The starting backcourt - your choice?

by cardsrock on Nov 1, 2009 10:48 AM EST Comment 8 comments

I love Jerry and Edgar (Edgar has pre-emptively cut off all spoken criticism from me with the Shot Heard Round the Commonwealth), but as I look at last year and the one game this year, it seems to me there is very little from a performance standpoint to indicate they should be the starting backcourt over Siva and Knowles.

Siva's got turnover problems as a freshmen, sure -- but have you seen that kind of passing from a point guard at UofL since, well, the 80s? Usually we have a converted shooting guard running the point, and have for decades. I'd rather take the risk of the turnovers and take his 5-10 assists, thanks very much.

And Preston -- his paragraph in today's College Basketball Notebook says it all: he could start for most teams in the country. Preston has the statistical edge on Jerry in multiple categories. He also appears to be able to play defense with other appendages besides his hands.

So -- what is the argument for starting Sosa and Smith? Experience is great, but actual results would be better and they don't seem to have those on as consistent a basis?

Thoughts?

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I agree, however

Preston is a spark plug. He comes off the bench and ignites a spark. I know Sosa has his days, but I can see where Rick is going with this. Sosa needs to feel important, where Knowles, and Smith will do anything to help the team. Starting is overated anyway, and more than likely, going from last year, no one is set in stone to start.

by ville 606 on Nov 1, 2009 1:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

If Sosa keeps shooting the three ball well

I would be curious to see Siva running point and him as the shooting guard. The only issue is his defense

by sam34gtr on Nov 1, 2009 5:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see...

Sosa/Smith starting with Preston/Peyton coming off the bench…both substitutions together and very frequently – to always keep them fresh…

I also wouldn’t hate the occasional 4 guard look with all of them playing with SS….maybe try it out early in the season to see how effective it is and either abort or continue with it…

by *G* on Nov 2, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that could work

All our guards are 6’2 or shorter and none of them plays big enough to justify that lineup. I think the most you will ever see is three of the four on the court at the same time, e.g. siva, smith and knowles…that’s a lot of shooting

by Centre24 on Nov 2, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

unless the other team plays 3 guards or has a small lineup

this wouldn’t work well on Defense

by UL is my hot hot sex on Nov 2, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You Gotta Start the Seniors

I love starting the Seniors. I think it will be best to let Siva develop a little more before we put the pressure of starting on him. Using Knowles and Siva like Knowles McGee last season will have a good effect on the team. They will be like a jump start defensively and offensively. The only problem i see with playing them all together is size, you can’t put rebounding pressure on the one big guy out there. As the season continues, and Siva develops and if Sosa and Smith are still struggling, them you might change the starters

by jonesn5 on Nov 2, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

By the end of the season, if Siva matures quickly and Preston

strokes the 3 like last yr

those 2 will be our starting guards, if Jerry and Edgar don’t improve much

And i love jerry, but….

by frankpos on Nov 2, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Like the saying goes, "it's not who starts, but who finishes"

I think Siva and Sosa will split time at the point, with Sosa playing off guard, like we saw against G-Town. It may not be the plan always, but with Jerry’s knack for reaching fouls, it’s going to happen. I’m much more worried about the front court than our guards.

by cardscott5 on Nov 2, 2009 3:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs