Frazier's Status

[HALLGATOR]

Braxton would probably be my first choice too.

[jareduf]

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

Braxton would probably be my first choice too.

Agreed. Can handle the ball, play within the offense.

[gatorr4life]

I blame Matt Dougherty for this.

[oneatatime]

It wouldn't surprise me if all 3 freshmen are used to fill Frazier's 15-20 minutes that he usually plays depending on the situation, score, fouls etc

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by NorthCaptivaGator

@onlygators: MT @JQuittner: Donovan says with Frazier out [for Tennessee], they still have to go with an 8-man rotation, whether it's Braxton or Walker..

I vote Braxton, I think he just needs minutes

With WY out, they've been using a seven man rotation. Why would he suddenly go to eight? With Frazier out, he'd need a couple guys who haven't played to get to eight men.

[gatorbogey]

didn't see exactly what happened during the scramble at the game. loved the hustle. sorta shocked to see MF2 stay down on the floor. just saw the hightlights - head hit Scottie's knee as MF2 was going after the loose ball.

Braxton O and CWalker will probably get some limited floor time. may see extended minutes if there's some foul problems. with WY and MF2 out: gonna be tough. especially on the road. just another bit of adversity to challenge the team. will strengthen the team in the long haul.

[fox]

We will barely see a 7th until Michael and Will return.

[GatorPlanet]

Originally Posted by fox

We will barely see a 7th until Michael and Will return.

No, we'll see at least one of the freshman play, if only for a couple of minutes per half. Guys need a rest on occasion. Expect more zone too.

The freshmen need to be on a short leash, though. Don't try to "create." Play hard. Don't shoot unless you're wide open. Play hard. Don't run into traps. Play hard.

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

didn't see exactly what happened during the scramble at the game. loved the hustle. sorta shocked to see MF2 stay down on the floor. just saw the hightlights - head hit Scottie's knee as MF2 was going after the loose ball.

Braxton O and CWalker will probably get some limited floor time. may see extended minutes if there's some foul problems. with WY and MF2 out: gonna be tough. especially on the road. just another bit of adversity to challenge the team. will strengthen the team in the long haul.

You mean DWalker. CWalker ain't showing up until next year. Sure wish we had him now!

[vaxcardinal]

whats the worst thing that can happen, we lose the next 4 games and then still make it to the tournament. So no big deal here.

[themistocles]

That 8 man rotation that Billy D spoke of will include 1 minute per close game for Ogbueze and 2 minutes for Walker (maybe 2 and 4).

Basically, I am repeating the first half of the Georgetown game numbers here, when the Gators played with essentially a 5-man team (Frazier got 2 mins and Ogbueze 1).

I expect the same against UT.

[fox]

Originally Posted by themistocles

That 8 man rotation that Billy D spoke of will include 1 minute per close game for Ogbueze and 2 minutes for Walker (maybe 2 and 4).

Basically, I am repeating the first half of the Georgetown game numbers here, when the Gators played with essentially a 5-man team (Frazier got 2 mins and Ogbueze 1).

I expect the same against UT.

Exactly what I mean by "barely". Billy's conservative side. Works well.

Every time I see someone post during the season about freshman needing more minutes "just in case" it's because they don't know Florida basketball by Billy Donovan.

[CAGator93]

I agree - hopefully we still win the SEC, but getting everyone back for the NCAA tourney is the priority

[rserina]

Walker got minutes before Prather was fully back, so I suspect he gets them again. He is long enough to defend the four.

[SM1010]

I think Walker, Ogbueze, and Graham will all get 1-5 minutes a game until either WY or Frazier is back.

[elrongator]

Someone remember to post the game stats for minutes after the UT game and we can all see how Billy manages the team. It's interesting, but I would have to agree that we will probably see our main core get serious minutes with barely a speck for freshmen. Seems Billy would rather wear out his trusted vets, even in blowouts, than risk the young guys playing. Not sure this is my favorite Donovan tendency either.

[rserina]

Sure, because it would definitely be smart to give inexperienced freshmen more floor time on the road in a tough environment when they haven't played terribly well in less contested, more manageable situations earlier in the year.

What I find amusing about the "play the freshmen" argument is that our much ballyhooed efficiency statistics, the same statistics that are driving the projections for our high seeding, would be adversely impacted by playing the freshmen more. You can't have it both ways: either you sacrifice score/statistics in favor of maybe hoping those freshmen will be able to contribute in certain situations, or you roll with the kids who have proven themselves in those situations and in the process reap the benefit if bigger wins, better statistics, and a higher seeding.

[diamondted13]

Originally Posted by rserina

Sure, because it would definitely be smart to give inexperienced freshmen more floor time on the road in a tough environment when they haven't played terribly well in less contested, more manageable situations earlier in the year.

What I find amusing about the "play the freshmen" argument is that our much ballyhooed efficiency statistics, the same statistics that are driving the projections for our high seeding, would be adversely impacted by playing the freshmen more. You can't have it both ways: either you sacrifice score/statistics in favor of maybe hoping those freshmen will be able to contribute in certain situations, or you roll with the kids who have proven themselves in those situations and in the process reap the benefit if bigger wins, better statistics, and a higher seeding.

I hear what you're saying, and I certainly wouldn't suggest significant minutes on Tuesday night for any of our freshmen. I do, however, consider his reluctance to play the other 3 (DW, BO, DG) freshmen until incredibly late in blowouts a small peccadillo of Billy's. There have been plenty of opportunities in conference play to insert these kids, perhaps even by staggering their entry, with 6-8 min left. Instead, it has been rare for them to see the floor until the 2-3 min mark....even with 25-30 pt margins.

Count me as one who doesn't see the risk/reward being worth keeping the starters in late in HUGE blowouts. I'm not talking a 15 pt margin, mind you. But to keep the vets in until 2 min left when we have 25+ pt leads is excessive. I would rather have 6-8 min of ragged, sloppy ball. The benefits are three-fold: getting the young guys some game experience, preserving the vets legs for the stretch run, and avoiding a catastrophic injury during meaningless late minutes. If our efficiency ratings suffer, and our margin of victory ends up being 18 as opposed to 30, so be it. At the end of the day, the selection committee could care less whether we beat MSU, LSU, Aub, etc. by 15, 20, or 30+ pts.

[dangolegators]

I see no downside in giving the freshmen a couple of extra minutes in a 25 point blowout.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by diamondted13

If our efficiency ratings suffer, and our margin of victory ends up being 18 as opposed to 30, so be it. At the end of the day, the selection committee could care less whether we beat MSU, LSU, Aub, etc. by 15, 20, or 30+ pts.

Agree that the selection committee isn't concerned about an egregious margin of victory, but they do factor things like efficiency into the "resume" consideration, for better or worse. This year, it is working to our benefit.

Most coaches, Donovan included, keep their starters in as long as the opponents keep theirs in. The kids want to play and they want their numbers. Not that the coaches necessarily factor that in, but in the grand scheme of things at every level kids want to play. I can't remember a Florida coach not being criticized for playing his starters too long (though for the record I do appreciate your measured response, which doesn't strike me as bitching for the sake of bitching).

I liken it to complaining about someone else's wife being ugly: what's the point? She isn't your wife. If it works for him, then great. But I guess we need to complain about something with a possible top seed on the line in the coming weeks. At least there is traffic on the hoops boards.