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An Early Look at Player Rotations for Next Season

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  • An Early Look at Player Rotations for Next Season

    It's a wee bit early for this right now, but I wanted to set the stage for what the staff should be looking toward for personnel during this offseason, heading into next season.

    A couple premises first:

    -- Isaiah Mobley may or may not be leaving for the NBA (both contingencies are covered below).

    -- Boogie Ellie and Drew Peterson ultimately decide to return for another year of basketball at SC; if things go the other way, then the chart below gets substantially changed.

    -- We don't see any transfers from the core group of Max, Reese, Kobe and Joshua Morgan.

    -- The rotation structure will look something like this: 5 starters, 3 primary reserves, 2 secondary reserves, a final/occasional rotation player, and then the end of the bench guys who are not routinely going to be used.


    Now here are some opinions of mine on personnel for next season:

    -- We badly need a true point guard out of the portal, who is ready to start on Day 1 and play 30 minutes per game.

    -- Given our riches (and length) at wing/forward spots, and our struggles in conference with two big lineups, we should planning to start just one Big, and then rotate in a second big from time to time.

    -- If Isaiah is back, he should start at the 5; if he's not back, we need to recruit another Big from the portal who is ready to start and play 20+ minutes at the 5; I do not believe that Joshua Morgan, Kijani Wright or Vincent Iwuchukwu will be ready for starters minutes next season (although I do have all 3 in the rotation).
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    Based on the above premises and opinions, here is a chart for how our rotation should look next season:
    .
    Point Guard Shooting Guard Wing / Forward Wing / Forward Big
    Starters: Need from Portal Boogie Ellis Drew Peterson Max or Reese Isaiah Mobley or Portal
    Primary 1 Primary 2 Primary 3 Secondary 1 Secondary 2 Final Rotational Player
    Rotation Reserves: Max or Reese Tre W or Kobe Morgan or Kijani or Vince I Morgan or Kijani or Vince I Tre W or Kobe Morgan or Kijani or Vince I
    .
    Notes:

    So, the basic idea here is that our top 7 players will be a transfer PG, Boogie, Drew, Max, Reese, Kobe or Tre White and either Isaiah or another Big from the portal. Depending on who's available form the portal, this could very well be a powerful Top 7.

    The next concept is that, while we need to have two of Joshua Morgan, Kijani Wright and/or Vincent Iwuchukwu in the rotation, none of those three of really ready to be starting to a high level team next season.

    This now leads us to the big issue we will be facing during the offseason: SCHOLARSHIP NUMBERS! We have 13 scholarships available. Boogie, Drew, Max, Reese, Kobe, Tre, Joshua, Kijani and Vincent account for 9 scholarships. A transfer point guard and Isaiah or a replacement for Isaiah account for another two -- gives means 11 scholarships accounted for ... and ONLY TWO REMAINING SCHOLARSHIPS.

    And now the problem reveals itself. If we got by what's above, we have two open rides -- and FIVE other players either on scholarship or committed: Ethan Anderson, Malik Thomas, Harri Hornery, Boubabacar Couliabaly, and Oziyah Sellers.

    The key to next season rests not on personnel acquisition, but on management of personnel departure.


  • #2
    No Ethan. Color me surprised.

    Regardless, how we choose to allocate the scholarships next year will be intriguing. I have a really hard time seeing Andy let Ethan go given that he'll be 4 years in the program. I don't know what the "behind the scenes" looks like when coaches have to talk to their players about scholarships, but everyone can count...

    You have to believe that they'd give Sellers a chance to develop, Malik and boubacar seem to be on the wrong side of things. Would love to see what Hornery can do, but Kijani probably has more potential.

    I think Mobley and Drew are maxed out as college players and want to move on. They could each learn to play at a higher level more consistently, but it seems like they'd have a better chance at proving their worth in the G league than in college (notwithstanding their commitment to their education).

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Trojan2021 View Post
      I think Mobley and Drew are maxed out as college players and want to move on. They could each learn to play at a higher level more consistently, but it seems like they'd have a better chance at proving their worth in the G league than in college (notwithstanding their commitment to their education).
      Drew has already pretty said he's coming back. He wasn't originally planning on playing last season.

      As for the G League, I mean, it's pretty much a joke. Typical salary is $37K/year. Marquee college players can make a lot more than that in NIL.
      .
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      Originally posted by Trojan2021 View Post
      No Ethan. Color me surprised.

      Regardless, how we choose to allocate the scholarships next year will be intriguing. I have a really hard time seeing Andy let Ethan go given that he'll be 4 years in the program. I don't know what the "behind the scenes" looks like when coaches have to talk to their players about scholarships, but everyone can count...
      You very well may be right. Andy has a special connection with Ethan. Even made him a captain. But (to quote Nick) the numbers are the numbers. And Ethan's numbers were scary terrible this season. In the calendar year 2022 (21 games), he was -76 plus-minus. If Ethan is in the rotation for next season, I do not believe the team can make the Tournament.
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      Originally posted by Trojan2021 View Post
      You have to believe that they'd give Sellers a chance to develop, Malik and boubacar seem to be on the wrong side of things. Would love to see what Hornery can do, but Kijani probably has more potential.
      Agree here. Oziyah has to get his shot. That means one spot for either Ethan, Malik, Boubacar and Harri.

      Comment


      • #4
        There was a time that Isaiah was in the conversation for Pac-12 player of the year and potential first round NBA draft material, but his play of late has brought him back down to Earth. Hopefully, he comes back another year to build the draft stock, I think he's either late second round or going undrafted.

        On the other hand, though, he turns 23 this year in September. It can't be easy, too, to see all the success that Evan is having.

        Having said that, in case you missed it-

        https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/s...iah-mobley-nba

        Comment


        • #5
          Chase in Arizona Awesome to hear Drew is likely returning!

          Didn't know G league was that bad. But of course, the reason to go isn't the money, it's that you're virtually swappable right onto an NBA bench.

          Success story in KPJ; but I think Boatwright also went? And he hasn't made it out of there so it's not easy.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Trojan2021 View Post
            [USER="3"]Didn't know G league was that bad. But of course, the reason to go isn't the money, it's that you're virtually swappable right onto an NBA bench.

            Success story in KPJ; but I think Boatwright also went? And he hasn't made it out of there so it's not easy.
            Big difference here.

            KPJ was a First Round pick and signed a guaranteed 2-year NBA contract with an options for 3rd and 4th seasons (which were exercised). So KPJ will have earned about $9mm during the life of that 4-year contract. KPJ was assigned down the G-League, but he was on a guaranteed NBA contract at the time.

            If you're not drafted (or drafted late 2nd Round) and don't immediately sign a guaranteed NBA contract, then you're looking at G-League nickels until you can first get called up on a 10-day deal (which JMac did a few times), which pay NBA minimum for those games you suit up for the NBA team, in hopes of getting an NBA deal -- whether exclusive to the NBA or two-way with the G-League (which is what JMac, who went undrafted, eventually did by finally signing a guaranteed 3-year deal last year for about $5.5mm).

            Bennie, who also went undrafted, has not been able to get to that NBA deal yet.

            For another example, take Marcus Zegarowski from Creighton, who was drafted mid-to-late Second Round by Brooklyn last year. He didn't make the Nets roster and, thus, didn't sign an NBA contract. Instead, he's on a G League contract for the Nets' affiliate. So he's not making any money really.
            Last edited by Chase in Arizona; 03-14-2022, 01:48 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Chase in Arizona View Post

              Drew has already pretty said he's coming back. He wasn't originally planning on playing last season.

              As for the G League, I mean, it's pretty much a joke. Typical salary is $37K/year. Marquee college players can make a lot more than that in NIL.
              .
              .



              You very well may be right. Andy has a special connection with Ethan. Even made him a captain. But (to quote Nick) the numbers are the numbers. And Ethan's numbers were scary terrible this season. In the calendar year 2022 (21 games), he was -76 plus-minus. If Ethan is in the rotation for next season, I do not believe the team can make the Tournament.
              .
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              Agree here. Oziyah has to get his shot. That means one spot for either Ethan, Malik, Boubacar and Harri.
              Who would you keep out of those 4?

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by TroyD View Post

                Who would you keep out of those 4?
                Either Boubacar or Malik.

                Comment


                • #9
                  What happened with Malik this year? Was he hurt? Or is it just a combo of needing development and lots of close games that didn't afford for that.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by CharlieParker View Post
                    What happened with Malik this year? Was he hurt? Or is it just a combo of needing development and lots of close games that didn't afford for that.
                    Definitely didn’t look ready. I’ve heard the defense was a very serious problem. But he looked bad on offense too. Also, he looked really undersized.

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