I've gone to a few more practices and I've been very impressed by how deep we are. If I had to guess, the depth chart may look something like this:
Center: Topalovic / Ingram
PF: Truman / McCord / Kimberley
SF: Chivichyan / Stutzman or Stutzman / Chivichyan (close call)
SG: Luzcando / Mocsan / Nakken
PG: Boyd / Dowd / Sutton / Garrity
A couple of other points:
1. What impresses me the most, is that the top two players at each spot have a legitimate argument that they are good enough to start. I think that Topalovic and Luzcando are the only two that have a starting position locked up, but their backups are going to push them and will provide very effective minutes. We have depth like we haven't had in many, many years.
2. Obviously, we are strongest at the Center and PF positions. They all bring something different to the table, and the interesting thing will be to see how Coach Evans mixes and matches all 4 players. In other years, Kimberley, the transfer from Australia, would probably push for playing time. He is very athletic for a big guy, but is still a little rough. With this lineup I think he will redshirt -- if he still has a redshirt year available.
3. Stutzman has to be awarded a hardship transfer to play immediately, but I understand that is at least a possibility. We should know in a few weeks. If he is eligible, he will definitely push Chivichyan and may actually be the starter. He brings some additional height, rebounding and defense, but obviously Gary is a lights out shooter when he gets going. If he isn't eligible, then Gary's backup may be an interesting issue. Maybe bring in Mocsan and go small, or McCord and go big on a few occasions.
4. Obviously we have some unresolved issues at the Point. My guess is that Boyd will start ahead of Dowd, but I may be wrong about that. Dowd's issue is going to be whether we can avoid having other teams take advantage of his lack of height -- particularly when we play man (which will probably be most of the time). But, he makes up a lot of inches in height with a motor that just doesn't stop. Boyd should be the starter, but he does have to develop a true point guard mentality and play better defense. I think everyone really likes Sutton as well, and Garrity is pretty iffy because of his knee. A lot of depth, but PG may be the one position where you want someone to just takeover and be the go-to guy. Not sure we have that person yet. In a dream world, Sam Dowd becomes that guy and Brandon plays more as a pure shooting guard, which is really his mentality.
5. All in all, I think we will be a much, much, much better team. Maybe that is one too many "muches," but you get the drift. With the football team's resurgence, it may turn out to be a pretty good year to be a Bengal.
Center: Topalovic / Ingram
PF: Truman / McCord / Kimberley
SF: Chivichyan / Stutzman or Stutzman / Chivichyan (close call)
SG: Luzcando / Mocsan / Nakken
PG: Boyd / Dowd / Sutton / Garrity
A couple of other points:
1. What impresses me the most, is that the top two players at each spot have a legitimate argument that they are good enough to start. I think that Topalovic and Luzcando are the only two that have a starting position locked up, but their backups are going to push them and will provide very effective minutes. We have depth like we haven't had in many, many years.
2. Obviously, we are strongest at the Center and PF positions. They all bring something different to the table, and the interesting thing will be to see how Coach Evans mixes and matches all 4 players. In other years, Kimberley, the transfer from Australia, would probably push for playing time. He is very athletic for a big guy, but is still a little rough. With this lineup I think he will redshirt -- if he still has a redshirt year available.
3. Stutzman has to be awarded a hardship transfer to play immediately, but I understand that is at least a possibility. We should know in a few weeks. If he is eligible, he will definitely push Chivichyan and may actually be the starter. He brings some additional height, rebounding and defense, but obviously Gary is a lights out shooter when he gets going. If he isn't eligible, then Gary's backup may be an interesting issue. Maybe bring in Mocsan and go small, or McCord and go big on a few occasions.
4. Obviously we have some unresolved issues at the Point. My guess is that Boyd will start ahead of Dowd, but I may be wrong about that. Dowd's issue is going to be whether we can avoid having other teams take advantage of his lack of height -- particularly when we play man (which will probably be most of the time). But, he makes up a lot of inches in height with a motor that just doesn't stop. Boyd should be the starter, but he does have to develop a true point guard mentality and play better defense. I think everyone really likes Sutton as well, and Garrity is pretty iffy because of his knee. A lot of depth, but PG may be the one position where you want someone to just takeover and be the go-to guy. Not sure we have that person yet. In a dream world, Sam Dowd becomes that guy and Brandon plays more as a pure shooting guard, which is really his mentality.
5. All in all, I think we will be a much, much, much better team. Maybe that is one too many "muches," but you get the drift. With the football team's resurgence, it may turn out to be a pretty good year to be a Bengal.
