I never quite understood the - to valuable off the bench thing. If you are starting a guy that is worse than Baer, how does that make sense? We lose productivity on the opening tip for 3 or so minutes, just to get the spark we could have had at the beginning of the game??
Tom Kakert said this on a podcast once with Kenyon Murray. You could feel Kenyon shaking his head through the speakers... If the guy is a starter, you start him. You that energy from the opening tip.
The past four years Fran has defended the line, it does not matter who starts, it is the minutes. While some of that BS is partially true, we all know if was to protect Woody and his guaranteed starting job. And I am good with that recruiting strategy. But Gabe most certainly should have been the starter in 2013 & 2014. More than what he received anyhow. He got one. Gabe out of the blocks would have altered some games from the beginning. Not 3 or 4 minutes later after we are behind.
If Cook got this type of offer, I am all good with that! I am good with that to get 4+ star players. Although, from what I have watched, I do not see anyone beating him out. He is going to be a great one.