Philosophical question:
We are already at the point in the season where the W/L record has become irrelevant -- we are not good, and there is no evidence that (nod to Obelix) due to our recruiting over the past few years, we have the level of talent to "flip the switch" and start winning enough games this year to make anyone feel good about the season from a "left column/right column" perspective.
If you, as a coach, are trying to build the long-term "culture" of your program while positioning them to succeed in the future, is the correct action to take to play the younger players in an effort to get them to learn the system (a so-called trial by fire) in game settings more quickly, even if you may (a) forsake a handful of arguably "meaningless" wins; (b) lose by even more substantial margins than you may be losing today; and (c) be playing players who may not be performing the best in practice, who make more mistakes on the court, and who (may or may not) be showing less responsibility for the proverbial 'taking care of business' off the court; or do you have a "duty of care" to those players who (a) practice hardest, (b) can keep games closer due to their ability to minimize mistakes; and (c) fully live up to their responsibilities off the court?
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here, but I think there are implications for the long term success and direction of the program, both positive and negative, in both approaches.