This is hugely different than starting Terrence Thompson. It would have been good not to start him, because we had Doral on the back line. But we don't have a big or tall body if Hoard is our biggest guy. Mucius' skill set and physical traits are much closer to a SG than to a PF.
Plus, both guys are young. It's hard enough to learn your natural slots but to ask them to do so much more, and mostly against people who are experienced and talented at they do, is too much of an ask.
It's one thing to play one guy in a position where is physically mismatched. It's much more difficult to have two. More importantly, it's much more harmful to your team to have your two best players (yes, Mucius is #2) playing out of position and in places that don't support their talent.
This is much different than having a big, a ball handler and three wings alternating playing different roles.
Plus I think a great game by Sarr against a good team would mean he gets hot from outside, tosses in a few offensive putbacks, has a nice night on the boards. He can get to 15 and 10 that way, but I just described a stretch 4, not a center.
I really don't think flipping Mucius for Sarr makes us much "smaller" based on their play so far. It's not "if we take Sarr out, we won't have a center." We already don't have a center with Sarr playing. So start our best players, keep the bench short, but play Sarr as the stretch 4 he is right now and let Smart/Okeke give some minutes when we need a 5.
He's 6th in minutes anyway. I don't know maybe everyone else loved starting Terrence Thompson for no reason all last year.
Why don't we just play positionless basketball then.
I think Sarr does provide some rim protection, which is more valuable than anything Thompson ever brought to the table. But agree we can't afford to have another season with a black hole in the starting 5.
Any chance Sage Surratt plays a little round ball after Christmas?
I am not as down on Sarr. He provides rim protection in the middle that we otherwise don't have. Of course he needs to get better. He needs to get stronger but really just fight more on the defensive glass. Even with limited strength, he should be getting 9 defensive boards every game.
I am more down on Chill and Chaundee at this point. They have the most experience in the system and are underwhelming.
I like Wright a lot too. Obvs Chill isnt going anywhere, and he is ultimately probably better bringing the ball up the floor, esp w any pressure, but I really think our best lineup is Wright, Brown, Mucius, Hoard, Sarr.
Chill is 2nd on the team in scoring, leading the team in field goal percentage and assists while shooting over 50% from deep. He's shooting 90% from the line and while he's turned it over some Sarr is leading the team in turnovers.
But Sarr is on the "best 5" list and Chill isn't? Ok.
How does Sarr have less experience in the system than Chaundee?
Chill is 2nd on the team in scoring, leading the team in field goal percentage and assists while shooting over 50% from deep. He's shooting 90% from the line and while he's turned it over some Sarr is leading the team in turnovers.
But Sarr is on the "best 5" list and Chill isn't? Ok.
I didnt say that, although Brown started almost every game and played a lot more live minutes than Sarr last year. I said Brown and Chill have the most experience and arent really playing that great. Disappointing.
Im not playing positionless bball. I dont think Chill can play the 5. If he could he would be in best 5 lineup. Agree Sarr isnt one of our best 5 overall players, but I think the best lineup has him in it. I think we will get murdered in the acc with Hoard at the 5 more than a few minutes.
Sarr has a long way to go, but he is our best option down low, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Offensively through four games Brown has been trash.
Chill has been very good on offense. Not sure what you’re evaluating on if you’re basing it solely off this year