The 23-24 MBB Team Will go as far as ________ Takes It

depends on how fast they gel because they play a pretty roughen-conference schedule. They may dig a hole too much to dig out of in conference games.

 

Jarvis will definitely be a 4, but there's a better than even chance that Samuel will start at the 5. Handlogten will play both positions, I believe. Heck, we may go with a big lineup sometimes with all three guys on the floor together. Just to see what happens.

 

Since there are so many new pieces to the team I'm going to say we only go as far as our BENCH takes us. Depth is huge in making a deep run into March imo.

 

Handlogten will play the four? I don't see that happening. But I agree you will many different combos, including double bigs with Handlogten at the five and Samuel at the four--though, given Handlogten's success as a rim runner, you will probably see him in some five out sets, too. But defensively we don't want him in space, IMO--we want him protecting the rim and controlling the glass.

 

Focus of the team offensively is definitely going to change. We can ran so much stuff through CC in either the low post or the high post. He was an above average passer and ballhandler for his size. We also had very few guys who could get good offense on their own.

But this year our strength offensively is going to be the perimeter. Kugel, Clayton, and Pullin are all good shot creators. I suspect we just want to the post guys to play to their strengths. Samuel can post up well. Jarvis is a versatile guy who do a little of everything--shoot, move off the ball, finish in the paint. Handlogten can finish off the pick and rolls and rebound offensively. I would be very surprised if any of the 4-5s but Samuel score in double digits. But those guards a diverse, skilled group.

 

I'm so pumped for this year. And excited to see Handlogten's progress. If he can master the pick and roll and passing out of the double team, we have a very high ceiling. But even if all he does is rebound, defend the rim, and get the easy points around the basket, we are still very good.

This pre-season optimism is hard to shake, but one of my favorite parts of the year