Lineup For 2007-08 Bearcats

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

WF Williamson (20-25) - Sikes (10-15) - Henry (5-10) - Bishop (5-10)
PF Williams (25-30) - Belton (5-10)
C Adam H (20-25) - McClain (15-20)
SG Mitchell (20-25) - Gentry (10-15) - Davis (0-5) - Miller (0-5)
PG Vaughn (25-30) - Warren (10-15)

Great depth at WF and SG. Balanced lineup.

Quite possibly 20 W after postseason play.

[columbus_bearcat]

WF Williamson (20-25) - Sikes (10-15) - Henry (5-10) - Bishop (5-10)
PF Williams (25-30) - Belton (5-10)
C Adam H (20-25) - McClain (15-20)
SG Mitchell (20-25) - Gentry (10-15) - Davis (0-5) - Miller (0-5)
PG Vaughn (25-30) - Warren (10-15)

Great depth at WF and SG. Balanced lineup.

Quite possibly 20 W after postseason play.

I agree with everything except I think Henry will ultimately start, Williamson off the bench. Also, from what I've read about Bishop, he has a good chance of getting plenty of minutes (more than 10).

This is fun to talk about anyway.

[tophat]

Cronin said what I've posted many times, ie that he feels Vaughn can be a good PG.

I believe Williamson will wind up spending more time backing up Williams at PF than playing SF as the season goes on. Williamson lacks the perimeter game you want from a SF, and with Henry and Bishop we'll have two guys who are supposed to be able to create and score better as swing players than Williamson has demonstrated. He also gives us the depth at PF we presently have at SF.

[Big B]

If Williamson's knees hold up, you will get to see what kind of scorer he is. Plus last year it was tuff to be a scorer and get all the rebounds by yourself.

[tophat]

If Williamson's knees hold up, you will get to see what kind of scorer he is. Plus last year it was tuff to be a scorer and get all the rebounds by yourself.

I defended Williamson from alot of criticism last yr because I was convinced his knees were limiting him, but the fact remains he's much more of an inside power player when it comes to offense rather than a player who can score away from the baket. His ballskills aren't particularly good and neither is his jumper from beyond 12 ft or so. And don't forget, the tendonitis in his knees is a chronic problem -- he had it the year before -- all the more reason he should be a part timer.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

05 Vaughn, Deonta 30 27 434 14.5 152 407 .373 63 216 .292 67 89 .753 27 76 103 3.4 81 1 106 73 1 55 989 33.0
45 Williamson, John 30 30 406 13.5 157 322 .488 11 31 .355 81 139 .583 102 118 220 7.3 92 4 31 53 4 23 927 30.9
10 Sikes, Marcus 30 29 285 9.5 92 228 .404 45 106 .425 56 84 .667 52 98 150 5.0 91 3 41 51 14 23 878 29.3

[shaunsimpson]

I think the starting lineups and the linups with the most minutes will be diferent this year. With a freshman like McClain you may see him start for the jump, but besides that I am hoping that they will not play him too much early to get a grasp for the defense. The worst case senario is him getting into early foul trouble. Williamson will see significant 2nd half minutes as well, but due to injuries I don't want him to be pushed too much early in the season. With McClain in the game Williamson will be free to have a bigger impact.

[waterhead]

It will be interesting to find out if any of the freshman are ready to play Big East ball. From the sounds of things Mick is pretty high on Mitchell being ready to roll as is. He says the rest have some work to do or some muscle to put on. With that in mind I am guessing the opening day starting lineup will be Hyranciuk, Williams, Williamson, Mitchell, and Vaughn. Mick made mention of Mitchell providing him the opportunity to move Vaughn back to his NATURAL position of PG. That says it all to me. I realize there is a lot of time and practice and improvement between now and the first game so maybe even Mick will be surprised by someone. I see about ten guys playing a lot.

[Bearcat_DF]

Not seeing half these guys play - I'll still give a shot at next years rotation (assuming all 13 suit up):

I think Tom has made a pretty good start. The only change I see is that Williamson and Sikes will log more minutes on the front line than on the wing.

PG - Vaughn (32), Warren (20)
SG - Mitchell (25), Gentry (15)
WF - Williamson (25), Henry (10)
PF - Williams (28)
C - Sikes (25), Adam H (10), McClain (10)

Early observations - Vaughn is the best pg we have and though I have commented before that I do not think he is a natural pg, I think he will be solid. He will be helped with a better cast.

It looks like a lot of this teams success will rely on Mitchell being able to step in and play right away.

Also, a key question will be the front court. From what I have read, I do not think Adam H or McClain as a freshman is going to be the answer to our front line next year. So, I see Williamson, Sikes, and Williams logging the most minutes in the 4 & 5 spots with Adam and McClain having supporting roles. Hope I'm wrong on this one.

It will be interesting to see who emerges as the starting 3 - I'm not sure Sikes or Williamson will be very effective. Given the other talent, I can imagine Mitchell at the 3 with Warren at the point and Vaugn at the 2.

(Belton, Davis, and Bishop unhappy campers - there are only 200 minutes.)

Go Cats!
DF

[solomon33]

Keeping in mind that I haven't seen MClain play either, if we are relying on Sikes to log the majority of the minutes this season at the center position then all the optimism that we are displaying will be for not. While I do like Sikes ability to score the basketball, as coach used to say, he is more of a 3/4 than being anywhere near ready to be a center in the BEast! If Adam H. and Biggie can't push him away from the center spot in the lineup then they are not nearly as good as I think they will be...hopefully it doesn't come to that but from the footage that i have seen of Adam H. and the hype about Biggie defensively they will be playing a lot more than 10 minutes a game.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Keeping in mind that I haven't seen MClain play either, if we are relying on Sikes to log the majority of the minutes this season at the center position then all the optimism that we are displaying will be for not. While I do like Sikes ability to score the basketball, as coach used to say, he is more of a 3/4 than being anywhere near ready to be a center in the BEast! If Adam H. and Biggie can't push him away from the center spot in the lineup then they are not nearly as good as I think they will be...hopefully it doesn't come to that but from the footage that i have seen of Adam H. and the hype about Biggie defensively they will be playing a lot more than 10 minutes a game.

I doubt Sikes plays much, if any C minutes. Williams slides if Adam H or McClain can't play.

[Bearcat_DF]

I doubt Sikes plays much, if any C minutes. Williams slides if Adam H or McClain can't play.

Cronin had that option this past year. McGowan had demonstrated the ability to play in the post in his junior year. Yet, Cronin kept him at the 3 and then the bench late in the year. I could never understand why he didn't play Williamson and McGowan on the front line and Sikes at the 3. I do not remember that lineup very much.

I hope McClain can have a year like Thabeet at U Conn - 25 minutes/game, 6 reb, and 6 points per game. That would be great.

Sorry, I'm not sold on Adam H. Unfortunately, I see Sikes logging some minutes at the 5.

Go Cats!
DF

[The Loot Ninja]

Sikes will not get any Center minutes but here is my take on the lineup

PG Vaughn
SG Mitchell
SF Willamson ( Williamson is more of a 4 player than a 3 his shot is horrendous so look for him to dispell Williams at the 4 at times and possible Sikes or Henry moves into this postion with Williamson coming off the bench as the 6th man)
PF M. Williams
C McClain (He is a defensive presence in his frosh year they are only looking for him to rebound and block shots. He's not going to be a go to scorer they will already have them in the lineup with Williams and Vaughn May not start the season here but by the 2nd week of games if his defensive IQ is as good as advertised we should see him here.

PG Warren, possibly Bishop or Henry at desperate times
SG Gentry ( so up and down he will get PT because he knows the system and is long on the defensive end)
Bishop (May get some time at SF also that way Henry gets his PT and Williamson can play the 4 to give Williams some rest.)
Davis (Looks like he's the odd man out. coming off injury he may just be the mopup man or possibly brought in to be a zone buster)
SF Henry Sikes and Bishop
PF Belton ( Good body to move people around in the lane looks to be a defensive presence and rebounder won't be looked to score a whole lot but to dispell the big men when they need rest
Sikes
C Adam H (More of a scorer than a defensive presence so he would be very good in the backup role but might start to begin the season because he knows the system but before long McClain should be manning the middle due to his defense.


Can't wait until we get to see them in action then we could make much more accurate predictions. But im excited to have a team with so many interchangable parts in the equation. It's much better than having walk-ons play decent minutes.