Which game does Lathan become the starter?

[jeRseyguy1010]

It's pretty obvious to everyone by know that Lathan is our best option at center. So when does Pike finally make the switch? my guess is Sunday.

Let him get a start on the road against a cupcake before we really hit any tough away venues. I'm excited to see his growth throughout the rest of the year.

 

[littlenis5]

I actually don’t think he needs to start. Let him come off the bench to provide energy and scoring punch as he has been

 

[lion1983]

Maybe never ... Playing Ogbole for 3-4 minutes at the start of each half, and if he is capable during other parts of each half if RU needs a big body or if Sommerville has foul trouble.

This has 2 benefits (maybe it is still worth starting Sommerville - but there are some benefits not to do so):

1) It prevents Sommerville from picking up quick fouls at the very start of each half, saving him for potential minutes during the rest of the game.

2) It allows Sommerville to enter the game in each half well-rested, and play against either the other team's starting center when that player may be slightly more tired ... AND ... potentially have him matched up against the other team's BACK-UP center ... potentially creating more favorable match-ups for RU?

 

[seansherm]

Does it really matter, he's already playing starter minutes thus far. Much more important who Pike is going to turn to down the stretch of close games.

 

[RAC93]

Notre Dame in Vegas

 

[MadRU]

Won’t be before a loss at the earliest

 

[willisneverrana43]

Maybe never ... Playing Ogbole for 3-4 minutes at the start of each half, and if he is capable during other parts of each half if RU needs a big body or if Sommerville has foul trouble.

This has 2 benefits (maybe it is still worth starting Sommerville - but there are some benefits not to do so):

1) It prevents Sommerville from picking up quick fouls at the very start of each half, saving him for potential minutes during the rest of the game.

2) It allows Sommerville to enter the game in each half well-rested, and play against either the other team's starting center when that player may be slightly more tired ... AND ... potentially have him matched up against the other team's BACK-UP center ... potentially creating more favorable match-ups for RU?

I'm not sure either of these reasons makes sense. They're loaded with post-hoc justifications. As to 1, what difference does it makes if he starts the game and gets a quicky foul or comes in 4 minutes later having not played at all and gets a quick foul. His time in the game will be limited. As to 2, if someone's tired after 4 or 5 minutes and suddenly somehow susceptible to the freshly inserted Sommerville, well they're in the wrong game. Just as likely, or more likely, they're in the flow of the game, and he isn't. Or maybe Pike should just insert the whole team after 4 or 5 minutes, gain these benefits, and shake up the world.

 

[Rufaninga]

Lathan will need some rest each game. I don't care when he gets it as long as he gets some rest.

He will be doing lots of physical positioning against older/stronger centers during B1G season that's sure to wear him out.

He's also likely to hit the wall late in the season if his minutes are too high.

 

[Eagleton96]

He gets the most minutes. People seem to feel that because Lathan isn't the starter Pike isn't accepting the reality that Lathan>Ogbole. That's not true. There is no question it's Lathan. Pike think he works best coming in after 4-5 minutes. So as long as that's true it will stay this way.

 

[willisneverrana43]

He gets the most minutes. People seem to feel that because Lathan isn't the starter Pike isn't accepting the reality that Lathan>Ogbole. That's not true. There is no question it's Lathan. Pike think he works best coming in after 4-5 minutes. So as long as that's true it will stay this way.

My guess is that Pike is giving Ogbole the nod to start at this time just because he's the incumbent and to give him a chance, but as the season moves on Lathan will likely start getting the starts. Simple as that and not all that unusual.

 

[knight82]

I could have sworn I heard Pike say in a press conference after one of our games that he likes that Lathan can watch what's going on in the game before checking in.

 

[ScarletDave]

It’s a great strategy by Pike to do what he’s doing now. 1st off Ogbole is taller so helps us win the tip. 2nd off the refs like to blow stupid whistles in the first 2 posessions of a game so saves Lathan from BS foul. Third as others said he gets to go against slightly winded starter for a few mins + few mins against their backup. I like it.

 

[willisneverrana43]

. . . 1st off Ogbole is taller so helps us win the tip. . . .

In edit: Ogbole lost the tip to a smaller guy against Wagner.

 

[rubaseball78]

Don't start him and maybe he wins 6th man of the year award.

 

[Scangg]

The minutes were 23 to 6

There will be games we need Ogbole to play more though. He's not needed against these small schools without the size inside

 

[wheezer]

It's pretty obvious to everyone by know that Lathan is our best option at center. So when does Pike finally make the switch? my guess is Sunday.

Let him get a start on the road against a cupcake before we really hit any tough away venues. I'm excited to see his growth throughout the rest of the year.

I would leave it as is

 

[SKnight00]

Not necessary. Myles was also better off the bench.

 

[needmorecowbell]

It's pretty obvious to everyone by know that Lathan is our best option at center. So when does Pike finally make the switch? my guess is Sunday.

Let him get a start on the road against a cupcake before we really hit any tough away venues. I'm excited to see his growth throughout the rest of the year.

I like him coming off the bench especially in Big Ten play. It doesn’t really matter though.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Leave it as is.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

Lathan may hit that freshman wall at some point. Need to keep both guys fresh, if able.

 

[PaKnight]

Lathan may hit that freshman wall at some point. Need to keep both guys fresh, if able.

That is not necessarily impacted by who starts.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

That is not necessarily impacted by who starts.

Agreed.

 

[fatsam98]

I don't mind Ogbole starting, refs often give out soft fouls early. Let him pick those up.

Also, you don't want him in there at the end. But he's going to need to eat some minutes for us. So makes sense to get them out the way early from that perspective too

 

[fatsam98]

In edit: Ogbole lost the tip to a smaller guy against Wagner.

Against St Johns, Ace actually took the tip instead of Ogbole.

 

[Scangg]

Against St Johns, Ace actually took the tip instead of Ogbole.

Ace is long and quicker reactions. Wonder if we see him take the jump ball if he gets healthier

 

[wheezer]

Lathan may hit that freshman wall at some point. Need to keep both guys fresh, if able.

No need to put any more pressure on him either

A true freshman, he might feel he has to do more, self pressure on himself, and its not necessary