Long post ahead, hodgepodge of ideas on how to try to be competitive...
4 out: Trent, Ayo, Damonte, Kipper, AJ, AG, Tev, Feliz
High post: Kane, Giorgi, Kip, Damonte (has some feel to his game that make me want to see him try it)
Matchup fun high post: Trent, Ayo, Feliz
Offensively: If our guys can hit open 3s this year, I will not be concerned as much offensively. This offense can function at a very high level with 5 guards which at this point is our best offensive lineup. I think you start with Kipper manning the high post till we switch out for favorable matchups. Why Ayo, Feliz and Trent? Getting your best players the ball in that spot is very difficult to guard. You put an aggressive scorer in there like Trent, or crafty finisher (Ayo) or facilitator (Feliz), and you can hurt some teams. Again, gotta hit the open 3s those looks can create, which can be possible because with 5 guards on the court, you’re not sacrificing a perimeter spot to expose a matchup at the high post. If Kane or Giorgi are in you’re a little more traditional and hope to get what you can. Probably some lobs to samba and some good facilitating from giorgi.
Defensively: This is where it gets creative and crazy, but mostly crazy. If I’m BU I’m offense/defense with my bigs literally the entire game. They’re not ready to help enough on offense and the worst thing that could happen at this point is an offensive foul. I’m also playing a lot of zone to save them from themselves as defensive freshman bigs. I realize that strategy is insane and not doable vs good shooters, but it’s the bed were sleeping in right now. Man when you have to. Play out full possessions all man or all zone at times, and at others in late shot clock switch zone to man or man to zone as a wrinkle to help kill those last 10 seconds. Hope to confuse the other team or make them stagnant.
If we’re in live action with 5 guards on defense I go full on Press Virginia. Speed it up like crazy and let those guys do what guards do. Hope the other team craps their pants and get a couple fast break dunks and 3s if you’re lucky. We’re gonna give up half court layups in that setup anyway, so there’s really not much difference in giving up layups off pressing if we can keep tempo and force a few turnovers. There’s enough depth to at guard to do it in spurts until you can get a big in for set defense.
The strength of our team is obviously the perimeter and by default as well, perimeter depth. Nothing about this ideal, but I figured I’d throw some ideas for fun and to be more constructive.