🏀 KuBuckets Archive

So I finally got to catch up with my buddy who is a manager for the basketball team.

He says the 4 guard lineup will be very real this season. Said they've been working on it a lot.

This begs the question, are we that talented at the guard positions?

Or are we that thin in the post after Lando and CB?

@Kcmatt7 Self said recently they have to be careful with Udoka's body because he is so young.

So for talent we can really count on, there is more at the guard positions.

Maybe Self is thinking matchups too, since most everyone else is smaller this year?

If this is indeed true, it will be very beneficial this season. UConn in 2014 was very hard to guard because they put their max amount of mobility on the floor with Boatright, Napier, Samuel, Daniels and Giffey. That is a small lineup but very skilled and fast. Obviously, this is not something that Bill normally does, but I think Fred Hoiberg has opened his eyes to the possibility of what a small lineup could do. Only a week away fellas! (and ladies).

@ParisHawk It helps too that we have a rebounding machine and a 6'11 athlete that we can mix with it I guess...

I just am really excited to see if this is our first look when Bragg or Lucas get in foul trouble. Or if it becomes just something we do to get some momentum or change the pace of a game.

@HawkChamp I don't think it has anything to do w/Fred. We have a surplus of gifted guards so why not? Run!

@Crimsonorblue22 well, all I know is Fred has been in his office and discussed the advantages of such a lineup.

@Kcmatt7

Since Self said this I have thought its because we are that thin in the post and its to minimize weaknesses.

I think putting your best players on the floor is also important and we are in a situation to do that with our 5 perimeter players.

Think about the ISU matchup for just one minute. They will play no one over 6'8 all year. We could play all our guards 1-5 and matchup identically.

@BeddieKU23 sure sounds fun to watch! Play great D and get out and run, especially w/Bragg at 5

FWIW I hear our 4 guard line up will feature Svi/Jackson playing some 4 and Bragg at the 4-5 (30+MPG) and our guards soaking up the rest of the minutes with Lucas playing just above his last years MPG.

@Kcmatt7 I honestly could see where LL could play less than a year ago with the likes of Bragg and Udoka stealing his miniutes in a 4 guard line up.

@Kcmatt7

I think a lot of this relates to pace of the game and being able to score points.

A 4-guard lineup helps us keep the pace of the game up.

I'm thinking we will see a lot of this in pre-conference but I think we will settle in to a more traditional lineup in conference play and beyond. We will keep the 4-guard lineup as something we may go to sometimes later, too.

We don't have the horses to run 4-guards.

I recently heard Bill say that the idea is to keep 4 of his 5 guards on the floor because of their overwhelming talent. Josh is considered a guard.

But if you look at it, we only have 5 ready "guards." Hard to think we can count on supporting a 4-guard lineup throughout the year in constant use.