Predict Starting 5 - end of December/start of SEC play

#5
#5
You guys sure Knecht starts over Mashack? I’m admittedly pretty ignorant about Knecht, but Mashack sure looked like he belonged with the starters at the end of last year. Plus I kinda like the idea of inserting his defense into the starting unit where he won’t be asked to carry as much offensive burden
 
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#6
#6
Col_Cathcart said:
You guys sure Knecht starts over Mashack? I’m admittedly pretty ignorant about Knecht, but Mashack sure looked like he belonged with the starters at the end of last year. Plus I kinda like the idea of inserting his defense into the starting unit where he won’t be asked to carry as much offensive burden
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No, I'm not sure because of your point about the defense.
 
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#7
#7
I think Barnes and Z like Z coming off the bench and providing a spark. That combined with recovering from his injury makes me think he won’t start, even if he plays starter minutes. I also have professed a lot of belief in Ledlum and I feel like he starts. I feel like Knecht and Shack are a coin flip, I’ll put Knecht as a starter just because Shack could conceivably fill in 1-4 so might make more sense to be a sixth man. So I’ll go with something like

Freddie 13/Z 27
Santi 20/Gainey 10/Freddie 10
Knecht 20/Shack 10/Santi 10
Ledlum 12/JJJ 15/Shack 13
Aidoo 20/ Awaka 15/ Ledlum 5

Dj jefferson, JP Estrella, Cameron carr get mop up minutes. Phillips redshirts
 
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#8
#8
Vol49er said:
I think Barnes and Z like Z coming off the bench and providing a spark. That combined with recovering from his injury makes me think he won’t start, even if he plays starter minutes. I also have professed a lot of belief in Ledlum and I feel like he starts. I feel like Knecht and Shack are a coin flip, I’ll put Knecht as a starter just because Shack could conceivably fill in 1-4 so might make more sense to be a sixth man. So I’ll go with something like

Freddie 13/Z 27
Santi 20/Gainey 10/Freddie 10
Knecht 20/Shack 10/Santi 10
Ledlum 12/JJJ 15/Shack 13
Aidoo 20/ Awaka 15/ Ledlum 5

Dj jefferson, JP Estrella, Cameron carr get mop up minutes. Phillips redshirts
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I’ve never seen this level of quality depth before and I’ve been following the program 40+ years
 
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#9
#9
walkenvol said:
I’ve never seen this level of quality depth before and I’ve been following the program 40+ years
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Yeah, i fiddled with that for a minute, because I’d have what looked like a great distribution and then realize “Wait, Knecht is gonna get more than 10 minutes” or “Santi will have more than 20.” As much as I love some of the veterans on this team I don’t think there is a Grant or even an Admiral on this team, but I think it goes 10 deep with legit SEC players, which I can’t remember seeing at UT
 
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#10
#10
Similarly to ZZ, I think Awaka can “handle” coming off the bench. Some players struggle with that. I think Awaka is going to be very important to this team. Go Big 🍊🏀!
 
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#14
#14
Will be interesting to hear about more reports from practice but I expect:

Aidoo/Awaka - probably will split time in the post. Given depth, we will play alot more small ball this year. Awaka may get some run at the 4 but until he shows he can defend perimeter players off switches it may only be situational against bigger front lines. Fewer and fewer teams play big.
Ledlum/James - Ledlum is going to start in my opinion. He will be our primary offensive player in the paint, but he is versatile enough to help spread the court and is willing/able to put the ball on the deck and drive to the basket. He gets to FT line alot. JJJ can be great 6th man but I bet they manage his practice time throughout the season. Just difficult to trust him being healthy, and I don't see Barnes in this day and age and growing importance of the transfer portal sitting a player like Ledlum on the bench.
Knecht/Mashack - Knecht will be used alot like Admiral was. Too skilled to not start. Give him some freedom. Mashack can play 3 spots and will continue to be an important reserve.
Vescovi/Gainey - Vescovi 'nuff said. Gainey isn't guaranteed minutes and may battle Mashack & Dilione for any minutes he gets at the backup 2G.
Zeigler/Dilione - as Vol49er noted above....I wouldn't be surprised if this flips and Dilione starts. ZZ will get more minutes if he is healthy, but Dilione is going to play alot.

If any of the other freshman play it will be Estrella due to his size and skill but may be situational unless he is just too good to sit (much like Awaka was this past year). With the depth we have and JJJ returning not sure where to find any minutes for Jefferson. Phillips is likely going to redshirt and Carr may be better served to redshirt as well. Overall our depth is ridiculous. We can have 10 players earn double digit minutes which is very un-Barnes like, play our patented man to man defense and still push tempo on offense. No one should average 30 minutes per game and we can stay fresh throughout the season and just wear opponents out. Question is....will Barnes go against his typical instincts? You would think with how he attacked the transfer portal and who he pursued, he will. I hope so.

If we don't average over 80 ppg I will be surprised. Knecht, Vescovi and Ledlum ....top 3 scorers. 2023-2024 season could be special, but of course I'm drinking the orange punch.
 
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#15
#15
Vol49er said:
Yeah, i fiddled with that for a minute, because I’d have what looked like a great distribution and then realize “Wait, Knecht is gonna get more than 10 minutes” or “Santi will have more than 20.” As much as I love some of the veterans on this team I don’t think there is a Grant or even an Admiral on this team, but I think it goes 10 deep with legit SEC players, which I can’t remember seeing at UT
Click to expand...
Tobe
 
#17
#17
bleedingTNorange said:
Not a bad take…I wonder if JJJ plays mostly 4 thus bumping Awaka to the 5 behind Aidoo which also helps space out the floor.

Zeigler/Dilione
Santi/Gainey
Knecht/Mashack
JJJ/Ledlum
Aidoo/Awaka

Bench: Estrella, Jefferson, Carr, Phillips
Click to expand...
This would be my best guess as well. Only thing I could see changing is Knecht coming off the bench if Barnes isn’t loving the defensive effort. Could see Ledlum starting over JJJ at some point too.
 
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#18
#18
Tennessee Golfer said:
Starting

Freddie
Santi
Knecht
JJJ
Aidoo

Finishing

ZZ
Freddie
Santi
Mashack
JJJ
Click to expand...
I was about to post this thought. With this roster this year, it's not really that big a deal as to who starts but who finishes. Outside of ZZs health and the PG spot in his absence, Barnes has to feel like a kid in a candyn store with all the options he has at his disposal. Gonna be fun to watch this roster develop. I fully expect there to be some inconsistencies early on, but by the time the league play starts, I think we'll be ready. One this is certain, there should be no complaints about "dead legs" and fatigue this year.
 
#23
#23
Agreed with those who think this team's deep it great, probably the deepest team I can ever remember and I have been following UT basketball since Ray Mears was our coach..
My thoughts are the 23-24 team will have 10 players that average 15+ mpg and none will AVERAGE playing over 30 mpg. [Note: I fully expect to be blasted on this point. Don't hold back ...Fire away.]
I have said that coach RB would ideally like to keep player minutes under 25 mpg. I think he has the deep to do it this year, baring injuries. I also expect a faster pace of play and better 3 point numbers. So, we will see.
FAU and SDState showed how deep teams can go in NCAAT, if they are able to spread out minutes effectively over a deeper rotation. Prevents players from getting worn down and legs are fresher at tournament time.
I am of the opinion that our talent and depth of talent exceeds that of SDState '23. Therefore, I am expecting (not hoping for) a FF appearance for Tennessee in 2023-24 NCAAT. I am guessing this is our best shot at a National Championship in BB.

I am spitballing ...
Starter then Replacement .... learning via experience
Dilione then ZZ
Santi then D.J./Gainey
Knecht then JM then Carr
Ledlum or JJJ ... Phillips
Aidoo then Awaka ... JP
 
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#25
#25
Here's my thoughts

PG: Freddie/ZZ (I think Freddie starts all season and it allows ZZ to be the energy off the bench, the minutes will be staggered to Freddie until ZZ is 100% and then it'll even up)
SG: Santi/Gainey
SF: Mashack/JJJ/Knecht
PF: Ledlum/JJJ
C: Aidoo/Awaka/JP

Mashack and JJJ both could be playing 1-4 depending on need, matchups and health. I think Ledlum will be a big minutes guy assuming he does what Barnes demands on defense. Knecht will have to show he's willing to play defense to keep minutes, which is why I don't have him starting.

Projected Minutes (200 total available)
Santi - 28
Ledlum - 24
ZZ - 22
JJJ - 20
Mashack - 18
Adioo - 18
Freddie - 17
Knecht - 16
Awaka - 15
Gainey - 12
JP - 10

Deep team potential this season, Barnes usually has 10 or so guys that get 10 or more MPG, but he also likes to focus in on a shorter bench. I don't think JJJ as a walk-on will be pushing 25+ minutes like he had previously, could even see him being used a bit less than the 20 minutes a game mark I have him at, but that'll depend more on how well Knecht and Mashack play. Scouts think JP and Freddie both have "1 & done" potential so they could both demand more minutes if that's the case we may see less minutes for JJJ & Ledlum. I'm excited to see how the chemistry of this team comes together.

DJ has potential as well, but I don't know if he'll end up in that 10 MPG spot just yet. This team will have a total of 4 players exercising their 5th year (Santi, Knecht, Ledlum, JJJ) and I think all 4 are wanting to work towards a run in the post season, regardless of how many minutes they play to make that happen. There will also be 4 Juniors on this team (Gainey, Aidoo, ZZ, Mashack). So lots of experience and I feel like based on how the portal was used this cements that Carr and Cade will likely be RS players this first year.
 
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