Looking forward to this like the rest of ya'll. Probably the least daunting of the true road games, on paper, so it would be quite helpful to get this W. Three things I'm most curious about tonight:
1. Are they playing the caliber of Saluki defense that makes life not so fun for opponents? You know it when you see it, and there wasn't enough of it last year.
2. PG play: Is Lance mostly running the point, and has he made headway with improving his floor game/assist-to-turnover ratio? Related, how much do Banks and Jones play together?
3. How deep will they go on the bench early in the year (and will any of the freshmen see substantial minutes or is Mullins going to give the returnees first crack at earning time on a deep team)?
In the Ben Coupet interview, he specifically mentioned D'Amico and how he looks forward to mentoring him this year. I think many of us might be surprised that by the end of the year IF Troy is the most productive freshmen. I expect him to play minutes tonight.
Starters:
Lance Jones
Dalton Banks
Steven Verplancken
Marcus Domask
Kyler Filewich
Starters: Verplancken, Domask, Filewich, Jones and Banks
Assuming Coupet and Brown are on the bench due to recent injuries. Regardless, let's hope this starting 5 can defend (an area of needed improvement over last year). Having Jones and Banks ball hawking at the top should be fun to watch!
I just don’t like starting our only 2 point guards together.
I just don’t like starting our only 2 point guards together.
Yeah, I fully expect Coupet to get into the starting lineup soon once he doesn't have some kind of minutes restriction. Guessing Jones plays a lot tonight, even with the 2nd unit, and Banks comes in to spell him when he has to rest.
Starters:
Lance Jones
Dalton Banks
Steven Verplancken
Marcus Domask
Kyler Filewich
Same as the exhibition game.
Seems like Brown might be out or just taking it easy
@insaluki I don’t think it was ever a given that Coupet would be a starter.
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@insaluki I don’t think it was ever a given that Coupet would be a starter.
I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first, second, etc time, but I'm saying this with full confidence, Ben Coupet will be starting as soon as he is healthy, and conditioned, enough to. Both skill and circumstances drive this opinion. He wouldn't come here in his 5th or 6th year to be a bench player.
Banks leaves a wide open 3 to start but the passing on offense was sharp and Domask scores the first basket of the year.
Harvey and Coupet in the game !!! Banks looking a little shaky out there.
Filewich has 2 fouls already at the first media timeout. Guessing we see a bunch of D'Avanzo and Muila
Filewich with 2 early fouls - JD now in the game. Let's see some D now !!!!
