Halford

I don't get why everyone thinks that Winder is a better man defender. Halford is a much better man defender. It could be racial prejudice working against Halford. (Oh, he's black, so he's an amazing defender!!!) . If you watch the two closely, Halford is a much better man defender. Winder gets lost in the zone defense (leaves guys in his area open for shots) and in man defense he is a step slow against faster (most) guards.



Halford and Carlino are our two best man defenders (with regular minutes. Sharp is a good man defender also). Everyone else is below average or worse, including Winder. There is a difference between being athletic and a good defender (although I would argue that Halford is more athletic than Winder, but less aggressive driving to the hoop).



The times when we REALLY start shutting teams down - proven ONCE AGAIN against Gonzaga - is when Carlino and Halford are playing the guard spots and we play man. Haws (being our largest defensive liability) has a much better time guarding small forwards than guards. Watch with your eyes, friends. Watch Halford's on ball defense and compare that to Winder's. They aren't in the same league.

KC needs to bend his knees more - and let it flow without the hesitation half way through. Knees.



Beauso



MC cannot split Halford's minutes. MC told coach Rose that he is not comfortable at the 2 and will not play the 2. Winder and Halford will mainly man the 2 spot.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Blue - by necessity we have to be a zone based defensive team as we have too many guys on our team that can't play man defense, like Haws, and did you see Halford vs Pacific? It wasn't pretty. I believe Gonzaga clawed their way back into the game at the end the first half while Halford was on the floor. He's not long enough to play zone and to keep Haws on the floor we have to try to be Syracuse which Winder's length allows us to do. We can run Halford out there vs the Dees, Stockton's, and Pangos's of the world but he gets abused by stronger guards.



Bib - so who plays the 2 when Carlino, Haws, KC, Austin, and Mika are all on the floor? Which happens often......Halford's minutes could be used by Carlino at this time

Cougarbib wrote:
MC told coach Rose that he is not comfortable at the 2 and will not play the 2.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Really? Where was this documented? He did say he's not as comfortable playing the 2, but I've never heard that he "refused". He did look very lost at the 2 though.

Winder certainly showing tonight that he needs more minutes. Back to back big games from AW.

At this point I'd still go with



MC

AW

TH

KC

Luke (love luke coming in and taking those early first jitter fouls.)

BroncoBot wrote:
At this point I'd still go with



MC

AW

TH

KC

Luke (love luke coming in and taking those early first jitter fouls.)

Not bad. I would take Austin over Luke - better rebounding.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Gunk wrote:

At this point I'd still go with



MC

AW

TH

KC

Luke (love luke coming in and taking those early first jitter fouls.)

Not bad. I would take Austin over Luke - better rebounding.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Again, the foul thing has pestered BYU all year. If luke can take a few fouls so the refs feel they have things under control so that Mika/Austin can come in and do their thing without things being so fragile, I'm all for it. Certainly not saying Luke should be getting starters minutes.



Best 5 for their positions

MC

AW

TH

KC

Austin/Mika is a toss up really. Depending on the matchup either one could be a better pick.



REALLY liking having the bigger stronger Winder out there. He just doesn't get pushed around much.

BroncoBot wrote:

MC told coach Rose that he is not comfortable at the 2 and will not play the 2.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Really? Where was this documented? He did say he's not as comfortable playing the 2, but I've never heard that he "refused". He did look very lost at the 2 though.

It was very well documented. And then the compromise came with MC becoming back-up point guard and Halford starting at the 2. "Refused" is putting it strongly. He told Rose that he was not comfortable playing the 2, did not want to play the 2, and that he wanted to play the point even if it meant backing up KC and coming off the bench. Since that time MC has said in interviews that coming off the bench has made him a better player. Watch his facial expressions. He seems much more relaxed and seems to be having fun. He was wound up way to tight before the change.



Rose has steadily increased his minutes and he plays as many minutes as other starters not named Haws or KC most games.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

BroncoBot wrote:

BroncoBot wrote:
At this point I'd still go with



MC

AW

TH

KC

Luke (love luke coming in and taking those early first jitter fouls.)

Not bad. I would take Austin over Luke - better rebounding.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

Again, the foul thing has pestered BYU all year. If luke can take a few fouls so the refs feel they have things under control so that Mika/Austin can come in and do their thing without things being so fragile, I'm all for it. Certainly not saying Luke should be getting starters minutes.

Winder is playing much better than he played earlier this year. The numbers bear that out. Now we see how he plays on the road. He is the starter now at the 2. Second game in a row. Halford has been reduced to 5-10 minutes lately.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

beauso79 wrote:
Blue - by necessity we have to be a zone based defensive team as we have too many guys on our team that can't play man defense, like Haws, and did you see Halford vs Pacific? It wasn't pretty. I believe Gonzaga clawed their way back into the game at the end the first half while Halford was on the floor. He's not long enough to play zone and to keep Haws on the floor we have to try to be Syracuse which Winder's length allows us to do. We can run Halford out there vs the Dees, Stockton's, and Pangos's of the world but he gets abused by stronger guards.



Bib - so who plays the 2 when Carlino, Haws, KC, Austin, and Mika are all on the floor? Which happens often......Halford's minutes could be used by Carlino at this time

Anytime Carlino comes in, he takes over as point guard. If KC stays in, which happens most often, KC goes to the 4. In the scenario you describe above, most likely it would be Carlino 1, Haws moved to 2, KC moved to 3. Austin 4. Mika 5.



Carlino only plays point guard. It is rare that anyone but KC or MC play the point.



Nobody plays 40 minutes. Carlino is now getting near starter minutes.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

It does not matter who starts. It matters who plays vs specific situations and who gets serious minutes. Rose figured out -"a little slowly imho, that in the first five minutes of a game, you get a feel for how fouls will and will not get called. Surprises happen early. Given that Mika and Austin are often on the bench in foul trouble, he decided to shelter them from those first five minutes. This is genius. It is genius, because it is working.



In another stroke of genius, after several failed attempts to get Carlino to play as directed, including replacing him at point and switching him to the 2 spot, Rose benched Carlino and brings him in as back - point guard. The leash is very short and can be used easily and quickly without embarrassment to Matt - because he is not the starter. He comes in and out based on flow. After a remarkable improvement, Rose has increased his minutes. It is genius because it is working.



Halford gave a spark and a short burst. He has been reeled back in by defenders. Bur he contributes. Winder has improved while mostly on the bench. Even FT shooting. He has emerged to replace Halford at the 2. Both are valuable. Both will play. Match-ups will matter. I agree with Blue to an extent. Halford is a solid defender and Winder is human. Winder was on Dellavadagger last year when he killed us. Just stepped aside and waved as he went by. I saw a lot of open 3s go down vs Winder and MC tonight. Matchups. And fresh legs. They will all play. Glad we have all if them.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">