We've reached the first TV timeout. Cats lead Lehigh 10-7. Now what?

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

It seems like a safe assumption that Nicholson, Martinelli, Barnhizer, Berry and Leach will open the season as the starting 5, assuming everybody is healthy.

Is the first substitution Hunger for Nicholson? Or is it Keenan Fitzmorris for Nicholson?
I want to believe it is Luke Hunger. After that things are unclear...

Who is the first man off the bench for the non-centers?
Will we see Jordan Clayton subbing in for Leach? Or will we run an offense without a point guard?

Justin Mullins, Angelo Ciavarino and Blake Smith all seem like the same sort of wing / small forward. Athletic guys who will not be handling the ball too much.
They should provide depth at the 2 and/or the 3, with Smith probably getting fewer opportunities.

KJ Windham looks like a guy who can jump ahead of Clayton quickly and become the first bench option at point guard or shooting guard.

If Blake Barkley can provide depth at the power forward position, that would be nice, but I don't expect it.
Hopefully we'll see Luke Hunger at that position on occasion.

We're solid at 4 starting positions, facing a big question at point guard, with lots of rotation possibilities.

The season starts in 3 weeks!

 

[macarthur31]

Appreciated the hypothetical. I align with your takes. I wonder if Collins will look to Barkley a bit more to spell Barnhizer early in the non-con as Brooks' gets his wind back. Or perhaps they throw Nick to the 4, and then put Mullins/Smith at the 3.

Among the frosh/redshirts, KJ seems like the most likely to grab minutes and that's dependent on him hitting 3s and being passable at defense.

 

[SmellyCat]

Martinelli was up and down as a part-time starter last year, but I think he's done enough to earn a starting job this year. The question is: WILL he start? Collins may like having him come off the bench yet still play starter/crunch-time minutes. If this hypothetical turns out to be a trick question (which I'm sure wasn't your intention), I think he'll be first off the bench.

But I'll answer the real question you asked. I think Clayton will be first. He has "earned" it by playing the most last year, and with Boo no longer playing (sniff sniff, I miss him so much already), NU will want to establish Clayton as much as possible. Now, will he be passed by somebody? Possibly, but I think he'll get the first shot in the first game.

 

[Hungry Jack]

NMart off the bench would be a real luxury. He's a matchup problem for a lot of guys.

I think we ending riding with Windham as backup PG by the time we get near conference play. He already seems a better player than Clayton.

 

[GatoLouco]

You have to insert Barnhizer as a point forward into the equation. I think we will end up seeing some to a lot of that.

First indications are that Windham shows no fear. That is excellent. Mullins has more than the physical skills to be a force, but could be the guy we keep salivating for and never materializes. Ciaravino looks promising and a very well rounded player. Hunger should be more mature. But, in the end, I have no clue what this all means in terms of bench play.

The league is quite balanced. I think there's as good a chance we fight for a tournament spot as there is we end up 12-14.

I know I can't wait for the season to start.

 

[PZAZ]

I predict Barkley is the positive surprise of the year. We have depth which is great.

 

[NJCat]

I predict Barkley is the positive surprise of the year. We have depth which is great.

When Collins was asked who would be the surprise of the year, after previously mentioning Brooks (2 seasons ago) and Ty (last season), he said Nick. No mention of Barkley at all in the media day pressers.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I predict Barkley is the positive surprise of the year. We have depth which is great.

Honestly, I'm counting on Windham being a pretty good player this year.
Ciavarino and Mullins are definitely going to be competing for minutes and (ideally) Mullins will have improved enough to keep the talented freshman just behind him.

Martinelli has to start. I can't imagine him not starting - he's too good. He wore down last season as his workload expanded to 35 minutes+. Hopefully this season he's playing the 4 most of the time, making crafty scoring moves around the basket and slipping the ball to Big Matt for massive dunks when the opponent's big guy comes over to stop him.

I'm looking forward to Nicholson, Martinelli and Barnhizer in the frontcourt and anticipate Hunger stepping up.
Points in the Paint!

I'm sure it will surprise people, but the quartet of Nicholson, Martinelli, Barnhizer and Berry only played 56 minutes together last season.

I'm only concerned about Leach - that he won't be quick enough for the Big Ten...

 

[macarthur31]

You have to insert Barnhizer as a point forward into the equation. I think we will end up seeing some to a lot of that.

First indications are that Windham shows no fear. That is excellent. Mullins has more than the physical skills to be a force, but could be the guy we keep salivating for and never materializes. Ciaravino looks promising and a very well rounded player. Hunger should be more mature. But, in the end, I have no clue what this all means in terms of bench play.

The league is quite balanced. I think there's as good a chance we fight for a tournament spot as there is we end up 12-14.

I know I can't wait for the season to start.

Yep - I'm thinking Barnhizer at point-forward as well - but will he be at the 3 or 4?

If you keep Brooks at the 4, he'll have the edge on offense, but could get worn down covering rugged 4s. However, if you start Martinelli, then perhaps you mix it up on defense and let Nick absorb some punishment. I still don't think Luke is at the 4, but I think he's got the agility to play there in short stints. If Barkley could emerge as a contributor (8-10 min a game), that would be a boon.