Y’all heard of jumbo lineups? Get ready for the Lykes-Kihei micro lineup
9 Likes
Wasn’t there a rumor Lykes and Timberlake were both going home to Georgetown?
1 Like
Huff’s a finesse guy. Playing Jay 25-30 minutes a game requires having a 4 next to him that’s physical, can play off of contact, and a solid rebounder. Jay has some special skills for his size. But his style of play and temperament also brings certain challenges unless you can put the right pieces around him.
I think Tony saw that originally in the preseason, which is why McKoy began the year in the starting line up. But the loss to USF spooked him, McKoy had not settled in to his role, and Tony started tinkering.
Hauser isn’t a great match as a 4 if Huff is a 30 minute starter. But playing Hauser next to a player like Diakite would have upgraded the team at both ends of the floor. Plus, it would allow Hauser to play the 3 some with Huff in the game, Mamadi’s ability to slide into gaps to help Sam defensively, and Jay on the back line to rim protect. I think if Tony had been more patience with McKoy, this team may have evolved differently. It would have created some different combinations that may have worked better than 2 PGs logging so much time together.
Unfortunately, the pieces didn’t fit really well with this team. And still they fought through to win a regular season title. However, the bad losses against better skilled teams exposed this squad’s limitations.
Eager to see how Tony moves forward to put together the pieces for upcoming rosters. We need one or two guys that can put the ball on the floor and get a mid-range shot or into the paint. Difference in ‘19 compared to ‘18 in NCAAT when the outside shots went cold, Dre could put the ball on the floor to get his shot and Kyle improved off the dribble.
That was the downside of our ‘21 team. If Murphy returns, working on his dribble drive and dribble/stop & pull up changes how every team must defend UVA. Greatly improves Trey’s NBA stock. Plus, it gets the ball away from the guards that ran far too much isolation with limited outcome.
McCorkle, Murray & McKneely have shown the ability to get to the paint. But they must become college level proficient scoring off the dribble and be able to get to the paint with consistency. Eager to see how Tony can construct things going forward.
12 Likes
Kessler is much more aggresive in the paint than Huff will ever be. Dude was on the offensive board and not fading away on his hook shots. His frustrations were that Roy wouldn’t let him shoot 1 or 2 3s a game.
I think most will agree. - though he was appreciated while he was her Diakite’s contributions are missed more than we probably realized that they would be. From what I hear the staff is anxious to add someone in the mold of a Mitchell/Diakite type - aggressive rim protector, rebounder, defender- with scoring being secondary. Don’t think there a ton of those in the portal - as most guys see themselves as scorers. Takes a certain individual to ‘buy-in’ to CTB’s desired role.
Maybe McCoy will still evolve into something resembling that - on a more consistent basis.
5 Likes
All for the Kihei-Lykes lineup elsewhere
1 Like
You bring up an interesting point. UVA looking for a role player, a very important one but still. The transfer portal is largely guys looking for more opportunity and that translates to an offensive role. Let’s be honest though, the Hoos can use a couple of scorers too, not just a “blocker”.
1 Like
And if we are completely honest we should never have another blocker again and switch back to the 21st century offense we ran in 18/19.
5 Likes
I agree with this completely. This year’s team had no one that could score moving to the basket or could really score in the post. They could shoot well outside, but the term finesse was inevitable.
If I’m giving summer workout plans to each guy, it has Beekman shooting threes and mid-range jumpers every waking hour; Murphy getting in the weight room and working on the strong dribble move into a mid-range jumper or getting to the rim (I’d tell my workout buddies to foul me constantly so I can play through heavy contact); McKoy I’d have working on strong moves in the paint and learning a little bully ball (Gill or George Lynch is my model) (also my Year 4 plan for him is to add back in outside game, but this coming year we need some paint presence and assertiveness); Shedrick is in the weight room and working on strong post moves and rebounding through contact.
It’s hard to judge on JAR, McCorkle, and Murray because we haven’t really seen them yet, but assuming they all have good shots, I’d have them working on transitions to the basket similar to Murphy’s workouts. Probably all of them need to work on their defensive footwork and slides and defending with their chest rather than hands. I’m assuming that the jump shooting game is already there with these guys but we also need to re-establish the mid-range and to-the-rim game that Dre/Ty/Guy did so well.
Stattmann is a puzzle to me. Caffaro is what he is, and I don’t expect him to magically gain offensive skill. Kihei also is what he is - he can improve his jumper to be more confident. He is a really good complementary player, if other guys can step up their games, Kihei can do things he does well instead of trying to do everything.
If I’m in the transfer market, it’s for someone who can be assertive in the paint, either through strength/bullying (mostly Gill) or quickness (Diakite/Mitchell/Atkins). This player would complement McKoy and Shedrick.
It’s clear that we have to shake the finesse label and also get back to scoring at all three levels.
5 Likes
Quick question for you because I’m curious. You REALLY don’t want Kihei on the court or even on the team, what are the specific things about him or his game that you don’t like? Not trying to start anything here, it would just help me to understand.
1 Like
Kihei’s best role would be as a third guard, with playing time dictated on matchups. What he was as a freshman.
12 Likes
Not saying I disagree with you, but you didn’t say “why” that is his best role. What about his game, size, etc. makes that the best role for him. I don’t want to devolve the conversation in here too much, I just want to understand quickly the reason for the aggression towards him.
He just doesn’t have everything we need from a starting PG. Compare him with Ty or London. Much better outside shooters. And the ability to create without an obscene amount of turnovers.
2 Likes
Since he can’t shoot, the rest of his offensive game is incredibly inefficient for the production it generates.
4 Likes
I think his defense has suffered too. He was much better as a freshman, and I assume it’s because he could focus on D more and wasn’t playing big minutes in a lead PG role.
1 Like
I think his D (and to a lesser extent, his O) has suffered because he bulked up too much and seems no longer to be lightning quick like he was first year or so. No amount of weight lifting will make him 6’2”.
All fair points, but my one argument is if you want shooting from your point guard, it doesn’t look like Reece is going to bring that either. My belief is that Reece and Kihei are similar players with different body types. They have the same strengths and weaknesses, mostly. I do believe that Reece also is more explosive, especially with his first step, where Kihei relies on hesitation and change of pace to get by people. Neither is London or Ty, and I don’t think Reece will ever be that type of offensive player either and we all know Kihei already isn’t that type of player. Thanks for the input!
1 Like
Agreed that they were very similar in terms offensive strengths and weaknesses this year. But Reece is a freshman, with a lot more more potential. A lot of that has to do with size and length. If he can clean up his shooting mechanics, which is entirely possible between first and second year, he could become real good real fast. That, and he’s already a better defender.
3 Likes
Great stuff, Mikey. Huff and Hauser are each talents worthy of building a team around, but they weren’t the right complements to each other. Nobody’s fault–when a player like Hauser wants to transfer to you, you take him, even if it is to play during the year where the unicorn is finally expected to be the Man.
1 Like
I thought Key would have been a great complement to Huff and Hauser.
3 Likes