Where was Smotherman?????
- Thread starter TwinDegrees2
- Start date
I don't know if he's in the doghouse. Maybe. I would say that everyone that is playing in front of him deserves to be playing though. He may just not be good enough to crack the rotation right now.
Only person in front of him who isn't earning their minutes per say is Spike because his shooting has been off. Basil will be important in the games where biggie and haas both get into foul trouble. Theyve managed to stay out of it or at least stay out of it during the same game so far and that has limited his minutes.
Less and less each game - agree he's just not earning minutes at this point
I don't have any answers, but I suspect the primary reason is that the eight we are playing are doing a fantastic job in their roles. I continue to believe that an eight-man rotation is better than ten, at least in most games. Sure, it could stretch to nine, but if Basil's not giving us better minutes than someone else would during that time, there's no real need to change it.
Not being unkind, just complimenting the rotation we have right now.
Not being unkind, just complimenting the rotation we have right now.
I couldn't agree less. Spike doesn't need to score on this team. He just needs to run the offense, feed the post and play D, all of which he does excellent.
Okay you couldn't agree less... so Spike is above who in our rotation?
I thought per say made it obvious that the knock against Spike was that he wasn't hitting shots which Dakich even commented on. I'm not saying Basil should be ahead of him, just that he is the only guy in front of him who honestly hasn't played as well or better than we expected. Everybody else has had some very good games or made some extremely impactful plays throughout each game.
Everyone at playing the point when PJ comes out. BS has not been able to stop anyone on D this year, can't shoot, and really doesn't give us much when in, which is why he's on the bench. I love the kid, but the talent on this team has passed him up.
I obviously edited my post but like I said Spike and Basil are at the end of the rotation with Spike being ahead of Basil. I am not arguing that Basil should be ahead of him, stat wise Basil is better or at least even per minute. Both serve different purposes. Spike needs to knock down the open 3 which he hasn't and Basil needs to come in and play better defense, which he hasn't all the time.
If for some crazy reason Biggie comes back then yes it would likely be in Basil's best interest to be a grad transfer. Biggie will likely leave which leaves a decent chunk of minutes. Basil won't get all them but I could see 10 to 15 maybe depending on the health of Taylor. Were Taylor healthy now, I don't think Basil would ever see the court.
my guess is Cline and Eastern eat up Biggies minutes. Haas and VE will be locked in at the 4-5 and I'm guessing we go small a lot.
Throwing this out blindly but I do think the other players on the floor affect Basil. He should master the baseline with Biggie in but my memory suggests he doesn't get many minutes with him and more with Haas. Biggie at the high post and Basil running the baseline should lead to some easy baskets. Honestly everybody should be running the baseline hard with Biggie at the high post. We don't do it enough as a team.
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CMP said it's unfortunate for Basil, but he just doesn't fit into the rotation in these games when we are playing well. Also said like anyone , he'd better be ready because you never know your number will be called. We don't seem to ever even be in foul trouble (so far) where his services would be needed.
PJ mentioned in his interview that Basil was in his ear on the bench encouraging him and telling him he would hit a big shot when he got back in. It sounds like he's engaged and not over there feeling sorry for himself. That's encouraging.
As far as him being a grad transfer, I've never been one to try to push players out the door. Some players may want to go play somewhere that they can play 35 mpg and score a bunch. You can't assume that about everyone though. If Swanigan leaves and Basil wants to come back and compete for those minutes next year why wouldn't we want that?
As far as him being a grad transfer, I've never been one to try to push players out the door. Some players may want to go play somewhere that they can play 35 mpg and score a bunch. You can't assume that about everyone though. If Swanigan leaves and Basil wants to come back and compete for those minutes next year why wouldn't we want that?
Wait until they play in Gloomington in a couple of weeks...guarantee that foul trouble will be an issue for Purdue in that one.
I don't think anyone wants BS to leave, just recognizing the reality that he's a 4th year junior that may have the opportunity to go elsewhere and play.
If Luce plays 20 minutes and they walk out of Breslin with a W it's all good.
Great win.
Great win.
After that performance and win, I don't get why it is even a topic of discussion.
Smotherman's lack of playing time has far more to do with him and things that he has done (or not done) than anything.
Ultimately, he is not better than anyone playing, and, in the opportunities that he has been given, he has not made any discernible difference at either end unfortunately.
At least he seemingly remains engaged and has not been a distraction.
Don't forget the incoming class. Basil might be done effectively. But maybe he takes it up a notch or two as a senior and takes a spot. Coaches will play whoever gives them the best chance to win.
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Spike's +/- when he's in the game is not great. He really struggles cover athletic guards. He makes up for it by being really smart but I prefer him in 10-12 minute range. We are lucky PJs fouls didn't hurt us more.
Basil is just not earning minutes. He's there for emergencies if a big gets in foul trouble. That's it. I'm hoping he can shed some weight and be ready to next year because I think he gets more minutes then.
smotherman should only see minuets in blow outs, or extreme foul trouble... that's it. his defense is awful
No matter where he goes, he will have to re-commit himself to being the best he can be. Or he can do that here.
Unless, I have missed something....Spike & Smotherman do not play the same position, thus not competing w/ one another for PT.
Spike is the back-up PG to PJ, who has had an excellent year.
Smotherman is a 4....behind Swanigan/V. Edwards or a 3....behind a grouping of Mathias, V. Edwards, C. Edwards, & Cline. Not much opportunity for PT in either of those positions.
Spike is the back-up PG to PJ, who has had an excellent year.
Smotherman is a 4....behind Swanigan/V. Edwards or a 3....behind a grouping of Mathias, V. Edwards, C. Edwards, & Cline. Not much opportunity for PT in either of those positions.
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I think the biggest disappointment is his election to take a year off and apparent lack of dedication- commitment to make himself better. I have no idea what the kid did during his off year so I may be wrong on making that assumption, but his appearance and on court results would lead one to wonder.
Yeah, his game and his body did not improve, and if anything he is slower than he was 2 years ago.
Then you contrast that with the improvements Biggie has made in the same period of time...
Love how people go straight to off the court issues when they actually have no clue. How about the people that play his position are playing great. It's not always an off the court issue and you don't have to look into everything.
Even win VE is not playing Purdue can still slide Cline, Mathias, etc to the 3 spot with Biggie and Haas in
Even win VE is not playing Purdue can still slide Cline, Mathias, etc to the 3 spot with Biggie and Haas in
To me it is a big picture issue. At some point we will be in a game, possibly a big game, with front court foul trouble. Or even worse, an injury to IH or Biggie. It looked like Biggie jammed his finger at one point last night. If it had been worse he could have easily been done for the night and we are putting a guy in the game that has not played anything more than garbage time in over 2 months.
I don't think most people are necessarily saying Basil has earned more playing time or that the team is better in any given game with him taking IH, CS, or VE off the floor. It is more of a bemoaning "We really need one more serviceable guy for front court depth and I really wish Basil was that guy because he had a golden opportunity".
With that said, his not playing last night was less telling than his limited minutes in recent home games against ILL and PSU, where there was more of a cushion. It is what it is, but this team is royally screwed if we don't get 75+ minutes out of the Big 3.
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Basil needs about 8 minutes a game being an enforcer/defensive specialist. When the game starts getting rough or if a guy over 6'4" gets hot you bring in Basil to throw a different type of player into the mix. Basil has a good shot, but sprinting towards the offensive boards will cause a disruption too.
However, my main question is does Matt keep a + - chart. If he does, there would be no way Haas plays less than 25 minutes a game.
However, my main question is does Matt keep a + - chart. If he does, there would be no way Haas plays less than 25 minutes a game.
Charts or no charts I'm perfectly happy with the way our sub-par coach is getting it done with the lineup.
IIRC, Basil was in the class with Beaucham and Irvin as small forwards in Indiana being recruited by Purdue. We lost the other two and that class that entered Purdue has not really panned out. It seems to just have been a bad year for MP recruiting-wise.
