Dig into it and speculate. Let’s talk about depth also. Bowen, Ulis, Perkins, McCaffery. It’s always a key position and a bit off an unknown with some new faces and possibilities.
Who’s our Point Guard this year?
- Thread starter hawksense
- Start date
I am going with Caitlin.
Hopefully she can adjust to 29.5.
Hopefully she can adjust to 29.5.
Seriously....I think the ball is brought up by Ulis more often than not...then I think the ball is dispersed like a PG by committee. Lot of intelligent players that just happen to not be a natural 1.
Would be nice to see something happen and either Bowen or Ulis turn into an amazing PG that can run the show.
Personally I would rather see the offense run through Connor.
Would be nice to see something happen and either Bowen or Ulis turn into an amazing PG that can run the show.
Personally I would rather see the offense run through Connor.
👋
I would love to see someone come on that is an actual PG that can see the defense and read it with one hand in his face and another body blocking a third of the court view.
Would love it.
Until I see that happen I do like the idea of someone who has serious basketball smarts with the ball in his hand.
I suspect Bowen will be starting PG by the time B1G rolls around. Just my gut, no inside info.
I think Ulis starts game 1 against Bethune-Cookman. Whether he keeps that role or relinquishes it up to Bowen is entirely dependent on how much confidence Ulis has in himself and if his jumpshot has improved this offseason.
Haven't really seen Dasonte get downplayed in any of the interviews I've heard yet. Courtney was talking in his media interview how he can do things no PG could do before since he's been here. It'll be interesting to see if there's a catch. I've heard turnovers, but that's vague and could mean many things.
Ahron's turnover rate in conference play was around 15% which is pretty good for a primary ballhandler. His FT rate was actually amongst guards in the B1G. Matches the eye test that he's a technical dribbler and can get to the rim. It's weird that someone at 6"3' would be so poor from 2. It screams eventual regression to the mean, but maybe it's just not who he is.
I'd guess Dasonte.
Ahron's turnover rate in conference play was around 15% which is pretty good for a primary ballhandler. His FT rate was actually amongst guards in the B1G. Matches the eye test that he's a technical dribbler and can get to the rim. It's weird that someone at 6"3' would be so poor from 2. It screams eventual regression to the mean, but maybe it's just not who he is.
I'd guess Dasonte.
If Perkins has tightened his handle, I could see him at pg with Sandfort at the two.
I’m guessing Ulis to start the year and we’ll see from there…..that said, on this team I don’t think a PG needs to put up a lot of points…
They need to:
Play good defense.
Have limited turnovers.
Facilitate the offense.
Be a scoring threat both from 3 and getting to the rim.
I think Ulis fits that bill….Connor could fit that bill….
If Bowen can limit turnovers and master facilitating the offense…..he could add dynamic play making that the other two don’t bring…how long until he masters the offense and gets his game under control?
They need to:
Play good defense.
Have limited turnovers.
Facilitate the offense.
Be a scoring threat both from 3 and getting to the rim.
I think Ulis fits that bill….Connor could fit that bill….
If Bowen can limit turnovers and master facilitating the offense…..he could add dynamic play making that the other two don’t bring…how long until he masters the offense and gets his game under control?
My guess is Ulis is our primary point guard. Bowen backs him up and also spends some time at the 2. He can get shots and sometimes we will need him to do that.
Ran a lot of offense through Jess Settles, and that was with a great point guard.
Ulis struggled hard down the stretch but he also showed a lot of skill throughout the season. Missing the easy twos has to be tough. This is the point where we'll know if Ulis is kind of a bust. I think he'll be pretty good. Very big shoes to fill.
Tony didn't show much floor vision. A few nice passes. Connor would probably be the best choice if, big if, he could hit enough shots to keep the defense offense. I'm guessing no but that would be the ideal.
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I think Ulis is the starter at PG to begin the season but Dasonte might eventually win the starting job. Fran is really high on Dasonte.
Both should see a lot of minutes, whatever happens.
Both should see a lot of minutes, whatever happens.
I like Connor, but he should be a GA by now. He is better off suiting up in a 3 piece imported from Italy, not a jersey and shorts imported from Bangladesh.
Bowen gets the reigns from Day1 because his strengths outweigh his inexperience. He has the most upside of our PG'S, and Connor has the IQ and talent to fill in where needed. I do hope we see Ulis finally elevate his game.
Ulis will begin the year as our starter, how the point guards play will determine who the starter is going forward. Fran likes to start the same guys so we will see how it plays out. Ulis will need to bring his game up a notch or 2 to remain as the starter.
A pg needs to be able to go around anyone playing close enough to have a hand in their face.
Fran will hand him the keys. We'll see how well he can drive the car.
Not saying he's regularly going to be driving in and scoring...but he has the ability to at least be a threat there. He made a great play in the B10 championship game against Purdue (not from the PG spot)....but he has the size and strength to take people in some instances.
Not a bash, but Connor is absolutely no threat to go to the rim. Saying he hit one basket off a rebound in one game doesn't change that. Including that shot, he hit a grand total of 3 2 point shots last year and none of those that I can recall were off the drive.
Actually on that shot he drove in from the right side, started outside the 3 point line...but I get your point. I'm saying he has to be a threat...and that he is....not that he will be driving to the basket often.
I like Connor…. His podcast has made me a fan of all the McCafferys……I’ve said many times I was a wrestler and do not know shite about the game of basketball…. Just have always watched the Iowa teams
to my untrained eye he’s like the bball version of the Hansen brothers from slapshot….. he changes the flow of the game when they need some toughness
to my untrained eye he’s like the bball version of the Hansen brothers from slapshot….. he changes the flow of the game when they need some toughness
If CMacshoots the 3 like he was down the stretch last tear, I would be in favor of him getting his minutes. But I do want to see what Ulis can do with regular minutes at the point. And eventually Bowen, too.
In your dreams🙂
I hope whoever starts at the point wins the competition for it instead of being the best bad alternative.
Couple of things here. Obviously Connor’s health is kind of key here. Guessing it will be better after a full off season and no baseball. Ulis is a little like Joe T. Above average defender, at this point below average jumper and below average 3 point shooter. If he struggles will Fran have the quick hook like he did for Joe? Will Ulis look over his shoulder waiting for Connor to take his place? Will Bowen be ready from day 1? I would have like for Connor to move on and let Ulis and Bowen develop. I think Fran will give minutes to Connor down the stretch and will be surprised if it’s another way.
This ^^^ I guess. I want the starter to be that dam good of a point guard and not be starting just because he causes the least amount of damage.
Definitely rooting for Ulis to turn that corner. Kid has put his time in and waited his turn.
Ulis (23) Connor (14) Bowen (3). I see Ulis' minutes highly dependent on his ability to limit TOs. Connor will take those minutes to settle things down if/when needed and maybe finish close games. Those minutes won't go to Bowen until he has proven himself consistently in practice and after some real game reps.
Last year it seemed many were saying the same about Bohannon.
Yep. And I was one of them. And I’ll be honest I don’t see how this plays out a whole lot differently than Joe T. In my opinion they are kind of the same player. Ulis above average defender, but not a great finisher (so far) or 3 pt threat (again, so far). If Connor is in at the end of games, which I think will happen, I guess I see a good chance Ulis would be unhappy and moves on. Guess that’s called competition and we would move on with Bowen and our Harding ? For the following year.
My guess is Ulis starts in November but is replaced by Bowen prior to Christmas.
Bowen is more of a true PG than Ulis in the sense that he's a more fluid penetrator with unselfish passing, but can also hit the perimeter 3 at a higher rate than Ulis. Ulis does have experience and strength, but that will only get him so far because teams will play off him which hurts our overall team spacing. So it should be 25 minutes for Ulis and 15 for Bowen in November, and then flipped around in January imo. In some scenarios Bowen could start on Day 1.
I'm ok with Perkins bringing the ball up at times, but in general see it this way:
PG: Bowen 25, Ulis 15, Connor 0
SG: Perkins 25, Dix 10, Sandfort 5, Nimmers 0
SF: Patrick 25, Sandfort 15
PF: Murray 25, Connor 15
C: Rebraca 20, Mulvey 15, Murray 5, Ogundele 0
If Dix isn't ready then Sandfort or Connor can put time in at SG but I don't think defensively that's a great position for him to guard B10 players at.
Connor likely deserves more than 15 mpg, so may depend on Dix's role.
Sandfort is a stud on offense so I expect him to get at least 20 mpg.
Bowen is more of a true PG than Ulis in the sense that he's a more fluid penetrator with unselfish passing, but can also hit the perimeter 3 at a higher rate than Ulis. Ulis does have experience and strength, but that will only get him so far because teams will play off him which hurts our overall team spacing. So it should be 25 minutes for Ulis and 15 for Bowen in November, and then flipped around in January imo. In some scenarios Bowen could start on Day 1.
I'm ok with Perkins bringing the ball up at times, but in general see it this way:
PG: Bowen 25, Ulis 15, Connor 0
SG: Perkins 25, Dix 10, Sandfort 5, Nimmers 0
SF: Patrick 25, Sandfort 15
PF: Murray 25, Connor 15
C: Rebraca 20, Mulvey 15, Murray 5, Ogundele 0
If Dix isn't ready then Sandfort or Connor can put time in at SG but I don't think defensively that's a great position for him to guard B10 players at.
Connor likely deserves more than 15 mpg, so may depend on Dix's role.
Sandfort is a stud on offense so I expect him to get at least 20 mpg.
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