Darlinstone???

[Redheads]

Dubar is what he is. Came here to learn from the defensive master. It takes time. Offense was always there. Never lacks confidence. Sometimes our offense goes into one of those funks where everyone is afraid to shoot. Barnes sees that and puts in Dstone. He’s never seen a shot he didn’t like. If he can see the rim, he thinks he’s open. He’s definitely helped us win some games, as all have mentioned. I hope he helps some more. It just seems like when he comes in, everyone else sort of says “oh yeah, there’s the basket” and relaxes a bit.

 

[KB vol]

Dubar is what he is. Came here to learn from the defensive master. It takes time. Offense was always there. Never lacks confidence. Sometimes our offense goes into one of those funks where everyone is afraid to shoot. Barnes sees that and puts in Dstone. He’s never seen a shot he didn’t like. If he can see the rim, he thinks he’s open. He’s definitely helped us win some games, as all have mentioned. I hope he helps some more. It just seems like when he comes in, everyone else sort of says “oh yeah, there’s the basket” and relaxes a bit.

We need to find some pure 3 shooters. Not just one, but a couple who are specialists at the trey. UK has an arsenal of them.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Call a spade a spade folks…

He has the 7th worse 3pt% on the team but has the 2nd highest 3 pointers attempted per 40 minutes, he also boasts the 12th best TS% on the team out of 13 players with stats. So he’s been awful and inefficient offensively while also taking more shots in his time on the court than anyone not named Chaz Lanier, and he’s no Chaz. If he was playing lock down defense or rebounding his ass off he’d probably earn himself some more minutes, especially given the lack of depth on this team, but he’s just the teams 6th best rebounder per 40 minutes as well. When it comes to defense it doesn’t get better, he has the 2nd worst DBPM of any scholarship player on the squad, and his PRPG is 2nd worst to just Bishop Boswell.

Barnes has given him opportunities and Dubar hasn’t made the most of them, on a deeper team he probably gets even fewer opportunities. It’s been made clear to him he doesn’t have to hoist a shot every time down the court to make an impact or earn minutes, yet he continues to, at this point of the season he’s not playing unless Barnes just has no other choice.

 

[pimo1]

Dubar played 1 season at Iowa State played in 16 games and started 7 of them. Averaged 2.3 ppg don't think that's the best player at Iowa State numbers. Transferred to Hofstra probably because he was being recruited over after that big offensive output his Freshmen season.

His freshman numbers are not really the point, most freshmen don't put up world-beating numbers in d1 ball. The point is people being surprised he hasn't panned out is weird. He was a high-upside gamble. Thus far we haven't gotten much from him. I wouldn't call him a bust because he does serve a purpose on this team giving 10 minutes of not terrible basketball. his per 36 numbers aren't bad tbh. He is at 12.3 points and 7.8 boards that's not bad.

DK was a huge outlier and Lanier kind of is also. Its not normal for guys to go up so many levels of competition and excel.. there is normally an adjustment period but nowadays they are brining in guys and expecting instant work because they are seniors.

 

[cncchris33]

Call a spade a spade folks…

He has the 7th worse 3pt% on the team but has the 2nd highest 3 pointers attempted per 40 minutes, he also boasts the 12th best TS% on the team out of 13 players with stats. So he’s been awful and inefficient offensively while also taking more shots in his time on the court than anyone not named Chaz Lanier, and he’s no Chaz. If he was playing lock down defense or rebounding his ass off he’d probably earn himself some more minutes, especially given the lack of depth on this team, but he’s just the teams 6th best rebounder per 40 minutes as well. When it comes to defense it doesn’t get better, he has the 2nd worst DBPM of any scholarship player on the squad, and his PRPG is 2nd worst to just Bishop Boswell.

Barnes has given him opportunities and Dubar hasn’t made the most of them, on a deeper team he probably gets even fewer opportunities. It’s been made clear to him he doesn’t have to hoist a shot every time down the court to make an impact or earn minutes, yet he continues to, at this point of the season he’s not playing unless Barnes just has no other choice.

I've tried presenting this same argument but it generally falls on deaf ears to those who just want to see Dubar succeed and simply believe it will happen if he just got more minutes. More minutes don't guarantee success, and when limited minutes lead to lots of bad decisions, it's just as likely more minutes would simply lead to more bad decisions.

A lack of other options doesn't mean your worst or second worst option is suddenly the answer. The answer to a problem isn't often hiding in plain sight. If the staff had seen enough to think playing DD more minutes could change alter our season, they'd have done it more by now. It's probably time everyone just started accepting that this is a 7-man rotation with a couple guys available to give us a quick breather or foul. The tiger isn't changing his stripes 27 games into the season.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

How much practice time did Dubar miss? It’s not that big of a deal if he was a senior that’d been in the program for years. But he hasn’t been.

 

[pimo1]

I've tried presenting this same argument but it generally falls on deaf ears to those who just want to see Dubar succeed and simply believe it will happen if he just got more minutes. More minutes don't guarantee success, and when limited minutes lead to lots of bad decisions, it's just as likely more minutes would simply lead to more bad decisions.

A lack of other options doesn't mean your worst or second worst option is suddenly the answer. The answer to a problem isn't often hiding in plain sight. If the staff had seen enough to think playing DD more minutes could change alter our season, they'd have done it more by now. It's probably time everyone just started accepting that this is a 7-man rotation with a couple guys available to give us a quick breather or foul. The tiger isn't changing his stripes 27 games into the season.

You are correct but there is the fact we are short on bodies and he is what we have. The argument he MIGHT do better with more time is a valid one. Its hard to get in a groove with only 10 mins a game popping in for like 2-3 mins at a time. This guy went from averaging almost 30 mins a game the past 3 years and being a main cog. he shot 40% from 3 the last 2 years so his low 3pt percentage is probably an aberration?

Thus far he has not been the player people expected. But if we are gonna succeed in postseason he has to do something because we are not gonna get far on a 7-man rotation. We are 1 injury away from him having to play serious minutes.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Thus far he has not been the player people expected. But if we are gonna succeed in postseason he has to do something because we are not gonna get far on a 7-man rotation. We are 1 injury away from him having to play serious minutes.

I agree 100%
This right here is exactly why I have been calling for more at least a few more minutes for him. It's not that I necessarily think he is some diamond in the rough just waiting to be cracked open.
Just know we are going to need him come tourney time and want him to be as ready as possible.

 

[Mimi#1]

I didn’t get the impression that the personal reasons were disciplinary in any way. Sounded to me more like he was taking care of family obligations and/or dealing a death or illness. I don’t know anything, but that was more of the vibe I got.

I don't know where I got this, but for some reason I was thinking he was dealing with an unexpected death in his family.

 

[cncchris33]

You are correct but there is the fact we are short on bodies and he is what we have. The argument he MIGHT do better with more time is a valid one. Its hard to get in a groove with only 10 mins a game popping in for like 2-3 mins at a time. This guy went from averaging almost 30 mins a game the past 3 years and being a main cog. he shot 40% from 3 the last 2 years so his low 3pt percentage is probably an aberration?

Thus far he has not been the player people expected. But if we are gonna succeed in postseason he has to do something because we are not gonna get far on a 7-man rotation. We are 1 injury away from him having to play serious minutes.

Here's where I disagree. We are thin, but we aren't short on bodies to the point where we are forced to play a guy for long stretches that the coaches don't trust.

And while I will agree it's hard to get in a rhythm only playing 2-3 minutes at a time, what he's doing in practice and when he does get into games is the very thing that is restricting him to 2-3 minute stretches. It's clear that the coaches are done trying to make the Dubar project work. At this point, they seem happy to put him out there for a few minutes in the 1st half to buy some minutes for the 7 guys ahead of him, and then he comes back out. They're done trying to give him opportunities to prove himself.

I'm sick of people quoting his Hofstra stats. This isn't Hofstra, it's not the CAA, and he isn't offensive priority #1. What he was able to do as the primary option for a low-major team has no bearing on his ability at the SEC level. It's an apples to aardvarks comparison.

We've primarily succeeded (22-5) with 2 weeks left in the regular season and only playing a 7-man rotation. So the notion that somehow trying to shoehorn a bad fit who is our 2nd worst player into playing more minutes in the most important stretch of the season is a curious take. We may not go far in the postseason, but I can promise you it won't be because we didn't play Darlinstone Dubar more minutes. If the coaches thought he could help, they'd have played him more long before late-Februrary.

 

[JMSqb11]

Haven't been on here in a while. Clearly UT has some depth issues. One that I can't figure out is Dubar. How can a player go from the best player on a team to damned near insignificant? I realize the SEC is much tougher, but the goals are the same height. He just looks like he could bring so much more to the table. Is this a defense thing? There are some really astute BB fans on this forum, so I am hoping for some thoughts. IMO, for the Vols to have a deep run, he has to be the player they recruited. Come in, make good shot selections & drain them.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

He just hasn't been that good. He looks easily distracted on defense.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Here's where I disagree. We are thin, but we aren't short on bodies to the point where we are forced to play a guy for long stretches that the coaches don't trust.

And while I will agree it's hard to get in a rhythm only playing 2-3 minutes at a time, what he's doing in practice and when he does get into games is the very thing that is restricting him to 2-3 minute stretches. It's clear that the coaches are done trying to make the Dubar project work. At this point, they seem happy to put him out there for a few minutes in the 1st half to buy some minutes for the 7 guys ahead of him, and then he comes back out. They're done trying to give him opportunities to prove himself.

I'm sick of people quoting his Hofstra stats. This isn't Hofstra, it's not the CAA, and he isn't offensive priority #1. What he was able to do as the primary option for a low-major team has no bearing on his ability at the SEC level. It's an apples to aardvarks comparison.

We've primarily succeeded (22-5) with 2 weeks left in the regular season and only playing a 7-man rotation. So the notion that somehow trying to shoehorn a bad fit who is our 2nd worst player into playing more minutes in the most important stretch of the season is a curious take. We may not go far in the postseason, but I can promise you it won't be because we didn't play Darlinstone Dubar more minutes. If the coaches thought he could help, they'd have played him more long before late-Februrary.

People who want Dubar to get more PT and shot opportunities based on his Hofstra stats are the same people who thought James Daniel needed to be a primary scoring option for us in his one season here just because he averaged 27 ppg at Howard even though on court performance said otherwise.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Haven't been on here in a while. Clearly UT has some depth issues. One that I can't figure out is Dubar. How can a player go from the best player on a team to damned near insignificant? I realize the SEC is much tougher, but the goals are the same height. He just looks like he could bring so much more to the table. Is this a defense thing? There are some really astute BB fans on this forum, so I am hoping for some thoughts. IMO, for the Vols to have a deep run, he has to be the player they recruited. Come in, make good shot selections & drain them.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Don’t overthink it. He just isn’t a big time player at this level. He has a role for us. His lackluster performance on both ends of the floor has dictated that he be a role player.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

probably overvaluated originally, wasted a scholarship

That "wasted" scholarship bailed us out at Texas

 

[rickyyrs]

Isn't Okpara? I thought he was a Junior

Your right he is a junior.

 

[Raiford62]

I actually think Dubar has some skills. He just seems so nervous out there thinking he is going out at any moment. My concern is his body language. If you watch him on the sidelines, he sits farther down the bench and he never is ecstatic when one of his teammates makes a play. Sometimes he never even stands up to cheer. Something is going on behind the scenes in my opinion. I believe he wished he had gone to another school but now it is too late.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

If Dubar was 6 inches taller he'd be close to 7' 2 (over 7 foot and taller than Felix for sure)
The guy is listed 6'8.
Igor is listed 6'10. Seems to have a great nose for the ball, tho. Both of them probably an inch or so less than what they are listed at.
Be curious to know their wingspan.
I agree Igor’s knack for getting boards is what earned him his minutes. Early in the season for sure.

Thought I saw somewhere that dubar was closer to 6’6

 

[pimo1]

Here's where I disagree. We are thin, but we aren't short on bodies to the point where we are forced to play a guy for long stretches that the coaches don't trust.

And while I will agree it's hard to get in a rhythm only playing 2-3 minutes at a time, what he's doing in practice and when he does get into games is the very thing that is restricting him to 2-3 minute stretches. It's clear that the coaches are done trying to make the Dubar project work. At this point, they seem happy to put him out there for a few minutes in the 1st half to buy some minutes for the 7 guys ahead of him, and then he comes back out. They're done trying to give him opportunities to prove himself.

I'm sick of people quoting his Hofstra stats. This isn't Hofstra, it's not the CAA, and he isn't offensive priority #1. What he was able to do as the primary option for a low-major team has no bearing on his ability at the SEC level. It's an apples to aardvarks comparison.

We've primarily succeeded (22-5) with 2 weeks left in the regular season and only playing a 7-man rotation. So the notion that somehow trying to shoehorn a bad fit who is our 2nd worst player into playing more minutes in the most important stretch of the season is a curious take. We may not go far in the postseason, but I can promise you it won't be because we didn't play Darlinstone Dubar more minutes. If the coaches thought he could help, they'd have played him more long before late-Februrary.

Math is undefeated. No matter what you or I think if we lose a starter its gonna be Dubar who gets the bulk of the minutes. Gainey already plays starter minutes and Philips can only play in the frontcourt. Dubar can cover for minutes in the frontcourt or backcourt. There is literally no one else except for Boswell or a walk-on. I don't care about his numbers at Hofstra other than the fact he played a major role on a team and shot well. If we lose any of the guys in front of him those minutes have to go somewhere and the guys in front of him are already playing heavy minutes.

It's not about if you or I think he deserves the minutes. Someone goes down he is what we have period. He would be playing an extra 10-15 mins like it or not.

Rounding up
ZZ already Averages 35 he goes down where do those minutes go?
Lanier 31
Gainey and Mashack 28
Igor 27
Okpara 25

Either one of them goes down you have over 25 minutes to make up for. ZZ and Lanier are both already over 30, not a lot of leeway there. The other 4 can probably handle3-4 extra minutes a game. .still leaving you with 10 mins and that's assuming you overwork those guys risking more injuries. If its in the frontcourt Philips can soak some of those up but he's already playing 15. If someone goes down the obvious big beneficiaries are Dubar and in an emergency (if its ZZ) Boswell. You think we can play all our starters 30+ mins and win? In a tourney run no less. Defense on the level we play takes a lot out of you. Yall are always on about how these great coaches play 7-8 man rotations. Thats horsecrap it does not happen unless a team has no choice. Teams might play mostly 7-8 guys but they have other guys that come in for 4-5 mins a game to give them a breather. Those minutes are huge. We have 200 minutes to give out each game that means in a 7 man rotation you have everyone playing 28-30 mins a game (we are pretty much already there with our first 6).

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

I apologize for communicating so poorly as I wasn’t trying to communicate a reason why he wasn’t participating, only that he was paid to do a job and for whatever reason (the reason isn’t my business nor concern) he wasn’t participating in preseason practices (not doing the job for which he was paid). To me, the portal and NIL have changed this from a kid chasing his dream to play big time SEC basketball into a business transaction. Who hasn’t worked at a company that brought in a new hire who ended up not working out? Dubar didn’t work out - it happens.

I guess it depends on your definition. Carr didn't work out, he is gone. Dubar is playing minutes and contributing.

 

[Cartervol]

Need some minutes out of him at least. He basically threw the ball at the hoop the other day turned sideways. That's not going to work with Barnes. He'll continue to sit.

 

[Lefteye]

You are correct but there is the fact we are short on bodies and he is what we have. The argument he MIGHT do better with more time is a valid one. Its hard to get in a groove with only 10 mins a game popping in for like 2-3 mins at a time. This guy went from averaging almost 30 mins a game the past 3 years and being a main cog. he shot 40% from 3 the last 2 years so his low 3pt percentage is probably an aberration?

Thus far he has not been the player people expected. But if we are gonna succeed in postseason he has to do something because we are not gonna get far on a 7-man rotation. We are 1 injury away from him having to play serious minutes.

Agree with everything. And if everyone on the board were honest, his continuing to chuck it isn’t what keeps him off the floor. He wouldn’t get minutes at all if it were poor/forced shot selection imo. But CRB, I think, loves his offensive mentality and flashes of defensive ability. Sure he gets blown by on occasion, but so do the best on UTs squad. He’s a good sized athletic body.. we don’t get out and run a lot so he doesn’t get the chance to do much to show how athletic he is, but he is as you said, who we have.

His demeanor recently worries me more than him being a bust. Still think if he hangs in there with effort he’ll be a difference maker in a game or 3 before the year is finished.

 

[cncchris33]

Math is undefeated. No matter what you or I think if we lose a starter its gonna be Dubar who gets the bulk of the minutes. Gainey already plays starter minutes and Philips can only play in the frontcourt. Dubar can cover for minutes in the frontcourt or backcourt. There is literally no one else except for Boswell or a walk-on. I don't care about his numbers at Hofstra other than the fact he played a major role on a team and shot well. If we lose any of the guys in front of him those minutes have to go somewhere and the guys in front of him are already playing heavy minutes.

It's not about if you or I think he deserves the minutes. Someone goes down he is what we have period. He would be playing an extra 10-15 mins like it or not.

Rounding up
ZZ already Averages 35 he goes down where do those minutes go?
Lanier 31
Gainey and Mashack 28
Igor 27
Okpara 25

Either one of them goes down you have over 25 minutes to make up for. ZZ and Lanier are both already over 30, not a lot of leeway there. The other 4 can probably handle3-4 extra minutes a game. .still leaving you with 10 mins and that's assuming you overwork those guys risking more injuries. If its in the frontcourt Philips can soak some of those up but he's already playing 15. If someone goes down the obvious big beneficiaries are Dubar and in an emergency (if its ZZ) Boswell. You think we can play all our starters 30+ mins and win? In a tourney run no less. Defense on the level we play takes a lot out of you. Yall are always on about how these great coaches play 7-8 man rotations. Thats horsecrap it does not happen unless a team has no choice. Teams might play mostly 7-8 guys but they have other guys that come in for 4-5 mins a game to give them a breather. Those minutes are huge. We have 200 minutes to give out each game that means in a 7 man rotation you have everyone playing 28-30 mins a game (we are pretty much already there with our first 6).

Your whole premise is based on a big IF. Mine is based on what we have available right now. And with what he have right now, he's a bit player who is only going to play spot minutes. If things change based on player availability, then things change. But right now you're trying to refute a point that I'm not trying to make.

 

[pimo1]

Your whole premise is based on a big IF. Mine is based on what we have available right now. And with what he have right now, he's a bit player who is only going to play spot minutes. If things change based on player availability, then things change. But right now you're trying to refute a point that I'm not trying to make.

Seeing we are 9 deep that if is more of a when. You can act like I'm the one being silly but the chances of not having injuries playing a short rotation are slim to none. The point is Darlingstone Dubar is a very important contributor on this team. The 10 minutes he plays each game are huge. The 15 minutes Phillips plays also huge. It's not like the dude has not shown sparks that if he gets going he can score (Texas, WCU).

When you're a volume shooter not able to shoot in volume its hard. He has had just as many truly bad shooting games as he has had great ones. 2 of each. I know you hate the comparison of his stats from before but here is an interesting tidbit. he has had similar averages to this year once before.. his freshman year when he was also playing very limited minutes. 40% from the line and everything. You look at those stats and it's like a mirror. He's a volume shooter averaging under 4 shots a game.. he's gonna feast or famine. Same as Lanier who has had even more terrible shooting nights because he's had more opportunities. Hate on Hofstra stats all you want but 70% from the line consistently is 70%...No Dubar is not some all world player if he was he'd be playing more.

Hate it all you want but there is gonna be a time when he is gonna be forced to play big minutes.. not IF but WHEN. His history says he is more likely to perform better in those moments. Will it be all world? I don't think so but I hope I'm right and he can at least be a 10 and 6 guy in 20 mins.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Seeing we are 9 deep that if is more of a when. You can act like I'm the one being silly but the chances of not having injuries playing a short rotation are slim to none. The point is Darlingstone Dubar is a very important contributor on this team. The 10 minutes he plays each game are huge. The 15 minutes Phillips plays also huge. It's not like the dude has not shown sparks that if he gets going he can score (Texas, WCU).

When you're a volume shooter not able to shoot in volume its hard. He has had just as many truly bad shooting games as he has had great ones. 2 of each. I know you hate the comparison of his stats from before but here is an interesting tidbit. he has had similar averages to this year once before.. his freshman year when he was also playing very limited minutes. 40% from the line and everything. You look at those stats and it's like a mirror. He's a volume shooter averaging under 4 shots a game.. he's gonna feast or famine. Same as Lanier who has had even more terrible shooting nights because he's had more opportunities. Hate on Hofstra stats all you want but 70% from the line consistently is 70%...No Dubar is not some all world player if he was he'd be playing more.

Hate it all you want but there is gonna be a time when he is gonna be forced to play big minutes.. not IF but WHEN. His history says he is more likely to perform better in those moments. Will it be all world? I don't think so but I hope I'm right and he can at least be a 10 and 6 guy in 20 mins.

His freshman year was spent at Iowa State. It’s not a coincidence that the two seasons he has spent at power 5 schools, he’s only played spot minutes. That’s what he is at this level: a role player. Playing more minutes isn’t going to change that he’s a role player and will serve only to take minutes and shots away from guys who are and ought to be significant factors in the rotation and shot distribution.

You are right that there likely will be a night when he is going to be asked to step up again. He was asked to against Florida when he got the start in ZZ’s absence and on the road at Texas when we needed a spark. He answered the bell in the latter. Didn’t so much against Florida but he didn’t have to.

All of that to say, the minutes he’s playing now are the minutes he should be playing. What he did at Hofstra is not relevant at this point.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Hate it all you want but there is gonna be a time when he is gonna be forced to play big minutes.. not IF but WHEN. His history says he is more likely to perform better in those moments. Will it be all world? I don't think so but I hope I'm right and he can at least be a 10 and 6 guy in 20 mins.

Wanna bet?