Who Gets into the Rotation?

[GatorPlanet]

Down to six now in the regular group. Billy mentioned both Braxton and Dillon in his postgame comments as maybe being the guys that get into the rotation. No mention of Walker. Said we can't go to UT and only use 6 guys.

I think he's gotten more comfortable with Braxton in the last couple of weeks, but I suspect that Dillon, being a little bit bigger, might be the replacement.

If we can win with at least one of these guys getting extended minutes, it'll be good for the team.

[gatorbogey]

Braxton has come on nicely in the last month or so. playing w/ more confidence when he sees the court. i would imagine the coaches will have either/both ready to go. might be a question of matchup. have both 'steal' 2-4 minutes in the first half at different times. then, in the 2nd half, go w/ the one that performed better.

Might need DWalker in game shape and ready to go too. to me, he's the type of player that might match the athleticism and length of the typical vols player.

[GothamGator]

It may well be two guys getting the extra time instead of one. Billy said we needed a rotation of 8. My guess is that both get some minutes early, and then Donovan goes with the guy who is playing better or does some situational substituting with them.

I don't expect all of Frazier's minutes to go to other subs. I think you will see SW, KB and MR on the court longer too.

[GeauxGators05]

It is time we use some of the freshmen to provide some rest to our starters. It is unfortunate we have had so many injuries this season. It is perhaps a blessing in disguise when we can get some quality minutes for the young players who will be seasoned come tournament time. If someone goes down in the tournament, we have to be ready with someone who has played some quality minutes to get on the floor and compete.

[jmoliver]

If we spread Fraizer's minutes to the starters we will run out of gas.

[gatorbogey]

gonna be interesting to watch how BD choreographs the substitution pattern and the flow of the games. might play some of the 1st halves of games in 'conservation mode' (like he's done in the past at the SEC-T; that is, if the break isn't there, and we're not being pressed: just walk it up).

[gator7gh]

Well, I knew it. We really needed to get Graham, Braxton and Walker more minutes. I know not all three of them BUT at least one of them during this season should of been in the game. Getting some experience. That being said, we are where we are. So somebody, I mean everybody gonna have to step up.

[kellgator]

I like the potential of D Walker's game the best, but he is the least physically ready for the type of game we'll get at UT. He really needs to spend the offseason at the training table and in the weight room. I think we'll see Braxton steal minutes for Scottie and Kenny, while Dillon gets a few minutes at the 3 with Prather doing double duty at both forward postions.

[gatorev12]

Braxton and Graham will probably be the first guys we turn to...and honestly wouldn't mind seeing Kurtz in there either. Kurtz has hit some tough shots and played well in his limited time on the floor for us--arguably more ready for increased minutes than some of our freshman who might have more talent and a higher ceiling, but less reliable and experienced right now. Funny enough--I think Braxton is a better offensive player, but Graham's done better defensively when he's been in there earlier this season.

One of my chief complaints with Donovan--and especially this year--is that when we're up 20-30 points and the other team starts clearing the bench and putting in their freshmen to give them more experience, why do we keep primarily starters out there? Slowly rotating in 2 freshman for a minute or two in the 10-7 minute stretch probably won't lose the game for us, and especially if the other team is mailing it in.

[InstiGATOR1]

My own view is that Frazier's minutes will be covered by:

1. Each of Wilbekin, Boynton and Rosario playing a minute or two more. That covers about 3 to 6 minutes of his time.

2. Then about five or six minute each for Graham and D. Walker and you have them covered.

[Osiris_DPM]

Braxton and Graham will probably be the first guys we turn to...and honestly wouldn't mind seeing Kurtz in there either. Kurtz has hit some tough shots and played well in his limited time on the floor for us--arguably more ready for increased minutes than some of our freshman who might have more talent and a higher ceiling, but less reliable and experienced right now. Funny enough--I think Braxton is a better offensive player, but Graham's done better defensively when he's been in there earlier this season.

One of my chief complaints with Donovan--and especially this year--is that when we're up 20-30 points and the other team starts clearing the bench and putting in their freshmen to give them more experience, why do we keep primarily starters out there? Slowly rotating in 2 freshman for a minute or two in the 10-7 minute stretch probably won't lose the game for us, and especially if the other team is mailing it in.

We don't. Donovan pulls our starters when the other team pulls theirs, and sometimes before they do, which is why Pelph has had to get on their collective asses for playing like crap as a group and allowing 8-10 point swings to occur in 2 minutes or less.

And that is why they don't play more. They have not been ready to play more, and the staff has not trusted them to play more. After Mike, it's Dillon & Braxton, and it's a pretty significant drop to those two at this point. Dillon has good court vision, is a good passer, and has good size & athleticism. He will be a good player in the future, but it's rushing it to think he or Braxton can come close to replacing the offensive & defensive production of Mike at this point.

[oneatatime]

With Frazier and WY likely back Saturday, I hope Billy D doesn't overburden the remaining six regulars Tuesday night.

I would rather see the other 3 freshmen get some meaningful minutes in a hostile environment to see if they may be helpful for the stretch run, SEC tournament and beyond

[gogators73]

Frazier II played 15 minutes vs. Arkansas so I think 15 minutes out of the freshmen is what the goal should be.

IMO if we can play Ogbueze at the 2 for a bit with Wilbekin running the point we could maybe be okay. Just tell Braxton to shoot if he's open and if not rotate the ball.

And no I'm not saying those 15 minutes replaces Frazier's production. But it does help the guys get some rest. If they can play a 6 man rotation and not get tired I'm all for it.

[InstiGATOR1]

We don't. Donovan pulls our starters when the other team pulls theirs, and sometimes before they do, which is why Pelph has had to get on their collective asses for playing like crap as a group and allowing 8-10 point swings to occur in 2 minutes or less.

And that is why they don't play more. They have not been ready to play more, and the staff has not trusted them to play more. After Mike, it's Dillon & Braxton, and it's a pretty significant drop to those two at this point. Dillon has good court vision, is a good passer, and has good size & athleticism. He will be a good player in the future, but it's rushing it to think he or Braxton can come close to replacing the offensive & defensive production of Mike at this point.

Exactly, Donovan calls off the horses when the team behind does. That is the way in basketball. BTW,

1. Given the way this team lost to Zona and UMo, I am surprised Donovan ever eases off the pedal. Losing games with a double digit lead is a real incentive for a coach to play Frosh less.

2. I wish as Gatorev12 said that Donovan eased in a frosh or two with rotation players when UF was up big late. I think the Frosh would benefit more playing with rotation players rather than as a group. But Donovan has not done much of that this year.

[gator34654]

Why doesn't BD sub one sub player with the starters when the game is well in hand so that that sub can gain game experience with starters? I'm no bb coach but it just seems to me we have had plenty of blowouts and the only playing time these subs gets is in the last minute or two and then with all subs. I just don't understand for the life of me why he doesn't sub a player in to play with the starters so as to get real game experience so that when injuries occur we don't have to play inexperienced players.
It just seems to me year after year we have some depth issues. Don't get me wrong BD is great but no coach is perfect or right all the time.

[tampajack1]

IMO, Boynton, Wilbekin and Rosario can go all day long. It's Young and Murphy who get gassed. So Prather should get at least 20 minutes. We need the bigs to stay out of foul trouble. Ogbueze can give us some minutes at the point with Scottie sliding to the 2 or 3. Graham might get a little time, and if he nails a 3, he could get more time.

[gatorev12]

We don't. Donovan pulls our starters when the other team pulls theirs, and sometimes before they do, which is why Pelph has had to get on their collective asses for playing like crap as a group and allowing 8-10 point swings to occur in 2 minutes or less.

And that is why they don't play more. They have not been ready to play more, and the staff has not trusted them to play more. After Mike, it's Dillon & Braxton, and it's a pretty significant drop to those two at this point. Dillon has good court vision, is a good passer, and has good size & athleticism. He will be a good player in the future, but it's rushing it to think he or Braxton can come close to replacing the offensive & defensive production of Mike at this point.


My post wasn't saying to empty the bench with 10 minutes left in the game and to allow another team to potentially go on an 8-10 minute swing.

It was to make the point that putting in Braxton or Graham for 1-2 minute stretches when we're already comfortably ahead offers a lot of benefits and few potential downsides. At a minimum, it rests the starters and allows the freshman to gain meaningful game experience. Potentially, it could mean uncovering talented depth (valuable during tournament runs) or talented role players (Frazier this year, for example).

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Donovan uses playing time as a reward for good, make that great practice, consistent effort and consistently knowing where and when to be. He's not going to play somebody who doesn't light it up in practice regardless of depth or score