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Stop Avoiding my Bruce Roster Question
Posted on 4/6/25 at 10:47 am
Posted on 4/6/25 at 10:47 am
How does Bruce manage a roster of 12 scholarship players and one walk-on earning a scholarship due to roster chemistry concerns when other coaches will want to have 15 scholarship players.
LINK
Last night we had a depth problem not because of numbers, but because of misses and duds.
In the future misses and duds in combination with significantly smaller benches of quality player availability against their peers will reflect an unlevel playing field as other teams can seek to maximize potential over ROI with players 13-15.
Does Bruce adjust or not.
Bruce's way
Pros- Roster Chemistry
Cons- Run into depth issues against deeper teams
maximizing the scholarship limit
Pros
-Deeper talent pool in the reserves
-Fresher legs late in the season
-Can afford a dud or two on the team
Cons
-Higher Exodus Numbers after each season
-Possible Roster disgruntlement/ cancers
quote:
I doubt we’ll use that 13th scholarship,” Pearl said. “I take pride in the fact that it’s been a while since we’ve actually had 13 guys on scholarship. And part of it is it’s hard enough to keep 12 guys happy, let alone 13. It’s not just about keeping them happy. It’s about your locker room. Plus, it always gives me an opportunity to put a non-scholarship player, (give) a walk-on scholarship.
LINK
Last night we had a depth problem not because of numbers, but because of misses and duds.
In the future misses and duds in combination with significantly smaller benches of quality player availability against their peers will reflect an unlevel playing field as other teams can seek to maximize potential over ROI with players 13-15.
Does Bruce adjust or not.
Bruce's way
Pros- Roster Chemistry
Cons- Run into depth issues against deeper teams
maximizing the scholarship limit
Pros
-Deeper talent pool in the reserves
-Fresher legs late in the season
-Can afford a dud or two on the team
Cons
-Higher Exodus Numbers after each season
-Possible Roster disgruntlement/ cancers
This post was edited on 4/6/25 at 9:32 pm
8
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:03 am to jangalang
There are 352 schools playing D1 BB. 348 of them didn't make it to this weekend. Bruce is doing OK.
Our problem was not having enough players to plug in as depth pieces. It was that two guys, one of whom was irreplaceable (Broome) and the other of whom regularly has provided a spark (CBM) were both playing hurt. They were 6 of our 14 TOs, and almost all of their TOs happened due to losing the handle at a time either one uninjured would have likely made the play.
You don't replace either of those guys with someone who's "pretty good, not a dud but not a starter either". UF had no significant injuries coming into the game in contrast.
Our problem was not having enough players to plug in as depth pieces. It was that two guys, one of whom was irreplaceable (Broome) and the other of whom regularly has provided a spark (CBM) were both playing hurt. They were 6 of our 14 TOs, and almost all of their TOs happened due to losing the handle at a time either one uninjured would have likely made the play.
You don't replace either of those guys with someone who's "pretty good, not a dud but not a starter either". UF had no significant injuries coming into the game in contrast.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:07 am to TigerHornII
quote:
Our problem was not having enough players to plug in as depth pieces.
This is incorrect. Bruce said as much himself.
quote:
pieces. It was that two guys, one of whom was irreplaceable (Broome)
When you start Broome and Cardwell and only have one backup in Chaney problems over reliance happen.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:08 am to jangalang
quote:
maximizing the scholarship limit Pros -Deeper talent pool in the reserves -Fresher legs late in the season -Can afford a dud or two on the team
I think this is probably the way, IF you can get guys who really want to be here that might could play more somewhere else.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:09 am to jangalang
We were a few Miles Kelly 3s away from this thread never existing
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:15 am to jangalang
quote:questions end in ?
How does Bruce manage a roster of 12 scholarship players and one walk-on earning a scholarship due to roster chemistry concerns when other coaches will want to have 15 scholarship players.
quote:With copious amounts of NIL money. I imagine we will spend big money on key players and fill the other slots with mid major players or underdog tryhards.
Stop Avoiding my Bruce Roster Question
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:15 am to AuburnTigers
2025-2026 Rosters are allowed to have 15 scholarship players.
Ive been asking this question for weeks and months.
Again, last night wasn't a numbers issue but it was a depth issue for other reasons.
Ive been asking this question for weeks and months.
Again, last night wasn't a numbers issue but it was a depth issue for other reasons.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:16 am to AuburnTigers
quote:
With copious amounts of NIL money. I imagine we will spend big money on key players and fill the other slots with mid major players or underdog tryhards.
Hope so. We missed on a backup 4...and brought in Turtle
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:16 am to jangalang
Bruce Pearl isnt perfect, but he's ours 
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:17 am to jangalang
More scholarship players means more NIL money.
Our problem is we missed on some pieces. Turtle didn't help much this season. Howard and Pegues didn't help at all. That is three guys we counted on contributing and didn't.
Our problem is we missed on some pieces. Turtle didn't help much this season. Howard and Pegues didn't help at all. That is three guys we counted on contributing and didn't.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:18 am to jangalang
quote:And still got to the final four. Lets count our blessings and hope for the best instead of dwelling on the negative.
Hope so. We missed on a backup 4...and brought in Turtle
BP will get in some talent, coach them up and we will try and make another 20+ win season and NCAA tourney run
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:19 am to TigerHornII
It was an obvious depth issue going into the final four against the teams that made it. We could have used one to two to plug in. Especially when injuries are hampering two of your key players. Florida’s defense did a good job as well and how do you stop Clayton when your team is considered one of the best defenses on the court? That kid was amazing.
It was a tough matchup but with all of that said we had a very good chance of winning it all but couldn’t cross that rubicon. No real major overhauling to Bruce’s process. I think he had hoped others he brought in would pan out and they did not. That’s going to happen.
It was a tough matchup but with all of that said we had a very good chance of winning it all but couldn’t cross that rubicon. No real major overhauling to Bruce’s process. I think he had hoped others he brought in would pan out and they did not. That’s going to happen.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:24 am to jangalang
quote:
Last night we had a depth problem not because of numbers, but because of misses and duds.
We played 8 guys and had 48 bench minutes.
FLA played 8 guys and had 49 bench minutes,
The issue was not depth, it was our inability to score in the 2nd half, and we STILL had chances to get back in the game inside the 1 minute mark.
If we shoot at our season averages for the game, we win.
Plus, Broome was obviously nowhere near 100%, and there is nobody in the country who has a bench player they could trot out to replace him. He was out of gas in the second half.
ETA: The other glaring issue that had nothing to do with depth is the fact that we could not stop Clayton.
This post was edited on 4/6/25 at 11:31 am
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:24 am to jangalang
My guess is he keeps a similar approach of taking 12 or so guys that he thinks might be able to contribute and then fills the rest with walk ons and developmental HS guys. The rule is great for the lower ranked HS guys who are actually willing to stick it out a school for a bit.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:28 am to jangalang
Whatever Bruce is doing, I hope he keeps doing it.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:38 am to tiggerfan02 2021
quote:
The issue was not depth
Some need to stop saying this when Bruce himself said it was an issue.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 11:42 am to blzr
We all love Bruce but the game definitely changes once revenue sharing kicks off. Bruce either has to adjust or pull a Saban and retire
Posted on 4/6/25 at 12:19 pm to jangalang
I assume u mean like the tall guy at Ole Miss and UF that got zero PT or even Scott. We definitely should maximize roster spots.
However you are probably swapping them out every yr when they leave.
However you are probably swapping them out every yr when they leave.
Posted on 4/6/25 at 1:13 pm to jangalang
quote:
We all love Bruce but the game definitely changes once revenue sharing kicks off. Bruce either has to adjust or pull a Saban and retire
Posted on 4/6/25 at 1:43 pm to blzr
The JP Pegues miss was worse than not recruiting another guy.
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