The Rotation
by 1AndDone on May 18, 2010 6:35 PM PDT
38 comments
At first I thought Keita would Redshirt this year, but that really doesn't make much sense since we have Gary Bell coming in next year. With Carter playing the 2 we need Keita to backup Meech. Hyland most likely will come off the bench for instant offense, to drain threes and to be a zone-buster, Harris and Sacre should draw many double teams. I have to believe that Carter will play SG. Few likes to have Arop's energy off the bench. and that there will be a lineup of Goodson Carter Gray Harris and Sacre.. While Carter and Gray could also get a few minutes every game running the point. Basically I believe that Carter was recruited to take Bouldin's spot in the offense. Kelly and Dower will both sub in for Harris and Sacre they are both interchangeable. Arop can play the 2 and 3 most likely being the first to sub for Gray, and Hyland in his first year will see a lot of minutes against the Zone.. Since Hyland seems to have taken Bol's position as the sharp-shooter, Bol will have to work on other areas of his game, mostly dribbling and shooting off the dribble and becoming a physical defender if he expects to get more minutes... Hyland's play will largely be dependant on matchups and at some times we could see Meech and Keita on the floor at the same time..
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So true
I agree with all of it. I think Meech will still run the point but Marquise willgive him a breather or Steven will rotate there as well.
my starters
Meech (pg) Gray (sg) Harris (sf) Dower (pf) Sacre (Center)
Just think Harris at the 3 makes the most sense. Also a Sacre / Dower front line would be B.A.
My Rotation: Arop for Gary or Harris / Carter for Meech or Gray / Olynk for Dower or Sacre
on a lesser scale: Kieta for Meech or Gray / Keegan for Gray maybe Harris in a three Guard line up against the zone
That's how I see it too
With more Kong sprinkled in there somewhere.
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Remember
how horrible our ball movement was when Bouldin wasn’t there on the floor? Stephen Gray isn’t the sharpshooter we thought he was, he shot under 33 percent last year, and he isn’t that great a passer either, I’m telling you guys Carter is going to be the main distributer on offense..
Carter
I think Meech will start at the beginning of the season, but after that it will be close.
by CLT_ZagsFan on May 22, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Dower
I don’t think him in the starting lineup is very realistic.. I think judging from what Few has said about Carter is that he is a SG who has true point guard skills. I just don’t see how Carter isn’t in the starting lineup..
not exactly what he said
The article I read…I believe it was foxsports sorry but it was a few weeks ago…Few stated that Carter is a true point guard with true point guard skills. He also added that he was a great passer and facilitator of the offense. (Maybe we read different articles) I think it is Carter vs Meech right now for point guard and Arop/Kong/Dower fighting for the 5th starting spot. I don’t see Meech and Carter both starting. I do agree with you in that I don’t see Dower starting and I do see Carter starting. Few went after him hard for a reason! Again if Carter doesn’t start game one I would be a little surprised, but I think he will be the starting PG by game 4 or 5, a lot like JP when he transfered in
Could be right....
It is a tough call on Dower and Carter…I do think what we have in both of them are difference makers. I would be fine with Carter starting with Dower coming in for Harris or Sacre…or even for Meech…so you have Carter, Gray, Harris (sf) Dower (pf) and Sacre © That is a tough talented lineup…one that can impose it’s will on smaller teams.
I agree
Carter, Gray, Harris, Dower, Sacre!
Why
Would Few bring in Keita if Carter and Meech were going to be running the point? I really hope Dower is as great as you people are making him out to be, he hasn’t even played a game yet.
He was spectacular in last year's exhibition game vs. Alberta
15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block in 17 minutes is great no matter who you are playing. Obviously he hasn’t played against any NCAA schools but those stats are worth getting excited over. It has been brought up that the fact that Few hasn’t been recruiting any forwards is likely a reflection on the faith that he has in Dower.
by ZagsFanatic on May 21, 2010 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Dower
I am not sure if you have watched him play but if not, you need to check out some video on him if possible. He has a very pretty stroke, he is long and athletic and I have heard from my friend who works for Mark Few and has seen him practice often in the last month…that he is often out scoring others 2-1 and owning the boards.
This kids is much better then Sacre on the offensive end.
Dower
I think he’ll get quality minutes in his first year, but I don’t think Gonzaga can afford to just have meech and gray in the backcourt, both are bad passers and below average from the perimeter..
Gray
is below average from the perimeter?
by CLT_ZagsFan on May 22, 2010 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions
32.9 percent??
I don’t know if it was the extra foot rule change in 2008, but Gray has shot 35 and 32.9 percent over the last two years. Nothing to write home about
Seriously?
While I do agree that he was streaky, he has good form and a nice shot. Making one out of every 3 three pointers is nothing to sneeze at…
Just Saying
32.9 is below average.. I think Gray’s strength is his midrange/slashing game.. He’s not exactly Micky McConnel
Dower
is going to be awesome. He’ll have ups and downs, probably hit a “freshman” wall, but I think he’s going to stun people. I won’t be surprised at all if he starts and if he doesn’t, he’s going to be quick off the bench.
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Arop will play 30 minutes a game next year
This guy is a ball magnet. If he stays out of foul trouble he will play somewhere — count on it.
I think Meech will not be getting the minutes he got last year unless he improves his outside shooting. The writing is on the wall.
Hyland will redshirt if he needs the time for conditioning and he may well need that time.
mjc
Hyland
Really would be surprised if he redshirted, he is the only pure shooter on the whole team. He was brought in specifically to stretch defenses. I can see Arop getting 20 minutes a game. Meech will probably get 25-30 mins a game.. I guess his shot can only get better..
Plus
Meech has a lot of experience with the offense and running it in pressure situations. That is going to be a big factor in his minutes.
by CLT_ZagsFan on May 22, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I 2nd that
I think Carter will start and Few should use Meech off the bench for some energy a lot like he did his freshman year. I like Carter, Gray, Arop, Harris, Sacre…That has a lot of offensive fire power and defensive ability and length. Throw in Meech, Kong, KO, and Dower off the bench and that is a sick 9 man rotation.
by suzag on May 25, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Agreed
This is exactly what we need to do. I like the depth up front with this lineup.
Two things
First: I just don’t think ppl realize how good Dower is..
Second: It makes little sense to put Harris at the 4 spot when we have Dower, Olynk and Kong. Harris is a SF that can play like a PF…but will score way more as a SF…
Also, Arop should not start, he should come off the bench for Gray or Harris…assuming Harris plays the 3…Meech can come in for Carter
To answer your questions:
1st: I don’t know how good Dower is, your right and I won’t judge him until I see him play against other D1 talent. I THINK he will be good…real good by the time he is done at GU…I just don’t know yet, that is why I cant pencil him in as a starter yet. To be honest I hope he IS great next year. I thought that he would have played last year and they would have redshirted KO. Which leads me to the other reason why I dont have him in the starting line up is that Few redshirted him and not KO. That leads me to think that Few thinks KO is better. Not that Dower couldn’t improve over the year and surpass KO, but my judgement is a reaction to what the staff has done.
2nd: As far as Harris at the 3 or 4 I dont think it matters too much. Think back to last year, where did Harris catch the ball on the court? 50% of the time it was on the post, 50% of the time it was either, top of the key, in the corner, or at the elbow. That reminded me of what Few did with Daye. Yes they play the 4 spot, but offensively they catch the ball all over. Like a FORWARD does, it doesn’t matter if its the 3 or the 4. The thing that I like with Harris at the 4 is that opens things up for Sacre in the paint to go one on one. If someone doubles down on him that leaves someone open to knock down the open J or slash to the basket for an easy 2 or nasty jam!
I think you have some very valid points and it is going to be a dog fight to see who gets the last starting spot. And it could be Arop, Kong, Dower, or even KO. Compitition will ultimatly help this team and push it to a higher level then ever before. Just my take.
Dower and Olynk....and Harris...and other ramblings :)
I understand your line of thinking and that could be the reason…though my opinion is that Dower was RS in an effort to allow him to mature, to gain some weight, to streach out his leangth of time on the roster…why?…not because Olynk was better…rather just the opposite, Olynk is a tall utility player who is use to playing out front…in other words he is not the obvious replacement for Sacre….Dower is. Dower is a lot like JP Batista but with better length.
Harris at the 3 is a huge difference then Harris at the 4 Especially if the 4 is Dower and the 5 is Sacre. At the 3 Harris creates a HUGE match up problem for other SF’s. The other team will be forced to decide if they want to put a big on him and stop him down low or to put a SF/ Guard on him and stop him from driving/ jump shots. The great thing about this, is if you put a big on him you are going to have to figure out how to deal with Dower or Olynk or Sacre down low. If you put a smaller SF/G on him…he can just take them down low and score at will.
So it is here that I do not agree that it makes little difference if he plays the 3 or the 4…..
Also….
When you have a PG in Carter at 6’4" and a SG in Gray at 6’5" both who can create their own shot…coupled with Harris out at the 3..who we know has amazing ability to score from behind the arc or anywhere inbetween….that with a frontcourt of Dower and Sacre…Olynk and Sacre….that is 6’9", 6’11" and 7’ front court….that is some great height under the rim and some big guards/SF that can get their own shot….to me, that is an imposing lineup that would cause other teams nightmares…..you throw in the abilty to sub in Arop and Meech who are high energy guys…and very good defenders…I just think this team has all the elements…..something we have not had in quite some time….
by mattydog73 on May 26, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I cant argue with that...
that last paragraph is a great point and I do believe that line up will be used and be very successful, whether they start with it I dont know. Next years team has so many different options to use as far as line ups go. It will be a nightmare for other coaches to try an match up with them. They can go big, they can go small, they can do it all. The one thing that I like about this team as far as defense goes is the length that they have. Carter 6’4" PG Gray 6’5" SG, Arop has like a 10 foot wing span it seems like, Kong is a long wing, Harris a very big 3 man and with Sacre, KO, and Dower…all long. I wouldn’t be surprised if Few ran some 1/2 court traps or traping zones. Can you imagine Arop or Harris on the top of a 1-3-1 3/4 court trap…that would be nasty. Lets hope Few puts the throttle full next year and tries to destroy everyone in the path!
Meech
I just hope he gets better, hopefully he’s shooting 500 shots a day, I would hate to see a world class athlete not getting minutes…
Goodson
he was ranked so highly coming into GU i would like to see him play well but the shot just isn’t there
Carter
What’s all the love about Carter? He hasn’t even played a game in a Gonzaga jersey and people are starting him over Meech and Arop. What ever happened to playing hard, paying your dues and earning a starting spot? (i.e. Meech bustin Pargo’s chops everyday in practice and hitting the game winner against Western Kentucky) Meech is not the best PG in the world, and has a spotty J; but he’s a solid defender, and our leader out on the floor. Don’t be so quick to count him out. He’s got more heart than anyone else on that team.
A team’s point guard is the brain of the offense, and the heart of the team; I don’t think we should talk about handing over the reins to some Jr. college kid until he proves he’s worthy. We’re talking about being a STARTING PG FOR GONZAGA…do you realize that tradition?
I know that Mark Few knows what he’s doing, so I’ll trust whatever he chooses. I say let Meech run the show like he has been, until someone shows they can do it better…(which they may do)
by kdelrosa on May 27, 2010 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Carter..love
The main reason is that he is also a JR like Meech…he is 6’4" and Meech is like 5’ 10" / he has a good J and can create off the dribble….Meech has a terrible J and creates turnovers. Carter is a scorer and can create shots for others…Meech has yet to be able to do that.
However…I have said before and I say it again…I think Meech makes a quantum leap this year…I think that we will have TWO very good point guards that we will be able to run sets with both of them in….I am thinking we will be able to go Meech, Carter, Arop if we really want to put the D screws on….at certain points in the game..
Love this comment
Meech is the starting point guard and I can’t imagine him not being in that spot next year. He has much to improve on but we really didn’t see his abilities as a floor general a year ago because that wasn’t the job requirement. Everyone with two eyes and a brain could see that Meech was the get the ball up the court in the face of pressure and then give it to Matt in half court sets to let him run the offense. It drives me crazy that people bitch about Meech’s assist totals when he really wasn’t in much of a position to distribute. Matt was the man last year and he’s gone. Meech (or if someone beats him out) will be the distributor and I really expect to see a whole different look next year.
Sadly, every post will assuredly have multiple “Meech sucks” comments but that is just the way it seems to work for the stat enthusiasts. I know stats tell a lot about the game but if you watched last year, you would know that the PG next to Meech’s name was merely to look pretty in the roster.
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people weren't bitching about assist totals
we bitch about his AST:TO ratio, which was piss poor. I’m not a stat enthusiast and I hate on Meech’s game pretty hard. He does suck, let’s just hope he knocks it off. He got a lot of blame for our youthful mistakes, which was unfortunate. If there’s another guy in D1 with more to prove, tell me who he is. Meech has a lot of questions to answer, I hope he can handle it well.
Welcome to the Sound Pound...
Carter
As far as the love going his way, I would say that he does have experience and knows how to run a team. He has also been very successful at the JC level. I think many people, including myself, see the potential he has and what he would bring to this team. Not saying he’ll be a superstar…not saying he wont…I’ll wait and see. I also think that many people cant wait to see what other players on the team can do when its not 4vs5 on the offensive end. What can Sacre and Harris do vs 1-on-1 defense and if someone does double down the abillity to kick the ball out and make the defense pay to doubling the ball. I’m not trying to knock Meech, I just think that Carter brings more to this team. Something that this team desprately needs.
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