Nance
Turner
Law
Taylor

Ash comes in if we have ball handling trouble.

With so much depth this year, I think we will see more wholesale substitutions. Team A and Team B comes off the bench at about the 8 to 10 minute mark.


Benson
Falzon
Kopp
Gaines
Greer

Not quick enough. You need faster guys. A bit smaller lineup

 

[catstime16]

I would "press" your starting five into a few dozens turnovers......

 

[IGNORE2]

I would press this team all season long. I think we will have a good half court offense, I think we will have a pretty good defense and I think there won’t be much drop off when subbing. But I think we have some major ball handling problems and I would press and trap this team to death.

And this all assumes a healthy Vic Law.

 

[DaCat]

Ryan Greer has got to be better than many are giving him credit for on this board. I'm certainly hoping he can carry on the tradition of productive freshman point guards in our program.

 

[catstime16]

Huge H.C. C.Collins fan here!! With that being said and with the understanding that
the Lathon situation was unforeseen, why can't I wrap my head around the fact that
this squad is sans dependable/functional PG with the available schollie? Go Cats.

 

[catcrazy]

Btw has Lathon landed anywhere?

 

[Figrating]

Ryan Greer has got to be better than many are giving him credit for on this board. I'm certainly hoping he can carry on the tradition of productive freshman point guards in our program.

CCC has'nt gotten nearly enough credit for this spectacular recruiting feat in the wake of the Lathon disqualification. I'm anxious to see what RG can do.

CCC has made a point of saying he will not recruit just to fill a vacancy. New recruits must lift the team. So NU will play another season with a ghost on the roster, but this time neither ghosts on the IR nor unsuccessful transfer candidates.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

Btw has Lathon landed anywhere?

If he has, it hasn't been reported.

 

[No Chores]

I would press this team all season long. I think we will have a good half court offense, I think we will have a pretty good defense and I think there won’t be much drop off when subbing. But I think we have some major ball handling problems and I would press and trap this team to death.

And this all assumes a healthy Vic Law.

catstime and xyzbob, you are quite correct, but I believe the solution to the problem is Greer. All of this stuff about freshmen not being ready to play is nonsense. Getting the ball over half court on a consistent basis can be a significant issue, which I know from personal experience. My prediction is that Greer will start and run the offense. (By the way Bob, will we see you at our opening game tailgate?)

 

[IGNORE2]

catstime and xyzbob, you are quite correct, but I believe the solution to the problem is Greer. All of this stuff about freshmen not being ready to play is nonsense. Getting the ball over half court on a consistent basis can be a significant issue, which I know from personal experience. My prediction is that Greer will start and run the offense. (By the way Bob, will we see you at our opening game tailgate?)

Not sure yet, depends on staffing for the quarry that weekend. Hope so.

 

[Mgkcbb]

Pardon
Kopp
Turner
Law
Taylor

Seems like a lineup you can switch screens 1-4 with defensively and has playmaking and shooting on offense to go along with Pardons low post game.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Pardon
Kopp
Turner
Law
Taylor

Seems like a lineup you can switch screens 1-4 with defensively and has playmaking and shooting on offense to go along with Pardons low post game.

Could be, but I like Nance over Kopp. Little more size and still switchable even 1-5 given Nance and arguably Pardon's athleticism. Can play motion offense with two in the post, without primary ball handler.

 

[NUCat320]

The game is going small. Law will play significantly more time as the 4 than as the 2.

 

[BigCatCT]

catstime and xyzbob, you are quite correct, but I believe the solution to the problem is Greer. All of this stuff about freshmen not being ready to play is nonsense. Getting the ball over half court on a consistent basis can be a significant issue, which I know from personal experience. My prediction is that Greer will start and run the offense. (By the way Bob, will we see you at our opening game tailgate?)

Greer riminds me of ryan arcidiacono from Nova. I think he will have enough toughness, poise, and court sense to get meaningful minutes at LG.

 

[ricko654321]

The game is going small. Law will play significantly more time as the 4 than as the 2.

I don’t know if I’d say “small” exactly, but I think maneuverability is more important in the modern men’s CBB game than size is. So I agree with you on Vic at 4 over 2, though those numbers / distinctions may not even really mean that much.

 

[freewillie07]

This season I would love for Coach Collins to be a bit unconventional and move players around in the line-up and start:

Taylor (LG)
Law (SG)
Benson (C)
Pardon (PF)
Nance (SF)

I would love to see the athleticism and length of this group on the floor! I think they would be great defensively and create match-up problems on the offensive end. Let's remember that Benson and Pardon played well together near the end of the season. And, Benson can play away from the basket at times with his jumpshot range reaching to the free throw line. Taylor and Nance are good ball handlers and all five guys are good passers. I think Pardon would excel at the more traditional power forward spot. Taylor, Law, and Nance can all stretch the floor for the coach. And finally, this line-up is also a very mature group.

0% chance that this is the starting 5, sorry to ruin your dream. Benson won’t start.

The three guaranteed starters are 1) Pardon 2) Law and 3) Taylor.

I think Gaines will begin the year at LG and Greer/Ash will back him up.

I think Falzon, Nance, Kopp and Turner will battle for the last starting spot. I’ll give the nod to Turner because ballhandling and experience will be critical in a lineup without a true LG.

That leaves the lineup looking like:

LG: Gaines
Wing: Taylor
Wing: Law
Wing: Turner
Big: Pardon

That gives you a good amount of length across the board and also a very experienced bunch. The freshmen will be good, but let’s not expect them to take over from Day 1. A lot of good experienced players on this squad.

 

[CatsScratch67]

Agree.

Pardon
Nance
Turner
Law
Taylor

Ash comes in if we have ball handling trouble.

With so much depth this year, I think we will see more wholesale substitutions. Team A and Team B comes off the bench at about the 8 to 10 minute mark.


Benson
Falzon
Kopp
Gaines
Greer

 

[CatsScratch67]

I honestly did not see Gaines play the lead guard position towards the end of the season. He has great athleticism but he definitely needs to work on his shot. Turner can shoot the ball from three and he is an excellent passer. However, He wasn't much of a rebounder at BC. I agree that Taylor, Law, and Pardon are penciled into the starting line-up. It will be interesting to see what the coach does with the other two spots.

I think Nance's size and skill will place him in the starting five.And, based on recent photos he is a legitimate 6-10. If I cannot have Benson in my starting five I would prefer Turner over Gaines. More than anything, the coach has a myriad of options, which is quite refreshing and hopeful.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

0% chance that this is the starting 5, sorry to ruin your dream. Benson won’t start.

The three guaranteed starters are 1) Pardon 2) Law and 3) Taylor.

I think Gaines will begin the year at LG and Greer/Ash will back him up.

I think Falzon, Nance, Kopp and Turner will battle for the last starting spot. I’ll give the nod to Turner because ballhandling and experience will be critical in a lineup without a true LG.

That leaves the lineup looking like:

LG: Gaines
Wing: Taylor
Wing: Law
Wing: Turner
Big: Pardon

That gives you a good amount of length across the board and also a very experienced bunch. The freshmen will be good, but let’s not expect them to take over from Day 1. A lot of good experienced players on this squad.

Gaines with his .20 shooting percentage! I don't think so. Ash was equal to Mac in shooting percentage and was better defensively. No way Gaines starts over Ash! Gaines may start over Falzon,but not Jordan Ash.

 

[freewillie07]

I honestly did not see Gaines play the lead guard position towards the end of the season. He has great athleticism but he definitely needs to work on his shot. Turner can shoot the ball from three and he is an excellent passer. However, He wasn't much of a rebounder at BC. I agree that Taylor, Law, and Pardon are penciled into the starting line-up. It will be interesting to see what the coach does with the other two spots.

I think Nance's size and skill will place him in the starting five.And, based on recent photos he is a legitimate 6-10. If I cannot have Benson in my starting five I would prefer Turner over Gaines. More than anything, the coach has a myriad of options, which is quite refreshing and hopeful.

Nance may start by year-end, but I don't think he has quite the physicality needed to be NU's starting stretch 4 quite yet. I know some are even more bearish on his college-readiness.

LG is the biggest question mark, obviously. I don't think Gaines is a perfect fit by any stretch, but if Collins told him to prepare for that role throughout the offseason, then I think it's certainly possible he's developed some more of those critical skills.

Most likely, Law or Gaines or Taylor or even Turner will bring the ball up the floor, depending on who happens to pull down a rebound or take an outlet pass. NU will be vulnerable to the press so there could be a heightened emphasis on pushing the tempo.

Thus I stick with my prediction of a Gaines-Taylor-Law-Turner-Pardon starting 5.