Opening Day Lineup Guesses (Nembhard Now in Mix)

[zagsfanforlife]

WOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW

What a time to be a zags fan. Already thought we were the most talented in the country and now we have a former mcdonalds AA joining our loaded backcourt. Fews rotations will be so interesting. What are our thoughts heading in to Thursday as the starting lineup to begin the season?

Nembhard- 6'5
Ayayi- 6'5
Suggs- 6'4
Kispert- 6'7
Timme- 6'10

I have no idea if that lineup would work as it has 4 guys that could be potentially considered a guard in it. However, I have zero idea which of Suggs, Nembhard or Ayayi you are not starting. Certainly have to start Kispert and Timme.

What do you all say? Thursday cant come fast enough.. all chips are in the middle.

[Mr Vulture]

I think they start with Suggs, Ayayi, Kispert, Watson, and Timme. Nembhard and Cook are primary rotation guys with Ballo getting some minutes as well. I think this hurts the minutes of Harris the most. Didn’t expect much out of Strawther, Arlauskas, or Zhakrov this year anyway (due to depth).


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[Grand Valley Zag]

WOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW

What a time to be a zags fan. Already thought we were the most talented in the country and now we have a former mcdonalds AA joining our loaded backcourt. Fews rotations will be so interesting. What are our thoughts heading in to Thursday as the starting lineup to begin the season?

Nembhard- 6'5
Ayayi- 6'5
Suggs- 6'4
Kispert- 6'7
Timme- 6'10

I have no idea if that lineup would work as it has 4 guys that could be potentially considered a guard in it. However, I have zero idea which of Suggs, Nembhard or Ayayi you are not starting. Certainly have to start Kispert and Timme.

What do you all say? Thursday cant come fast enough.. all chips are in the middle.

I think that'll be the starting (and crunch-time) lineup if Watson gets hurt again.

[hockeyzag]

WOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW

What a time to be a zags fan. Already thought we were the most talented in the country and now we have a former mcdonalds AA joining our loaded backcourt. Fews rotations will be so interesting. What are our thoughts heading in to Thursday as the starting lineup to begin the season?

Nembhard- 6'5
Ayayi- 6'5
Suggs- 6'4
Kispert- 6'7
Timme- 6'10

I have no idea if that lineup would work as it has 4 guys that could be potentially considered a guard in it. However, I have zero idea which of Suggs, Nembhard or Ayayi you are not starting. Certainly have to start Kispert and Timme.

What do you all say? Thursday cant come fast enough.. all chips are in the middle.

If Few wants to put the best players on the court that's the starting 5, however for defensive purposes I'd like to see Watson starting at the 4. Of course that means you have to sit one of Ayayi, Nembhard, or Suggs, and that is a decision I would not want to make.

[Kiddwell]

A few years back the Zags platooned at Center (Collins) and Power Forward (Tillie), both players brand new to the program. With Ayayi and Suggs seemingly the expected starters for months now, why not start them then platoon Nembhard and Cook? That is a scary proposition for opponents. Run, run, run! -- then as opponents gasp for air, put the second platoon in and -- run, run, run!

Kansas was supposed to have the advantage at experienced guards. Is that still true?




:]

[gonstu]

I think they start with Suggs, Ayayi, Kispert, Watson, and Timme. Nembhard and Cook are primary rotation guys with Ballo getting some minutes as well. I think this hurts the minutes of Harris the most. Didn’t expect much out of Strawther, Arlauskas, or Zhakrov this year anyway (due to depth).


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This has to be the starting lineup I’d guess. As some have mentioned in past though, closing lineup (in close games) more important than starting lineup.

[zagsfanforlife]

This has to be the starting lineup I’d guess. As some have mentioned in past though, closing lineup (in close games) more important than starting lineup.

which is so laughable its almost embarassing... 2 year starter and former Mcdonalds AA coming off the bench as a junior, along with a former 15 ppg scorer for St Joes as a senior.. haha. WOW

[Jedster]

This is what I was thinking. Watson is such a valuable asset on defense it's hard to sit him out. Splitting hairs, but if Watson's in, then Ayayi on the bench in my mind. IIRC, I think one area he needed to shore up was on defense. Really good reabounder, but needed work in other areas. I think that was also a focus for him from the NBA feedback. Boy, with this backcourt you could really press a lot (especially if Watson is in). Kinda reminds me of some of those FL State teams where they'd play 10 guys significant minutes. It was like a wave coming at you and when someone got tired a new one came in and not much drop off!

[Hogan]

Got to go with Watson. Kispert has never been a great rebounder

[hockeyzag]

Got to go with Watson. Kispert has never been a great rebounder

This.

[Reborn]

Now that Nembhard is eligible, Few has some really exciting choices to make. I'm sure he is drooling over the fact Nembhard can play now. I don't think it matters who starts this game, or the next few. I believe Few will be experimenting with a number of lineups. He needs to. And he has a lot of possibilities. The most interesting question will be, "Who's in at the end of the game?" And I have no idea who that will be. Let's see how they gel. Chemistry is so important in this game, and cohesiveness. Because of these factors, I believe Few will go with his veterans because they have played together the longest. So here's my starting lineup. Ayayi. Kispert, Suggs, Watson and Timme. Ballo in for Timme off the bench. We will see Kispert play some at the 4 in a four guard offense. Cook, Nembhard, Arlauskas and Harris off the bench. I"d like to see Swather get in also so we can see what he's like.

Go Zags

[DZ]

I do not see how they could start a game without Watson, Kispert, and Timmie on the floor.

Before Watson lost confidence in his shoulder, there were times - in his first 3-4 college games - that he was the best player on the floor. Provided Watson is full Watson, I don't see why he wouldn't often be the best player on the floor.

Kispert and Timmie speak for themselves.

I don't know as much about guards but so long as Suggs is ready, it's likely a battle between everyone left as a two guard. Probably a 3 pt specialist or defensive specialist.

[White lightning]

Got to go with Watson. Kispert has never been a great rebounder

Whatever!!! An unproven over a star.

Kispert is the most experienced/proven player on the team. Shot 44% from 3 and has improved on d every season. He came back from a probable pro career to take it all the way.

He's on a watch list for the best player in the nation. Started as a freshman on a Few team. Thats $ in my book. This kid showed up in the best shape he's been in as a zag ready to win the Natty.

Break out a white cane if you see differently.

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[zagsfanforlife]

Whatever!!! An unproven over a star.

Kispert is the most experienced/proven player on the team. Shot 44% from 3 and has improved on d every season. He came back from a probable pro career to take it all the way.

He's on a watch list for the best player in the nation. Started as a freshman on a Few team. Thats $ in my book. This kid showed up in the best shape he's been in as a zag ready to win the Natty.

Break out a white cane if you see differently.

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I think he was saying you have to start Watson along with Kispert because Kispert doesnt rebound well enough to play the 4.

[White lightning]

I think he was saying you have to start Watson along with Kispert because Kispert doesnt rebound well enough to play the 4.

Any starting lineup without Kispert would be questionable. I must need to work on my comprehension.

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[HenneZag]

Either way it shapes out Nembhard will get significant minutes. I also wonder how the practices have been organized with what players have more time running the system together. If Nembhard wasn't thought to play this year he may not have as much time with the so called starting rotation, idk just a thought.

[zag67]

If we go with two one of two ways.

First if we assume that they did not know Nembhard was going to play this year until now.
Then I think that you would see:
Timme
Ayaii,
Suggs
Kispert
Watson

If they did know that Nembhard was going to play then I think you might see Nembhard instead of Watson.

But either way you are going to see the other one plus Cooke, Ballo, and Harris will have solid minutes. I also think that many of the rest are also going to get many minutes.

[Mr Vulture]

I think Harris is going to have a hard time finding minutes in competitive games, just due to the depth. Even if they went with three guard lineups more than initially planned. I have to think he’s fifth in the guard group right now and likely the 9th option in rotation


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[FloridaZagFan]

This is just huge. Things never go perfectly throughout a season injuries, flu ect. Very fortunate!

[Zaglaw]

This:

I think they start with Suggs, Ayayi, Kispert, Watson, and Timme.

[CDC84]

I don't feel you can rule out that Nembhard has chosen to play right away because he doesn't want to miss out on playing on a possible national title team, regardless of how much playing time he gets. I have a hard time believing GU spent all that time to get Aaron Cook - who might be the best on ball defender GU has had since Quentin Hall. We must remember that the REASON why GU almost won the national title in 2017 was its DEFENSE. Last year's defense was a weakness on the team, and probably would have kept GU from winning it all.

[jazzdelmar]

The best five is Suggs, Nembhard, Kispert, Watty, Tims. Cook first off the bench.

[zag buddy]

Ayaii has made great strides since a very young freshman. I think he will be a team first star on this team.

[Mantua]

If Kansas has a great big man and two great guards, we need two bigs, a wing and two guards.

I don’t know about starters but at some point I would consider Timme and Watson changing up with Timme and Ballo plus Kispert, Suggs and Nembhard.

[Mr Vulture]

The best five is Suggs, Nembhard, Kispert, Watty, Tims. Cook first off the bench.

I think there’s clear top seven guys in rotation. We could all debate who’s in what order but all seven are good enough to start. I’d go with what I’ve already posted and would rotate in Nembhard and Cook often with varied groupings. After those seven we will likely see Ballo as we need a third big that can play (10-15 minutes) a bit.

It’s going to be real tough to get minutes for Harris and Strawther this year due to the depth. Arlauskas and Zhakrov are unlikely to have much role this year barring injury.


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