We have three guards on next season’s roster who have extensive experience as a power conference starter: Warley, iMac, and Ames. The safest prediction at this point is those three to start, understanding the potential shooting concerns re: Ames. With Gertrude assumed out, that puts Bliss, Rohde, and Taine in competition for backup perimeter spots, with Power added to the discussions as a big small forward. I assume the logjam makes Sharma an odd man out. It’s fixing to be a tough competition with someone losing out, probably focused on Taine and Rohde there, as Bliss (if/when 100%) hopefully adds a combination of shooting and ball movement that others don’t.
As with many years (last season included) that have a lot of options but few proven, we have to hope that a couple of guys separate themselves, but we won’t really know that until the fall.
Taine was in his third year in the program on a terrible offensive team and didn’t get a ton of minutes. He’s not getting more next year if he could get consistent minutes on this years team. Just don’t see it.
My starting prediction for game 1 is: Warley, IMAC, Taine, Power, Buchanan.
I have low confidence in this prediction, but it’s my best guess. I could see Bliss, Ames, or Saunders being in the starting line up. A-Rob would surprise, but not shock me. Cofie, Gertrude, Sharma, or Lang would shock me. Rohde would kill me.
I missed out on most of the Dai Dai discussion around when he committed (hence my bitching and moaning as of recent to pick up where I left off two weeks ago) but I missed this bold take from Paul on Twitter
LOL yeah I made the poll and then I thought… oh snap it might just be Dai Dai. Not sure how I feel about that but if we winning Im sure Ill live
There is an opportunity for whoever takes the reigns to be rack up a lot of assists with the bigs we have to pick n roll, the stretch forwards and McKneely/taine to kick out to, hopefully more floor spacing which allows more driving lanes.
Yeah, Rohde is the one I have no idea about. I could see him playing 20 mpg just as easily as not playing much at all. I think he’ll be given a chance early, and his role the rest of the way will depend on how he plays early…I think.
I just think Warley gives us what Rohde does, only better.
In Rohde, Taine, and Ames, you’ve got three players who some, but not a lot, of high-major starting experience with mixed, inconsistent results so far. Wide open competition who rises above the others with Bliss also in the mix. Each has potential, each has things they could improve on over the offseason. Each has their own reasons why they’d be a good fit with the roster, and reasons why they’re a tough fit, based upon what we’ve seen so far and the strengths and weaknesses of their teammates. And yeah, I think Bliss factors in too, but he’s a true lead guard and I think sits in a different lane of competition than these three veterans (though obviously both Rohde and Ames have some facilitation skills).
