It was a fine interview, and revealed a lot about Pikiell's thinking and strategizing.
I am still sticking with my current prediction on rotation and minutes. If anything, Pikiell's comments reinforce ... though I might tweak a little here and there.
From a different thread - but will tweak and add comments after Pike's interview:
Guard - 2 Spots and 80 minutes:
Starter: Harper - 28 min ... Tweak: I know many are thinking he and Bailey play 30+ mpg, and maybe Williams also. I do not see it, not unless Acuff, Davis, Derkack and Hayes are mostly crap (like Fernandes and A. Williams)
Starter: J Williams - 23-25 min (he has shown a propensity with his intensity to pick up fouls - and you want him full intensity, so resting him is good) Tweak: As leader, that does not mean he gets more than 30 mpg ... with less riding on his shoulders, versus last season where they had less quality depth, he can play at the highest energy, give great defense and rebounding, drive to the basket and dish to Harper, Bailey, Martini, Hayes on the wing, etc. I still see less than 25 mpg for him, but an important 25 mpg.
Acuff - 18 - 20 min (volume and spark scorer off the bench - kind of like Hyatt, but at Guard - not a great defender)
J. Davis - 10-12 min (defensive specialist and pure PG ... the best defender on the team, IMO, rivalling McConnell in defensive potential, albeit 6'2" not 6'7" ... with that defense HAS to have a role). Tweak: Still probably not more than 12 mpg - unless his offense (meaning outside shot) really takes a step forward, but just because minutes are needed for Acuff and Derkack off the bench as well. Clearly Pikiell sees an important role for Davis, just not sure how he gets more than 12 mpg ... but he is not going to disappear either, based on Pike's comments.
Forward - 2 Spots and 80 minutes:
Starter: Bailey - 28 min (some time at the "4" when RU plays smaller and faster and wants 3 guards or 2 guards and 2 wings). Tweak: See above tweak on Harper ... he gets more than 28 mpg if: a) The depth players are poor performers, and b) if he does not have foul issues ... but both those things need to happen, IMO.
Starter: Martini - 20 min (he is in the shoot the open 3 from the kick out or doubles on the perimeter ... may play a few spot minutes at Center in certain match ups, and if foul trouble requires). Tweak: Not much, maybe a couple more minutes off Pike's comments, but at Center, not at the cost of Hayes or Derkack. See below ... if 5 mpg planned at Center, then 17-19 at Forward ... that leave 53 to 55 mpg for reserves Hayes, Derkack and Grant
Hayes - 10-12 min (pure shooter, like Martini - will come in FOR Martini at times). Tweak: Too light on minutes?
Derkack - 15-18 min (not a great shooter, but a scorer, athletic and defensive player of the year in a weak conference as a Soph ... actually has some upside development because he is only a Junior ... way too turnover prone to be 1 of only 2 guards on the floor IMO)
Grant - Spot minutes (for toughness, rebounding, if foul trouble and need a stronger forward in besides Derkack or Hayes)
Tweak on Forward: My math was faulty in my original post! I had 28 mpg for Bailey, 20 mpg for Martini, 10-12 mpg for Hayes, 15-18 mpg for Derkack, spot mpg for Grant and nothing for Dortch. But that only adds up to 73 - 78 mpg plus Grant/Dortch ... in other words missing 2 - 7 mpg ... to be split amongst those players (Bailey, Martini, Hayes, Derkack, Grant, Dortch and even Acuff) .
Center - 1 Spot and 40 Minutes:
Starter - Ogbole - 15 min (but only if shows improvement, in particular in hands- so he does not get so easily stripped or drop the ball - and in footwork so his fouls are reduced ... showed very good rebounding per minute, and best offensive rebounding per minute on the team last season, albeit in very limited minutes) ... at 15 mpg he might be able to average 3-4 ppg (mostly put backs or running the floor) and 5+ rpg, and decent post defense. Tweak: Maybe 12-15 mpg, not 15. Gonna stick with the 3-4 ppg and 5 rpg prediction.
Martini - spot minutes. Tweak: Maybe more than "spot" minutes - maybe planned minutes in specific rotations, against specific match-ups, plus when Sommerville and Ogbole both have foul trouble. Maybe 5 mpg planned?
Sommerville - 22 min (maybe more if can stay out of foul trouble ... more minutes than Ogbole, but off the bench ... some advantages coming off the bench to play fresh against other teams' starter, or against other team's back-up). Tweak: Gonna stay with this: The most minutes at center of any player, more than Ogbole, but not 25 MP.
UNKNOWN LAST PLAYER (Mikic?) - spot minutes or red shirt with emergency playing time.
I do not see a role for Dortch this season, even though he is supposedly a better prospect than Grant - he really is a WF, and described as Mag-like on Defense with more and better offensive skills coming into college than Mag ... potential starter or major contributor 2 years from now after Bailey is gone ... my speculation is he would be better off red-shirting, but I have zero inside information or knowledge that RU has any intent to do so.
Just my 2 cents.
