The Darryl Reynolds example is actually pretty close! Start Darryl Reynolds and win a natty / start Taine and win a natty??? 
And they mostly tend to be bigs… Also. I have totally failed with Andrew White III. I do not remember that guy at all. Even after looking him up.
I have more!
Vitto Brown (Wisconsin): Verifying Browser...
Martinas Geben (ND, I completely forgot that he was good as a senior): Verifying Browser...
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Connor Teahan (Kansas, who played like zero minutes for three years before becoming a rotation player on a team that made the title game): Verifying Browser...
Okay, okay, 
I swear I was going to add “off the top of your head” to my original question. So it’s certainly not unprecedented…
Thompson started over Nolte in 2016 at the beginning of the year
It is, admittedly, still fairly uncommon.
Also worth mentioning, I keep forgetting that Groves should probably be included in the list of folks who could conceivably win a starting spot with Dunn presumably shifting down to the 3. That still wouldn’t be ideal, but I’d be more ok with it than Dante winning the starting spot which I can only assume means I’m still suffering from Kihei-trauma.
Thompson and Nolte played very different positions. Thompson was a guard. At Tennessee, he was a point guard, IIRC. Nolte was a forward, and even played center in one game as a frosh. I don’t think Thompson started in lieu of Nolte. Thompson’s competition for playing time were more likely Hall and Shayok.
I agree, for the most part, but I am unsure how helpful those past trends are. On the other hand, time and again we’ve watched a true frosh blow a defensive switch or coverage and get pulled almost immediately (unless the outcome of the game had been already decided). I simply have a suspicion that whoever (among Murray, Rohde, Gertrude and Bond) makes the fewest defensive mistakes in practice gets to start the first game, and that Murray is the most likely candidate to not blow defensive assignments. However, any of the four could be THAT player (or, it could become a minor consideration), and I wouldn’t be disappointed at the decision to start any of them.
It’s funny you say that because I’d say the same thing about Rohde and Taine.
Taine has never shown the handle to operate as a guard in Tony’s system IMO.
But neither Murray nor Rohde would be required to be a primary ball handler. With Rohde, it would simply be a plus. And their roles would be far more similar than were Thompson’s and Nolte’s. Thompson and Nolte were never in competition for minutes.
In 2016 they didn’t need a primary ballhandler either, but Tony likes to have as much handling on the court as possible. Actually, I think there is even more need for extra handle on this team than there was on the 2016 team considering that RS Sr Brogdon was definitely above So IMac in thay department.
I actually think he values that as much as defense. But that’s besides the point.
Unless Taine has develops guard skills, which very well may be the case, I dont think theres a chance hes taking minutes from Rohde or Harris. I think he’d be more likely to take away minutes from Groves in a really small lineup.
Everything earned, but Rohde played 33 minutes a game, won his conference Freshman of the Year award and was All-Conference First-Team.
Don’t think he hit the portal looking for a bench spot.
Reece
Isaac
Rohde
Dunn
Minor
Don’t overthink it (the deep off-season trap).
Yeah, if I’m betting on the starting line up on opening day, that’s what I’m going with.
Me too. It may change but i believe that’s how we start the year. And please don’t start Reece and Dante together. I suspect Dante will be one of the 1st players off the bench and get plenty of minutes.