It’s the Lakers!
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Like, how could Pelinka NOT be there?
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Lineup projections always center on offense. What’s our best defensive lineup?
Probably the starters with Diabate in for Johns
Or maybe Williams in for Houstan
We don’t have a wonderful defensive option at the 3.
Diabate guarding the other teams 3 might work, but usually it wouldn’t make sense. Best defensive team is tough to define because it can be very matchup dependent, especially at the 4 spot where teams can be either very small or big. We also don’t know how much court awareness Diabate will have for guarding shooting 4s.
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Maybe but I DO know Johns’ defensive court awareness.
obviously defensive lineup depends on matchups. If you had to ask me to pick the lineup that could best defend any potential matchups I would go…
Jones/Brooks/Williams/Houstan/Diabate
Hunter is going to struggle against some teams that play more small ball and force him to chase on the perimeter, where as Diabate can probably do just fine inside or out.
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Off the top of my head I’m not imaging a ton of teams in conference that can punish drop coverage, or bigs that can pull Hunter out. Kofi, Edey or Williams aren’t that. Dunno if Maryland still has that one guy who was a backup, but that didn’t kill us. Not scared of Nance.
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In the Big Ten my opinion is that Hunter has to be on the floor for our best defensive lineup. I think Diabate could be a difference maker as a switchable, athletic, guy who’s excellent guarding forwards and from the help side. But we forget he’s still a skinny, somewhat undersized true freshman. Guys like Kofi, Travion, and TJD might be able to push him around a little. I’d swap Hunter for one of those forwards - which one I’m not sure - I like Williams toughness and effort, but I think Houstan’s length might make him a savvy defender this year.
EJ Liddell is back at OSU
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Point taken. He’ll be a problem. That said, Dickinson was a bigger problem for OSU than for most of the upper-tier teams in the league.
Liddel also is nominally a PF much of the time when Young is out there as well. I know there was discussion about whether Hunter would guard Young or Liddell though I believe he ended up mostly guarding Liddell. Worst case if he’s torching us we can switch up that matchup, but he did a good job on him though from what I remember
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Liddell did some damage, no doubt. But HD did more. Juwan tried the zone in the first half, then went back to HD on Liddell in the end, IIRC. Young and Livers guarded each other.
Heavy emphasis on the IIRC.
I took some skeptical positions on Hunter’s skill development in the predictions thread but I mostly just think he’s awesome regardless largely bc he’s an absolute force on the defensive end in drop and most teams just will not be able to do much about it. It’s not a good year for guards in this league. In particular re: OSU, even if both Young and Liddell are shooters this year, not convinced OSU won’t have dudes on the floor you can help off.
Can’t imagine Hunter off the court for defensive purposes unless Liddell is absolutely killing him, but even then… foul him out!
I think Diabate will get his minutes, but unless he beats out Johns, I think he will spend the vast majority of his time dunking on backups.
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Tschetter drive and kick is the future
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Looked like they were running ones and twos until I saw the 5th guy on the blue team was Jace Howard…? Maybe he was their sub. Otherwise I saw Davante, Eli, Houstan, Hunter vs. Frankie, Kobe, TWill, Moussa, Nunez
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Shout out to Eli Brooks! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELI!!! I hope you have an outstanding day today and EVERY day! It’s GREAT…to be…a Michigan Wolverine! Happy Birthday, man! 
OCTOBER 14, 1998
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Diabate looks like he has put in some work in the weight room. Johns has quite the shiner too
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Is it just me or does Johns have a shiner like once or twice a year? Also, I’m hoping we get to see pictures of the costume Phil is wearing tonight 
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