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bobolink wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 6:46 pm Given the roster so far, who jumps at opening tip?

Hashim Bailey.

inthescoop wrote: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:07 am

bobolink wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 6:46 pm Given the roster so far, who jumps at opening tip?

Hashim Bailey.

good one

#88: http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16491

Nice read and a projected NIT appearance. Nice to see some positive commentary on us from people outside the circle.

Crank wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:18 am #88: http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16491

This is a good summation of where we are for the upcoming season. We didn't lose much (maybe Hines is the biggest loss); we have some solid players back (Pipkins, Pierre, etc.); and a lot of question marks. Holloway is back, but who knows what he'll bring? Plus we have a lot of transfers and 3 freshmen. I wonder who will run the point? Will we play with a traditional center, or will McCall play a smaller line up (3 guards and a couple of forwards)? Will Randall West be on the team? (He's on the summer roster.) How will the A10 coaches defend Pipkins?

Now that we know (or at least we think we know) who will be on the team this year, here's an interesting exercise:

I tried to estimate minutes for this season, taking into account that Baptiste will be eligible 2nd semester and assuming that nobody redshirts. It's a lot harder with 13 bodies.

^ Just for simplicity I'll only project for games once Baptiste becomes eligible. These are just my guesses, I'm sure some of these will be way off.

Likely injuries/ineligibility will end up limiting some players, but until that happens it really is difficult to figure out how McCall is going to divide up these minutes.

Pipkins 30
Pierre 28
Laurent 25
Cobb 20
Holloway 18
Clergeot 18
Diallo 15
Baptiste 10
Hayward 10
Chatman 10
Wood 10
McLean 4
KTM 2

NilesGold wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:45 pm ^ Just for simplicity I'll only project for games once Baptiste becomes eligible. These are just my guesses, I'm sure some of these will be way off.

Likely injuries/ineligibility will end up limiting some players, but until that happens it really is difficult to figure out how McCall is going to divide up these minutes.

Pipkins 30
Pierre 28
Laurent 25
Cobb 20
Holloway 18
Clergeot 18
Diallo 15
Baptiste 10
Hayward 10
Chatman 10
Wood 10
McLean 4
KTM 2

I'm with you on many of them. These are the only major differences that I have. Of course, it's all speculation but it's a fun exercise at this time of the year.

More hope than expectation, I have RH down for 25. He's disappointed me for the last 2 years but I'm hoping he wants to make his senior year memorable.

I have Chatman down for 15, pretty much splitting the 4 with Laurent. I don't have as many minutes for Clergeot as I think he only plays PG and LP gets 25-30 there with Wood getting 5.

^ There are certainly lots of reasonable projections, the adjustments you listed are quite possible, but I find it unlikely Laurent will lose many minutes to Chatman, or split minutes with him 50/50. I think it's more likely that Diallo will eat into Laurent's minutes just a bit, with Chatman possibly eating into the minutes of our true centers (especially during A10 play).

I get the impression that Clergeot doesn't really have a true traditional position. He can play PG, and he'll probably get a few minutes there, but I see him more likely getting minutes in guard heavy lineups when McCall wants to press, or when McCall really wants to slow down a opponent's guard. He projects as UMass' strongest, and most physical guard, who likes to attack and get into the lane. For all of those reasons I think he's a good bet for about 18 mpg.

I think some players will separate themselves from the others and 9ish guys will see 10+ minutes a night.

I think Pip and Pierre will see the most minutes followed by Holloway, Laurent and Cobb in no particular order. The rest I don’t really have a very strong grasp on. I’m most intrigued by seeing how quickly the freshman adapt to the college game.

I think Laurent is the single most important player in terms of how good we can be. I think he could make a big difference defensively and if his jump shot has improved than the spacing is going to be that much better.

Alright I’m done thinking.

Jackson96 wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:45 pm Alright I’m done thinking.

Probably a good idea. The annual minutes distribution game is a truly bizarre exercise.

NilesGold wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:45 pm ^ Just for simplicity I'll only project for games once Baptiste becomes eligible. These are just my guesses, I'm sure some of these will be way off.

Likely injuries/ineligibility will end up limiting some players, but until that happens it really is difficult to figure out how McCall is going to divide up these minutes.

Pipkins 30
Pierre 28
Laurent 25
Cobb 20
Holloway 18
Clergeot 18
Diallo 15
Baptiste 10
Hayward 10
Chatman 10
Wood 10
McLean 4
KTM 2

a reasonable list, although surprising to see McLean and KTM, 2 players with substantial minutes last season (particularly McLean; only 2 returning players had more minutes last season), so far below the 3 freshman.
It's awfully early to project the second half of the season. I'm thinking the non-conference season won't have those kind of minutes for the freshman, although many weak opponents and the need to figure out how to use all 13 means the frosh may play substantial minutes early in the season, and big minutes later could result from that. One thing everyone seems to agree on is the top 5 from your list will be the starting 5. And nearly everyone seems to agree that Coach McCall will have a deep bench and use it a lot. Even with those 2 agreed-to points, there are very many unknowns, like perhaps everything other than those 2 assumptions (and even those are still assumptions).

JoleonLescottsHair wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:52 pm

Jackson96 wrote: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:45 pm Alright I’m done thinking.

Probably a good idea. The annual minutes distribution game is a truly bizarre exercise.

What's so bizarre about it? We're about 5 months into the off-season, no harm in speculating. It's a talking point, something that can generate conversation and healthy debate.

When you basically (only) have 5 returning players - at least one of whom would/should not normally get more minutes than Lex Mongo (if it wasn't for the purge) - trying to speculate minutes is futile at best.

There is a fine line between predicting and guessing - you all are purely guessing right now.

McCall is going to earn his $ mixing and matching with these guys, that's all I know. And that's a good problem to have.