Let’s talk Lineups
Here’s my opening day prediction:
Kaun
Wright
Rush
Robinson
Chalmers
I think it will actually stay that way unless DA really asserts himself down low. He’s probably more gifted than our other bigs, but with Wright in the lineup, I’m not sure we can afford to have his willowy frame in there. If we did, however, we’d be sickly athletic.
I think Collins will be hard to keep out of the game and I would expect to see him getting 15-20 minutes (spelling Robinson and Chalmers).
This team will be stacked, though, and stupidly talented. And please, no more quips about the first round of the tournament. This will be KU hoops Golden Age, so enjoy it.
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17 Responses to “Let’s talk Lineups”
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May 9th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
I love lineup talk!
1-2 Robinson Collins Morningstar
Chalmers Case
3-4 Rush Arthur
Wright
5 Kaun Giles
Jackson
I agree on the starters, Jeremy, at least at the beginning of the year. Practice will likely determine the starters deeper in the season, as has been the norm under Self.
Both Arthur and Collins will see significant playing time. I don’t see much playing time for either Case or Morningstar, who will play spot shooting roles and fill in when foul problems slow down our backcourt trio.
Self is not one to label players or positions on the floor. I think the athletes on this team will have a very fluid offense and will RUN ON EVERYBODY! Scary defense too!
I tell you what, there will be some battles in practice. It is entirely possible that the best games and competition these guys see all year will be in practice.
It’s a good day to be a Jayhawk!
May 9th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Spacing on the depth chart did not turn out. Let’s try that again:
1-2
Robinson…..Collins…..Morningstar
Chalmers……………..Case
3-4
Rush………Arthur
Wright
5
Kaun………Giles
………….Jackson
May 9th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Spacing still isn’t clear.
Three guard rotation at 1-2: Robinson and Chalmers start, with Collins coming off the bench.
Three player rotation at 3-4: Rush and Wright start, with Arthur coming off the bench. Jackson may see some limited time at the 4 also.
Kaun starts in the 5 slot, with Giles coming in off the bench. Jackson also sees time at the 5 spot.
May 9th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
The players at the end of the bench are not too shabby: Morningstar, Stewart, Case, and Kleinman. These guys will give the others a run for their money in practice. Not much PT there for them, though.
May 9th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
I’ll try to add up the minutes of a typical game…
Chalmers 31
Robinson 34
Collins 19
Rush 31
Wright 24
Jackson 17
Arthur 14
Kaun 19
Giles 11
Phew, that was hard, but it’s probably the way it will work. The only thing that kept this year’s team from true greatness was offensive capability; next year’s team has a chance to be in the top 5 in Offensive and Defensive Efficieny.
May 9th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Starting 5
1 - Robinson
2 - Chalmers
3 - Rush
4 - Wright
5 - Giles
I think Giles Will start but Arthur and Kaun and maybe even Collins will both get more minutes in a typical game
Bench Backcourt
1-Collins
2-Case
3-Stewart
4-Morningstar
Bench Frontcourt
1-Kaun
2-Arthur
3-Jackson
4-Kleinman
May 9th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
This exercise definitely confirms something to me…this team will be scary good next year. They will have one of the deepest teams in America. By mid-season I suspect there will be 9 guys with legit claims to starting roles. Echoing previous comments, I’d pay serious money just to see the day in day out team scrimmages.
May 9th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
I’ll go athletic. the most exciting five on the floor at once:
Rush (PF), Wright(C), Arthur(SF), Chalmers(SG), and Robinson(PG). When wanting to go small the obvious choice being swapping Arthur for Collins, who otherwise would be the perfect sub for chalmers or robinson. Dang we have more five-star recruits than we can fit on the florr at once.
PS: can’t wait to hear what Superior Self (SS) has to say about all this. And thank the good Lord for dreams about Kansas!
May 9th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
There are plenty of exciting lineups, but keep in mind not all of them work out. At this time last year people were talking about Julian Wright playing point guard and Micah Downs playing small forward. The lineup can be as vanilla as it needs be as long as it is offensively proficient… and last year Giles and Hawkins were the 2 sore spots as far as offensive production. Give those minutes to Collins, Arthur, and an improved Giles, and this team will be crazy good on offense and defense.
May 9th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Some interesting lineup possibilities
PG - Julian Wright
SG - Brandon Rush
SF - Darrell Arthur
PF - Sasha Kaun
C - CJ Giles
Brandon Rush would be the shortest guy on the court wearing ku colors at 6′6″
PG - Russell Robinson
SG - Mario Chalmers
3G - Sherron Collins
Swing - Brandon Rush
Post - Julian Wright
The villanova-esque lineup
Ah, is there anything better to pass the time in May then discussing the possibilities with these team.
May 9th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Some interesting lineup possibilites
(the goliath lineup - not a player under 6′6″)
1-Wright
2-Rush
3-Arthur
4-Giles
5-Kaun
(the ‘nova lineup)
1-robinson
2-chalmers
3-collins
4-rush
5-wright
Is there anything better to pass the time in May than discussing the possibilities with this team…I think not.
May 10th, 2006 at 7:21 am
steverino,
I went to Wheaton for a couple of years before graduating from KU. Thanks for the comments, but I think you’ll get some argument that DA is potentially the most athletic player that KU has.
Self made the comment in Jason King’s article today that DA could be the fastest player. From a 6′10″ guy, that’s remarkable.
He also said that DA was the best power forward he’d ever recruited.
May 10th, 2006 at 8:02 am
In 2005-06 the basic lineup was:
2 bigs (4 man rotation)
2 smalls (3 man rotation)
Rush (1 man rotation).
Rush played mighty minutes, took shots and often D’ed the best opposing player. Did he get tired? Was it just a coincidence his production went down at the end of the season?
We need a real backup for Rush this autumn, and a replacement next autumn. I think that’s the key question; the other parts are pretty interchangeable. Can Wright shoot from outside? Can he create his own shot?
May 10th, 2006 at 8:12 am
Playing devil’s advocate…do we all just forget the $$ comments made when LSU was the favorite? Do we forget Doyle’s column about whatever team lands DA should be looked at very closely by the NCAA? I am glad he chose KU, but 2 days ago, everyone was bagging on him because we thought LSU was paying the highest price.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Peter, you’re right. I sure hope Doyel’s wrong on this one. He never came out and made an accusation, though, and he’s not one to hold back if he’s got the goods. Maybe he was just frustrated - we all can understand that. Maybe he was just dismayed by the delay - we all can understand that. Maybe he was just trying to make money (read stir up controversy; attract readers; be an ass).
May 10th, 2006 at 9:10 am
Don’t overlook the comment that Jeremy highlighted: Self said Arthur is the best forward he’s ever recruited. Also, Self says that Arthur may be the most athletic (read fast; agile; coordinated; leaping ability) player on the team. Those are incredible comments!
Also, I noted in one of the articles I read, in the LJW I think, that Arthur is friends with Keith Langford. The writer noted that Arthur first visited KU when he came with Keith, when in the 8th grade, to Midnight Madness. I wonder if Keith played any role in this?
May 10th, 2006 at 9:15 am
Peter,
Someone had to bring this up, and I’m glad you did.
A couple of things in response to this:
1. KU has been recruiting DA for a long, long time - since at least 2002.
2. KU is currently undergoing an investigation and has been for the last year or so. Do you really think that KU would risk everything by passing some money with the NCAA in the room? I think not, even if KU were inclined to do so - which in my experience they are not.
3. I emailed Doyel about this issue and without quoting him without his permission, based on his response I do not believe that he would suggest that the NCAA look into KU’s recruitment of Arthur. Plus, Doyel didn’t say the school that got Arthur should be investigated, just that the NCAA ought to look into his recruitment.
I really don’t think there’s anything about the DA recruitment involving KU that I would be upset hit the light of day, but I do imagine that somewhere along the way, there could have been some overtures from other institutions. At least that’s what Doyel’s article would seem to imply.