I just dont see how D'Avanzo gets many minutes. Not to be mean but it was pretty obvious why he was a D2 player. I think he will be a nice hand in practice tho.
I also think you are overselling Verplancken. He might be a nice option off the bench if SIU is either too much ahead or behind but I don't think he should be getting minutes that matter.
I dont know why people pencil in Muila(I know you didn't) but Filewich put up better numbers as a D1 true freshman than Muila did as a JUCO sophomore.
Speculative depth chart:
5. Kyler Filewich, J.D. Muila
4. Scottie Ebube, Troy D'Amico
3. Marcus Domask, Ben Coupet, Anthony D'Avanzo
2. Trent Brown, Ben Harvey, Foster Wonders, Steven Verplancken
1. Lance Jones, Dalton Banks
Filewich and Muila to be pretty evenly split minutes wise.
The 4 spot is harder but Ebube is by many accounts ready to step right in.
Marcus Domask if healthy at the 3 with Coupet capably spelling him so he gets a breather at times.
Brown reminds me a lot of Tony Young as a great defender who can occasionally make the scoreboard go nuts. Ben Harvey and Wonders split the rest of the time.
Lance Jones and Dalton Banks are both capable at the PG spot and split time.
Minutes for D'Avanzo and Verplancken limited most likely but can occasionally spell. Could also occasionally shift to a smaller lineup with Domask moving to the 4.
One of the most well balanced rosters SIU has had in quite some time.
Ebube won't be playing the 4. He is a center, period. I would expect us to go smaller and have Domask start at the 4. Coupet Jr. will most likely start. I also think you are selling Verplancken short. He is a better defender than Harvey, and matured quickly at the end of last year. He will be a good one for us and should get a decent amount of PT. I would guess Banks starts at PG and Jones starts at the 2.
My starters - Banks, Jones, Coupet Jr., Domask and either Muila or Filewich. D'Avanzo will be 1st of the bench at the 4 and D'Amico will play at the 4 if he shows in practice he is ready. Brown will come off the bench and get plenty of PT at the 2. Jones will also play PG and will play 30+ minutes a game between PG and SG. Wonders and Harvey will play the 3 off the bench and Ebube will also get time at the 5, if he shows he is ready in practice. There will be a couple players who fall out of favor as the season goes on because rotations usually go 10 or 11 deep, at the most. This means we may have a couple talented kids transfer after this year. This is due to having much better depth than we have had in years. Good problem to have!
I'd be a little surprised if Banks starts at PG and Jones plays the 2, though not necessarily opposed. That would definitely put the squeeze on the logjam of guys who could slot in at the 2/3 spots if it plays out that way.
Agree that Ebube is a 5, as is Muila and Filewich. They won't have two guys on the floor at the same time who can't shoot beyond 10 feet unless there are rare matchup situations that call for a big lineup.
I just dont see how D'Avanzo gets many minutes. Not to be mean but it was pretty obvious why he was a D2 player. I think he will be a nice hand in practice tho.
I also think you are overselling Verplancken. He might be a nice option off the bench if SIU is either too much ahead or behind but I don't think he should be getting minutes that matter.
I dont know why people pencil in Muila(I know you didn't) but Filewich put up better numbers as a D1 true freshman than Muila did as a JUCO sophomore.
I don't know if Muila will start but the case for him starting over Filewich, if healthy, is all about interior defense, rebounding and athleticism - areas the team lacked last year.
As for Verplancken, I think he and Harvey will be battling each other for a significant spot in the rotation, with Wonders being an X factor if he adapts well to D-I ball.
Filewich is a pretty good rebounder himself though(his numbers were similar to Muila's JUCO numbers) and looks to have really toned up from what we have seen so far.
I dont think Banks starts either at least not at first. Jones and Brown most likely have the guard spots locked up to start the year.
Speculative depth chart:
5. Kyler Filewich, J.D. Muila
4. Scottie Ebube, Troy D'Amico
3. Marcus Domask, Ben Coupet, Anthony D'Avanzo
2. Trent Brown, Ben Harvey, Foster Wonders, Steven Verplancken
1. Lance Jones, Dalton Banks
Filewich and Muila to be pretty evenly split minutes wise.
The 4 spot is harder but Ebube is by many accounts ready to step right in.
Marcus Domask if healthy at the 3 with Coupet capably spelling him so he gets a breather at times.
Brown reminds me a lot of Tony Young as a great defender who can occasionally make the scoreboard go nuts. Ben Harvey and Wonders split the rest of the time.
Lance Jones and Dalton Banks are both capable at the PG spot and split time.
Minutes for D'Avanzo and Verplancken limited most likely but can occasionally spell. Could also occasionally shift to a smaller lineup with Domask moving to the 4.
One of the most well balanced rosters SIU has had in quite some time.
Ebube won't be playing the 4. He is a center, period. I would expect us to go smaller and have Domask start at the 4. Coupet Jr. will most likely start. I also think you are selling Verplancken short. He is a better defender than Harvey, and matured quickly at the end of last year. He will be a good one for us and should get a decent amount of PT. I would guess Banks starts at PG and Jones starts at the 2.
My starters - Banks, Jones, Coupet Jr., Domask and either Muila or Filewich. D'Avanzo will be 1st of the bench at the 4 and D'Amico will play at the 4 if he shows in practice he is ready. Brown will come off the bench and get plenty of PT at the 2. Jones will also play PG and will play 30+ minutes a game between PG and SG. Wonders and Harvey will play the 3 off the bench and Ebube will also get time at the 5, if he shows he is ready in practice. There will be a couple players who fall out of favor as the season goes on because rotations usually go 10 or 11 deep, at the most. This means we may have a couple talented kids transfer after this year. This is due to having much better depth than we have had in years. Good problem to have!
👍🏀
It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.”
-- Al McGuire
It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
True ... that will be even more interesting. Lots of potential for late offense/defense subbing with this group, too.
We certainly need another pg, especially if Banks and Jones both start. That’s it !
We certainly need another pg, especially if Banks and Jones both start. That’s it !
You'll probably have to wait until next year for that, unless a Grad Transfer PG lands in our lap!
A redshirt year for Ebube is not out of question. That is not my opinion, I am a conduit here.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
A redshirt year for Ebube is not out of question. That is not my opinion, I am a conduit here.
That would surprise me given JD's injury history, but even if the intent is to redshirt, it doesn't mean they can't pull it if needed at some point during the season.
--Insert something witty here--
A redshirt year for Ebube is not out of question. That is not my opinion, I am a conduit here.
That would surprise me given JD's injury history, but even if the intent is to redshirt, it doesn't mean they can't pull it if needed at some point during the season.
I don't see redshirting anyone anymore.
@bleedfknmaroon25 For once, we are "loaded" at the center position. If JD is as advertised, then it makes sense give Ebube is a raw talent, and minutes could be scarce. Obviously the downside is the dreaded transfer portal, but having the right kind of kids in your program somewhat mitigates that. Character counts, ask Bryan Mullins.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
I’ll give a take that’s a bit different in speculation of starters.
It seems to be a consensus that Lance and Marcus are starters again. I put Lance continuing at PG and Marcus as the three spot. I’m putting Coupet Jr at the two. Isn’t he advertised as a guard that can play multiple positions? My unconventional pick is D’Avanzo at the stretch 4. I think the experience he got last year will land him there. I don’t like Domask at the four spot which is why I make this speculation. I still give center to Kyler. Until we can see what a healthy Muila can do, I just stick with him. And we just don’t know what Ebube can do yet or any of the other freshman.
1 – Jones
2 – Coupet Jr
3 – Domask
4 – D’Avanzo
5 – Filewich
I think Banks is lock to backup Jones and one of the first off the bench. Who will be next? Verplancken? Harvey? Brown? Mulia?
From there, who knows. I think this will be the most talented team we’ve seen in a decade but where will the minutes go? Will some of the freshman shine and jump ahead in the rotation? Do we have players that have been recruited over and will lose minutes? Of course injuries dictate a lot of decisions and I can scarcely remember a season without injuries that bench players.
Hopefully good times ahead.
I’ll give a take that’s a bit different in speculation of starters.
It seems to be a consensus that Lance and Marcus are starters again. I put Lance continuing at PG and Marcus as the three spot. I’m putting Coupet Jr at the two. Isn’t he advertised as a guard that can play multiple positions? My unconventional pick is D’Avanzo at the stretch 4. I think the experience he got last year will land him there. I don’t like Domask at the four spot which is why I make this speculation. I still give center to Kyler. Until we can see what a healthy Muila can do, I just stick with him. And we just don’t know what Ebube can do yet or any of the other freshman.
1 – Jones
2 – Coupet Jr
3 – Domask
4 – D’Avanzo
5 – Filewich
I think Banks is lock to backup Jones and one of the first off the bench. Who will be next? Verplancken? Harvey? Brown? Mulia?
From there, who knows. I think this will be the most talented team we’ve seen in a decade but where will the minutes go? Will some of the freshman shine and jump ahead in the rotation? Do we have players that have been recruited over and will lose minutes? Of course injuries dictate a lot of decisions and I can scarcely remember a season without injuries that bench players.
Hopefully good times ahead.
That would definitely be one way to have a bigger lineup that could be an interesting look. One drawback: a little slow-footed in the frontcourt with D’Avanzo and Filewich both out there.
