Yanick injury

[ojaipony]

In Larry's world they play the same position-in your world they don't. In Garland they never played together and they replaced each other on substitutions

Fair enough.

The roster says Yanick and Cannen are centers. MK is a forward. I'll defer to you and LB of course. What do I know.

[East Coast Mustang]

Shawn and Cannen aren't on Yanick's level. Nor is Ben Moore. They're all good but it's a numbers game and Moreira gives you the best chance to win at the end of the day, at least imo. I just have a hard time believing that he's now the 5th best big on the team and the others have all passed him up.

Ben Moore will start for us next year unless we sign Myles Turner. Take it to the bank

[StandUp]

I agree with Stallion. Coach Brown must be thinking that Cunningham at 100% is better than Moriera at 85%. We have to give it to Cannen, he has been playing really well over the past handful of games. He has been a very solid contributor with points, his mid-range game, rebounds and blocks Thing that I do not understand is that Cannen does not start so why doesn't Moriera start? Maybe Coach Brown was playing a 3 guard lineup based solely on match ups vs. Louisville's smaller quicker lineup?

Just my opinion, but I really think that Moriera would have been a much better match up with Louisville's Harrell. Yes Harrell got a few gimme dunks, but there were plenty of chances that Harrell got that Moriera could have positively affected with his defense.

Regardless, I trust Coach Brown. He is trying to get as many guys minutes as he sees fit based on match ups, and time in the game. It is great that we have the depth that we have.

[PonyKris89]

I don't think it can all be put on Yanick's injury. LB, when asked in presser about Yanick, at first said he didn't want to talk about it, then went with his usual minutes to divide up, and how it's not fair, blah, blah, blah… and said that it's really unfair to Yanick(and the others)...

I think LB is still truly conflicted about the lineup and rotations, and LB has admitted many times(especially when speaking of Ben Moore) that his biggest problem is LB, himself, not knowing how to use (him) properly.
Hey Larry ain't perfect and I got to take him at his word, and I think if it was due to injury, then he would say so.

[PonyKris89]

Larry Brown has been asked about how he juggles his rotation, whether it's Moreira and Cunningham and (Ben) Moore and Kennedy in the middle, or Sterling Brown and Nick Russell and Keith Frazier and Crandall Head and Shawn Williams on the perimeter. His response is the same, how juggling minutes is one of the toughest challenges he faces from one game to the next, how every rotation is based on matchups with the other team's personnel, the score and time on the clock.
It doesn't clear much up, but it's the answer that has been repeated more than once.

I know. And I know you have asked it (probably only member of the media aware enough to). But the answer makes no sense IF he's 100%. He was the starter. The other thing I'd like to see him asked is why he doesn't start MK and Yanick together. Most teams couldn't handle that size like Memphis and UConn.

I agree Ojaipony, that could be an insanely good big two.

[StandUp]

I agree. Kennedy and Moriera should be on the court at the same time. They should both start. Our blocked shots and defensive rebounding would improve. Players like Louisville's Harrell would have a much harder time scoring and rebounding. We could then play Shawn Williams, Ben Moore, or Sterling Moore at the 3 based on match ups. Or have Ben Moore and Cannen Cunningham come off the bench at the 4 and 5.

[hoopmanx]

On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3. He can't defend the position w his footspeed, can't handle and, lacks athleticism considering most 3s are glorified guards. What he should be, and should have been months ago is relegated to far less time.

Also, the only stretch Moreira played w Kennedy this year was during the UVA game, and they dominated. Markus is a great high low passer. I'm not sure Larry's reasoning there, but it's been really odd. You have to think Moreira can't go, or at least I hope he can't, cause there is basically no justification for Cannen or Ben over him. Sure, Russ smith killed us, as did turnovers, but they gotto the rack at will in he first during their comeback. You have to have a legit and feared rim protector in today's game

[Harry0569]

On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3. He can't defend the position w his footspeed, can't handle and, lacks athleticism considering most 3s are glorified guards. What he should be, and should have been months ago is relegated to far less time.

Also, the only stretch Moreira played w Kennedy this year was during the UVA game, and they dominated. Markus is a great high low passer. I'm not sure Larry's reasoning there, but it's been really odd. You have to think Moreira can't go, or at least I hope he can't, cause there is basically no justification for Cannen or Ben over him. Sure, Russ smith killed us, as did turnovers, but they gotto the rack at will in he first during their comeback. You have to have a legit and feared rim protector in today's game

see Dallas Mavs winning the title with Tyson Chandler, see Rob Hibbert and the Pacer's ascension to the toast of the East... I could go on and on. Completely agree. You MUST have a legit rim protector.

[NastyStang]

[quote="hoopmanx"]On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3. He can't defend the position w his footspeed, can't handle and, lacks athleticism considering most 3s are glorified guards. What he should be, and should have been months ago is relegated to far less time.

Totally agree! This all clears up if Shawn Williams isn't starting and taking minutes. I was so frustrated with him last year, and I will admit his under the basket game this year has been nice, but that's all bonus points. He's a tweener who lacks athleticism. I personally would much rather see an athletic-height combo in his place which we do have sitting on the bench. Senior favoritism I guess.

[ojaipony]

So, PP, PLEASE ask LB why he just doesn't start Yanick and MK together at the same time. Then, he can get B Moore and Cannen their minutes (as backups). Problem solved. Would love to just hear his answer.

[GiddyUp]

On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3. He can't defend the position w his footspeed, can't handle and, lacks athleticism considering most 3s are glorified guards. What he should be, and should have been months ago is relegated to far less time.

Also, the only stretch Moreira played w Kennedy this year was during the UVA game, and they dominated. Markus is a great high low passer. I'm not sure Larry's reasoning there, but it's been really odd. You have to think Moreira can't go, or at least I hope he can't, cause there is basically no justification for Cannen or Ben over him. Sure, Russ smith killed us, as did turnovers, but they gotto the rack at will in he first during their comeback. You have to have a legit and feared rim protector in today's game

Yes the Hall of Famer has me scratching my head sometimes. Even if it's 5-7 minutes, I think you get him out there if he can play. I also see his frustration with how deep we are but it all comes down to matchups against who we are playing. Cannen and Moore have both played decent.

Against Memphis, they typically play 3-4 guards at a time sometimes so might not be the right game for him either.

[ojaipony]

On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3. He can't defend the position w his footspeed, can't handle and, lacks athleticism considering most 3s are glorified guards. What he should be, and should have been months ago is relegated to far less time.

Also, the only stretch Moreira played w Kennedy this year was during the UVA game, and they dominated. Markus is a great high low passer. I'm not sure Larry's reasoning there, but it's been really odd. You have to think Moreira can't go, or at least I hope he can't, cause there is basically no justification for Cannen or Ben over him. Sure, Russ smith killed us, as did turnovers, but they gotto the rack at will in he first during their comeback. You have to have a legit and feared rim protector in today's game

Yes the Hall of Famer has me scratching my head sometimes. Even if it's 5-7 minutes, I think you get him out there if he can play. I also see his frustration with how deep we are but it all comes down to matchups against who we are playing. Cannen and Moore have both played decent.

Against Memphis, they typically play 3-4 guards at a time sometimes so might not be the right game for him either.

I've never coached a college bball game in my life, so I definitely defer to LB, but I think our size gives us a huge advantage over Memphis and that both should definitely start against a team like that and let's see how it goes. (Maybe he's resting him and going to spring it on teams in the tourney!).

[StandUp]

"On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3" Not sure that I understand your thinking. Not only is Shawn Williams playing the 3 for SMU, but he is starting. Let's look at our starting lineup. Nic Moore is not a 3. Markus Kennedy is not playing 3 for us, I guess he is playing the 5. Nick Russell is not a 3, Sterling Brown could be a 2 or a 3. That leaves Shawn Williams at the 3.

We all know that our linueup depends on matchups. Louisville with their small lineup, maybe Shawn Williams was playing the 4. I don't know. If Moriera, Kennedy, Williams, Sterling, Nic are in the game (in a dream world, once Yanick is back), Shawn Williams is definitely playing the 3.

[Harry0569]

"On no planet can Shawn Williams play any 3" Not sure that I understand your thinking. Not only is Shawn Williams playing the 3 for SMU, but he is starting. Let's look at our starting lineup. Nic Moore is not a 3. Markus Kennedy is not playing 3 for us, I guess he is playing the 5. Nick Russell is not a 3, Sterling Brown could be a 2 or a 3. That leaves Shawn Williams at the 3.

We all know that our linueup depends on matchups. Louisville with their small lineup, maybe Shawn Williams was playing the 4. I don't know. If Moriera, Kennedy, Williams, Sterling, Nic are the game (in a dream world, once Yanick is back), Shawn Williams is definitely playing the 3.

Sterling Brown would like to respectably disagree with this post. In fact, SB is a prototypical 3. lol

1- Nic
2- Nick
3 - SB
4 - Shawn
5 - MK

[StandUp]

Ok, I can buy the fact that Sterling Brown could be our 3, and Shawn Williams our 4 (our starting linup), but in a lineup that includes Markus Kennedy, Yankick Moriera, Sterling Brown, Nic Moore and Shawn Williams... I would think that Shawn Williams is a 3.

Personally I would prefer playing with a taller lineup putting Sterling Brown at the 2 and Shawn at the 3, Ben at the 4, MK at the 5.