Starting five predictions

[East Coast Mustang]

Here's mine:

G- Mudiay
G- N. Moore
G- Sterling (I think he keeps his starting spot with Martin coming off the bench)
F- Kennedy
C- Cunningham

I almost went with Ben Moore at the 4 and Kennedy at the 5, but I think Cannen's size and experience give us the best look if he can play with more consistency. If we could just bottle up what he did in the Cincy game and replicate that, we'd probably go undefeated.

Martin, Tolbert, Keeeeeith, Ben, and hopefully healthy Yanick give us a ridiculous bench. God, next year is going to be awesome.

[gostangs]

i think the post are Ben Moore and kennedy - but Cunningham is one of my favorite players

[MFFL02]

Mudiay
Moore
Martin
Moore
Kennedy

A bit of a bold prediction to say Ben Moore starts, but with Mudiay, Moore, Martin and Kennedy starting, we don't need any more offense on the floor. Ben is scrappy, athletic and versatile and can score without plays being run for him. I think it makes more sense to utilize Cannen's offense off the bench, when Kennedy, Martin and Mudiay or Moore's offense will be missing.

[MFFL02]

If Moreira gets back to playing like he did at the start of last season and out of Larry's dog house, he seems to make the most sense to start alongside Kennedy, with Moore and Cunningham off the bench.

On another note, I hope Sterling and Keith don't get disillusioned when their minutes don't increase this year. Everyone will be forced to sacrifice this year, but if the locker room chemistry remains strong, we will be title contenders.

[LA_Mustang]

One of our bigs will need to step up as dependable help side defender and rim protector. I believe Ben has great potential to be that guy. He's a little quicker than Yanick and just as long.

[ojaipony]

This is fun . . . a complete waste of time, but I really enjoy it because these guys are so awesome. Here's my prediction:

Mudiay
Nic
Sterling
Tolbert
Kennedy

With heavy rotations of Keith, Martin, Cannen, and Ben (need another really dependable ball handler to back up Mudiay and Nic but I think Keith, Manuel, and Sterling will have to be those guys). I don't know where Yanick fits. The above is what I think LARRY will do. Here's what I would do:

STARTERS:
Mudiay
Nic
Sterling
Kennedy
Yanick

with Martin, Tolbert, Cannen, Keith, and Ben pretty much getting almost equal minutes depending on game situations, injuries, etc . . .

[ojaipony]

He's a little quicker than Yanick and just as long.

I don't think that's correct. Yanick is 6'11" and really long. Ben is more like 6'8" and not as long (does seem faster though and a bit more skilled/aggressive). I think it was PonyPride who saw Tolbert standing next to Ben and thought that even he was a bit bigger than Ben (if Ben can put on about 10 pounds of muscle or so in the offseason, he could be deadly). Regardless, they are all awesome and I enjoy your posts . . .

[gostangs]

i love the addition of Tolbert but he isn't starting.
i see minutes going to zero for Ryan and Crandall. Kind of a shame but no idea how they would work their way in here without injury.
also for some reason larry doesn't put yannick and kennedy in the game together. For that reason i think Moore will start with kennedy, and then you have Cunningham or Tolbert coming in with Yannick in relief. That could be just brutal for the other team when they have to sub in.

[mrydel]

No way I see Sterling Brown not starting. Brown obviously likes him and his defense. I am sure they are working on getting him to score more. He may get less minutes but he will start.

[ojaipony]

Not so sure Tolbert isn't starting (if he's eligible) . . . I really like his game on both ends from what I've seen and from what I've read he's a great teammate already gelling with this team. And Ryan will most likely HAVE to get SOME minutes (we still lack quality ball handling depth IMHO). But even if Tolbert does NOT start, that just tells you how good we are. Think about it: a 3 yr veteran player who led his team in scoring and rebounding (or was it 2nd?) in a middle of the road Big12 team very battle tested against the likes of Kansas, Iowa St, Baylor, and Texas wouldn't even START for us here. Pretty awesome. Same goes for Martin. Second on his NCAA tourney team (3 years straight right?) in points with experience in (used to be anyway) the best "tough guy" conference in college bball (Big East) -- his first 2 years anyway. And then HE wouldn't even START for us either. Pretty amazing.

[East Coast Mustang]

Remember when we scored 28 points in a game against UAB?

[OhioBrownFan]

I'd put even money on this ECM:

I'm very familiar with Martin's game and I think he will start. From everything I've read and the little I've seen of Tolbert, I also think he's the starter if it's not Yanick.

1) Moore
2) Mudiay
3) Martin
4) Tolbert
5) Kennedy

That would be who I'd put the money on for opening night. As for the season, who knows. But Sterling will see his minutes diminish as will Ben Moore. Just a product of bringing in upgrades that happen to be eligible immediately. No different than what happened last year and ran Jalen off. Obviously this is my opinion but I'd about guarantee Tolbert a starting spot and I think Martin adds a key dynamic with that line-up therefore I'd give it to him. Having Sterling on the floor will not compliment the other 4 as effectively as Martin would at the spot, Mudiay is a much better version of Sterling and fills the slasher role that can D up.

[mrydel]

You guys are probably right. I do not know enough about the new guys to make an intelligent opinion but I do know that we lost two of our best defenders and I do know that LB is big on defense. I think Sterling brings that to the table and that is why I think we will see him start but get diminished minutes.

[East Coast Mustang]

I would be very surprised if both transfers end up starting, just because the other guys have had more time in LB's system, but no doubt they're quality players so I could be wrong. I just think that you've got enough scoring on the court with Nic, Mudiay, and Markus, and you need a "glue" guy like Sterling in there starting and then can bring Martin off the bench to score.

I'd really like to see Cannen take his game to another level this offseason and allow Markus to play his natural position -- the 4.

[lwjr]

You guys are probably right. I do not know enough about the new guys to make an intelligent opinion but I do know that we lost two of our best defenders and I do know that LB is big on defense. I think Sterling brings that to the table and that is why I think we will see him start but get diminished minutes.

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