re: 2024-25 Basketball Thread - Save us Bruce. You're our only hope.

I don’t mind Denver playing the point in a pinch because he’s so trustworthy but I want playmakers getting the bulk of the minutes there. Denver hasn’t shown the ability to drive and score or drive and kick. Gotta be able to collapse the defense.

If it were up to me just based on the little I’ve seen I’d want the pg split to be Pegues/Pettiford/Denver 25/10/5. But Bruce doesn’t seem too interested in Pettiford at the 1 at all.

You’re welcome CaliFoy, I try and get as much information about our basketball team as possible. It’s particularly difficult now since football season is starting. But yea, I’ll keep posting as long as I can find some good information.

As for the minutes at point guard, that is one of the very few criticisms I have of Pearl since he’s been here. I also believe that’s one of the main reasons we struggle in the postseason. Our starters don’t play enough consistently with each other to have that chemistry that you see in other teams who are successful in the tournament. I’ve played a lot of basketball, and it’s rare to ever have more than 7, possibly 8, players that contribute significant minutes during the season. In order to gain that chemistry, as a coach, you have to play those 7 guys the most minutes in order for them to be familiar with each other. Having 10-11 guys split minutes is not good for the starters’ chemistry as well as no team in college basketball since 2012 UK have 10 guys that should play significant minutes.

If I was Pearl, I would split the minutes up as follows:

Pegues-30/ Pettiford-10
Denver- 30/ Pettiford- 10
Miles- 20/CBM-20
Chaney-25/ Jakhi-15
Broome- 30/Cardwell 10

Honestly, I believe that Pegues, Denver, Miles, CBM and Broome should all get at least 30 minutes a game and the rest depends on who has the hot hand for that game.

Honestly, if you break it down, it’s not that daunting. We have the talent to win most of those games. The only one where I see as a likely loss is at Duke. I think Houston and Iowa State are toss ups. I think we beat Purdue and Ohio State easily. Also, Pearl scheduling like this means he has a lot of faith in this team and sees the potential we have to compete for a national title. Pearl has never scheduled like this since he has been at Auburn. Pearl has been more vocal as well about how he really likes this group. This schedule will also help us navigate the SEC schedule. We are not going to play at a tougher place than Cameron Indoors. Our players will not be intimidated when we go into conference play.

I agree that he will play around with the lineups against opponents we clearly overmatch. I also think Pettiford will be used in emergency situations at the point guard.
Ideally, at the end of games, I think this will be the lineup we see though:

Pegues
Jones
Kelly
CBM
Broome

I think we are going to see our best 5 players on the court, regardless of position and right now, those are our best 5.

Exactly my point. I don’t agree with putting a guy on the floor just because he’s a “4” or “3” or what have you. Now, most great players need to play at least 2 positions. You have that with this lineup outside of Pegues, who was a great point guard at Furman and hopefully will be with us. But yea, I don’t understand the logic in putting in Chaney Johnson just to have a “4” out there if he’s not producing many points. Will he get some playing time? Sure, but really should be coming in just to be a breather for our starters. As I’ve stated earlier in this thread, I really wish Pearl would get away from his hockey lineup and have those 5-6 guys play at least 30 minutes a game unless it’s a blowout. Again, I think that’s been an issue with the chemistry on the court, especially at the end of close games, since our starters don’t have that much playing time with each other due to all of the substitutions. I might be in the minority, but I have played basketball and been around basketball for over 20 years. Teams nowadays play 7 players, 8 at the most, at the end of the season. And that’s all you need. Here are my top 8 players who should get the minutes:

1) Broome
2) Kelly
3) Jones
4) CBM
5) Pegues
6) Pettiford
7) Cardwell
8) Jakhi/Chaney

I'd like Chaney to start and get bulk of the minutes at the 4. He can matchup athletically and hang on the boards with the better 4's in league play.

He won't be asked to score much. I do like the idea of CBM at the 4 in certain situations though. Would be a ridiculously dangerous offensive lineup.

Schedule update: Auburn will be playing Kent State at home on November 13.

Well placed tune up between Houston game and Maui

I see where you are coming from. And that lineup would mostly be for the end of games. And I think Chaney will improve, but I don’t think he’s one of our top 6 players, right now. The thing that hurt Chaney a lot last year was on defense where he was out of position most of the time and was getting burned or making silly fouls. If he cleans that up, he’ll see the floor more.

Jahki Howard is a freak