It's baffling. Post play was a huge weakness last year, i thought we had moved past playing McCabe there. He trusts Woodbury to start the games but not to finish them.
Could not agree more. I thought one of the principle issues we had in Gatens last year was lack of a post presence, defensively as much as offensively. It really bit us in the non-con in games like the infamous Campbell game. That athletic 6'10" player just chewed us up on the inside.
I could not have been more excited for Woody to come to town and I am pleased in what he has given us. When he is on the floor our defense is tremendously better. I have witnessed a number of times in Carver alone where a guard that is driving the ball down the lane alters his shot or stops his drive altogether when Woody is in the area. Last year guards went right in for the easy layups or we collapsed so much that they kicked it out for wide-open threes.
I also like Olesani as he is a freak athlete. Does he make some mistakes? Yes, but he needs to play more to get the experience to learn how to be more consistent. I believe he will blossom in time if he gets the playing time filling in for Woody when he is in foul trouble.
Fran should never put out a lineup without Woody or Olesani unless both are in serious foul trouble. The other element that we lose without either of these two players in the 5 spot is rebounding and the tip-outs / put backs that these two affect the game with by being taller and adding length to our lineup. Instead long rebounds that we cannot secure due to a small post player that end up bouncing back out to the other team for second and third offensive attempts which end up resulting in a 3 pointer. See Wisconsin game just prior to the end of regulation front-rim three pointer as one of many examples [McCabe was playing the 5 at that point on Bergerren]. We could have ended that game with one rebound.
Fran has to make a commitment to playing the big men in our program. McCabe, White and Basabe are not post players; they are 4's. I'm sorry if we have too many guys at this spot but I would alternate two of them at most at the 4 and occasionally play White at the 3. Whoever is not bringing it sits on the bench.
Best lineups; Gesell/Clemmons - 1, Marble - 2, May/White - 3, White/Basabe - 4, Woody/Olesani - 5. I do like McCabe's toughness but he's not a '5' and playing him there is killing us on most occasions.
Also.... recruit a couple of knock down 3 point shooters. That is the other killer issue on this team.