vs. Miami (1/8)

[hammb]

For all the people dogging Matheny I cannot fathom what the heck Mills actually brings to the team. He did play competent defense last night, but offensively he's been a dumpster fire.

I don't know what it is with Fulcher. There are times he looks awesome and other stretches where you're asking yourself if you even noticed he was on the court for the last 5 mins.

Gordon played well down the stretch yesterday which is good to see. If Matheny is out we'll need Curtis to keep up his better play of late and get some playmaking from Gordon as well. The other thing to remember when comparing our guards assist/turnover stats is those numbers are blown up by a Carlow game where we had twice as many assists as any other game all year (a game where matheny didn't play). And the bulk of those assists were transition running an overmatched opponent out of the gym; not by making smart plays in the half court.

[Globetrotter]

Forgot this game was on and then was gong to watch it last night on replay and instead watched National Treasure 2. A cinematic masterpiece.

Is it worth watching tonight?

[hammb]

I personally cannot watch sports when I already know the outcome, but it was an entertaining game. We dug a big hole and climbed out. Reese and Plowden both played really well with some big time shots from Turner in the second half.

At least worth watching the last 20s of the first half if you want a reminder of how ridiculously poorly coached we are...not sure you'll ever see a worse "hold for last shot" scenario.

[tiznow]

I thought the game was postponed again. I got a notification on CBS sports app at 3 pm yesterday saying game was postponed. I’m watching a show on Netflix and get the notification BG won

[Diemilkweed]

Curious to hear who everyone would like to see Metheny’s minutes if he’s out for an extended period of time? Obvious front runner will be Mills but am i missing something there? 5 for 30 something from 3 and not exactly Bruce Bowen on defense. He was better defending Grant last night than Metheny, that I will say.

My vote would be fulcher but he was completely written off last night. Turner would be an interesting one too and would give us all kinds of length, very limited ball handlers though. Not sure he’d thrive as much in a starting role either as opposed to first one off the bench.

I want a 3 guard rotation of Curtis, Fulcher and Gordon. Mills comes in if we need a jolt, especially on offense, or to fill in when someone gets into foul trouble and Huger holds his idiot line about pulling players.

[Hammer]

Curious to hear who everyone would like to see Metheny’s minutes if he’s out for an extended period of time? Obvious front runner will be Mills but am i missing something there? 5 for 30 something from 3 and not exactly Bruce Bowen on defense. He was better defending Grant last night than Metheny, that I will say.

My vote would be fulcher but he was completely written off last night. Turner would be an interesting one too and would give us all kinds of length, very limited ball handlers though. Not sure he’d thrive as much in a starting role either as opposed to first one off the bench.

I want a 3 guard rotation of Curtis, Fulcher and Gordon. Mills comes in if we need a jolt, especially on offense, or to fill in when someone gets into foul trouble and Huger holds his idiot line about pulling players.

I agree completely and like the idea of Turner getting more minutes.

[BPardonMyTake]

When it comes to Mills I honestly think Huger is just making sure all of the transfers get their minutes because that's what he promised them when he got them to commit here. Sounds silly, but what other possible explanation is there? I'm wrong all the time, I could be way off here. But is there any fan that has watched this team more than once this season that can truthfully say Mills should be getting 10-15 more minutes a night than Fulcher? I could MAYBE see some folks that just like Mills as a player and think he should be above Fulcher in the rotation. But no chance in hell anyone thinks he should take all of Fulcher's minutes...right?


Fulcher to me pairs great with Samari. Doesn't turn it over a lot, high basketball IQ, doesn't need the ball in his hands all the time, gives us great backcourt size. He's Caleb Fields with more athleticism but slightly worse defensively, no? Always thought the "fields is this all world lock down defender" was a bit of a stretch anyways. Fields is just the best perimeter defender we have and I'm sorry but that isn't really saying a whole lot.


All this post did was get me thinking "Damn, how much better would we be if Fields was starting next to Curtis..."

[mbenecke]

I love Fulcher and want him to be successful.

That said... I saw him visibly frustrated (seemingly) at his lack of playing time against Robert Morris back in December. He was mad when he was pulled off the floor during the 2nd half, and he was still upset for multiple minutes afterwards. He didn't join the huddle during timeouts, he had teammates talking to him, etc.

He seemed fine afterwards, but man... I really hope this juggling madness doesn't cost us anyone. Especially not someone as talented as he is. He's one that deserves to play.

[BPardonMyTake]

I love Fulcher and want him to be successful.

That said... I saw him visibly frustrated (seemingly) at his lack of playing time against Robert Morris back in December. He was mad when he was pulled off the floor during the 2nd half, and he was still upset for multiple minutes afterwards. He didn't join the huddle during timeouts, he had teammates talking to him, etc.

He seemed fine afterwards, but man... I really hope this juggling madness doesn't cost us anyone. Especially not someone as talented as he is. He's one that deserves to play.

This is very interesting and something I didn't notice vs Bobby Mo. Can't really blame the kid, I wouldn't blame any of the returning players getting their minutes snatched by transfers, especially if those players preformed when called upon last year like Fulcher. It was bound to happen, especially since Huger just permanently smiles and claps his hands (nothing wrong with those features as a human being but as a coach yes it'd be nice to see some fire at times). In reality, he should have laid down the law, whatever that law may be, before the season started. I get the feeling he just kind of tip toed around his preferred rotations all pre season and some players are feeling like they "got got", as the great Marshawn Lynch would say.


Not saying pouting on the bench is the appropriate response, but Fulcher is not alone in his confusion behind the lack of playing time. I for one certainly do not understand it.

[hammb]

Playing time this year at the guard position has been baffling.

I might be the biggest believer in Matheny still out there, but even I have to wonder why he's playing 25mpg, by far the most of our guards, given how mightily he's struggled this year. I absolve of him of some of it because I think we simply ask too much of him, but when he's struggling (and he's not a good on ball defender on his best day), why not lessen his mins a bit? He's also been visibly not 100% physically in several games this year (and had to leave several early).

Mills plays the 2nd most guard minutes per game, and other than making a few more layups than Matheny has been worse at nearly every other aspect of offense. He did play competent defense on Saturday when he played late, but on the whole of the season he's hardly been a "defensive stopper" worth playing when he's struggled so much.

Fulcher is averaging less minutes than everybody but Curtis (which will be changing shortly because Curtis's minutes have gone up of late). Yet he's been our best shooter at guard other than Curtis. He's definitely our best rebounding guard, and maybe our best defender at guard.

About the only one of the group that has made any sense is Curtis...his minutes have gone up as his play has gotten better. But he's more of a playmaking guard, so those minutes should be coming from Matheny, NOT, Fulcher, etc.


I suppose recruiting promises to the transfers could explain it, but otherwise I can't figure it out. On the whole we have a bunch of guards who are all probably worthy of D1 playing time, but none have consistently played well enough to be quality MAC starters (Curtis has of the last 3 weeks, thankfully). Every game the guards are just cycled in/out playing with different people, playing different minutes (look at Fulcher's last 4 games minutes...21-5-24-7...wtf!?)

We're 14 games into the season and still don't know who's going to play crunch times, etc. It's maddening.

[Diemilkweed]

Hard to be supportive in your roll when you do not know what that roll is.

Am I going to start and get at least 10 min in the first half to show what rhythm I am in? Am I 1st off the bench getting at least a 6 min run to get into things? Am I utility getting sporadic minutes for multiple positions but at least 10 a game regardless? At least 20?

Every one of those questions applies to Fulcher. And he has been treated like every one of those in different games>

We are in conference play, it is on coach to have this crap set by now. From here on out, I frankly am on the player's side if they get pissed about this stuff (short of "You got a bunch of time on the floor and shat the bed and STILL got pissed about getting yanked")

[fredthefalcon]

Hard to be supportive in your roll when you do not know what that roll is.

My roll of choice is cinnamon.

[Globetrotter]

The diversity of takes on this team is what makes this place great.

I think Fulcher falls into the Mills, Cam Young type of player for me. So inconsistent and out of control that I would like to see his minutes limited.

I can kind of see what a good coach might be doing here but I am not totally sure that Huger is doing this. 3 games into the MAC season we have 3 rocks to build off of. Curtis-Plowden-Reece. Those should be the only guys seeing concrete minutes and concrete roles.

1 Curtis
2
3
4 Plowden
5 Reece

Now you have a balance of 2 needs. 1) Winning. 2) Keeping guys like Fulcher (Fr) and Young (Fr) and Mills (So) happy enough so that when they settle down they are still on your roster and ready to take on big roles.

Turner and O'Neil have concrete roles behind Plowden and Reece.....Turner a concrete role as our bench 4. That might mean when Plowden is in at the 3.

2022
1 Curtis
2
3
4 Plowden-Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil

I don't think that anyone would disagree that Turner is vastly improved and has played well enough that you can pencil him in as the starting PF for 2023 and 2024. He is limited but he hustles he can score he can play D, a very easy guy to root for. You also want Kulackovskis back as he will have an even more important role next year with Diggs gone and as the primary backup to a PF that can swing up to SF. (Then you have 3 bigs who are Seniors next year and one Jr so signing a big for 2023 is important)

2023
1 Curtis
2
3
4 Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil-Etim

Diggs has a role on any team but that should vary. Cam Young is essentially a freshman that you shouldn't be playing quite yet.

Starting Diggs makes some sense. He is tall. He can light up the scoreboard. He can rebound a bit. You wish he was more aggressive around the basket. He can play in a big lineup with Plowden and Reece more than any other option. Keeping Diggs in playing starters minutes if he isn't hot probably doesn't make sense. He can fill up the stat sheet and is a threat on offense but his stats are down across the board. Young is playing about 11 minutes a game which is probably too many but you want him in the mix next year when Diggs leaves.

2022
1 Curtis
2
3 Diggs-Young
4 Plowden-Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil

2023
1 Curtis
2
3 Young
4 Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil-Etim

2 and Small 3 are where it's messy and it could be that the messy rotations is a good coach trying to figure that out before a run before the tournament. Curtis is the only one who has really earned a consistent role amongst Gordon-Metheny-Fulcher-Mills. You have welcomed Gordon back and are even playing him now at the ends of games. I think you have to play this string out. If he flakes out and you kick him off the team you lose next to nothing. Metheny has been labeled the best player on the team by some going into the year. Fulcher has shown flashes of being a stud at times. Mills flashed tons of ability elsewhere and has struggled here. Trying to figure that out for the end of the year while holding on to your future is tough I think. If you start Gordan and take him out and don't play him he might melt down. But he is probably the guy they should start. Metheny can backup Curtis and you can bring him and Fulcher in together with or without Curtis. Metheny and Fulcher might just start again next year.

2022
1 Curtis-Metheny
2 Gordan-Fulcher-Mills
3 Diggs-Young
4 Plowden-Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil

2023
1 Metheny-Mills-Lightfoot
2 Fulcher-Fields
3 Curtis-Young
4 Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil-Etim

To me Mills, Young and Kulackovskis get the least minutes of the group. This would essentially be my rotation. You are starting 3 seniors and their mist likely replacements are in the rotation.

1 Curtis-Metheny
2 Gordan-Fulcher
3 Diggs
4 Plowden-Turner
5 Reece-O'Neil

Just for Fun. 1 scholarship still open for 2023
2023
1 Metheny-Mills-Lightfoot
2 Fulcher-Fields
3 Curtis-Young
4 Turner-Kulackovskis
5 Reece-O'Neil-Etim

2024 6 scholarships open for 2024 including the 1 for 2023
1 Metheny-Lightfoot
2 Fulcher-Mills
3 Young
4 Turner
5 Etim