Are we set up to platoon a three guard offense next year?

[JIHawg]

We have two experienced point guards going into next year for the first time in forever.  So Durham and Beard would be the point guards.  We have two shooting guards in Hannahs and Bell.  The third guards would be Watkins and Whitt.

Anderson can experiment with combinations to come up with a balance of scoring and defense amongst the threesomes.  For instance, each threesome should have one defensive stopper, and one three point shooter.

The front court twosome would come from Kingsley, Miles, Thompson, Kapita, and Williams.  Again, a balance of scoring and defense and rebounding.  One defensive specialist/rebounder on each twosome, one player who can produce some inside scoring.

We would not match up well with the big teams, but not many in the SEC are that big besides Kentucky.  With our system, we could still beat a lot of teams in the SEC.

This is all predicated on existing players committing themselves to becoming better in all phases of their games.  That's what Anderson has to sell, and playing time is the carrot.

[Hawg Red]

Don't see any way around a lot of 3-guard lineups next season. We only have 4 forwards on the team, as it stands right now. 4 forwards and 1 center or 3 forwards and 2 centers, depending on what you count Trey Thompson as.

[WarPig88]

A 3 guard lineup isn't a bad thing.

We won a NC playing one. Next season's team has a chance to be the best outside shooting team MA has had so far. They will have to be good on the perimeter to have any hope of a good year.

[RazorPiggie]

Yes we should.

[Bacon_Bitz]

We really don't have any other choice!

[Hawg Red]

A 3 guard lineup isn't a bad thing.

We won a NC playing one. Next season's team has a chance to be the best outside shooting team MA has had so far. They will have to be good on the perimeter to have any hope of a good year.

If Bell can put together consistency and doing the other non-3 point things he's shown flashes of the last two seasons, and Durham can turn that JUCO corner (looked like he settled down a lot late in the season), we'll have a good guard rotation. That's assuming Whitt can come in perform somewhat similarly to Patrick Beverley, Courtney Fortson, and B.J. Young as freshmen and that Manny can guard opposing SFs.

We don't have tall guards, though, and that's where losing Babb hurts. At 6'5, he'd have made a 3-guard lineup much more doable. Shame he didn't wait a couple of weeks. Might be our starting SF/big guard right now.

[HawgAdvocate]

A 3 guard lineup isn't a bad thing.

We won a NC playing one.

That '3rd guard' on the NC team just happened to be 6'6" & 210lbs.

[WarPig88]

That '3rd guard' on the NC team just happened to be 6'6" & 210lbs.

What about the 2nd tier rotation guys?

Crawford was a big guard, Dillard small, Rimac was a perimeter player as well at 6'7".

Point is, that NC team played almost exclusively a 3 guard rotation and won at a high level.

Next season's team won't have that kind of talent, but if they just made the round of 32 they would be short of the NC team and no one is claiming that they will be that good.

The notion that you will suck if you play 3 guards is not really a worrisome situation at all.

[HawgAdvocate]

What about the 2nd tier rotation guys?

Crawford was a big guard, Dillard small, Rimac was a perimeter player as well at 6'7".

Point is, that NC team played almost exclusively a 3 guard rotation and won at a high level.

Next season's team won't have that kind of talent, but if they just made the round of 32 they would be short of the NC team and no one is claiming that they will be that good.

The notion that you will suck if you play 3 guards is not really a worrisome situation at all.

A wing/SF can also play on the perimeter, as could an occasional post player like Dwight Stewart. But if you're going to play a '3 guard' lineup, it helps immensely when your guards have size/length.

Right now, we don't have size/length on the perimeter.

[The_Iceman]

We have two experienced point guards going into next year for the first time in forever.  So Durham and Beard would be the point guards.  We have two shooting guards in Hannahs and Bell.  The third guards would be Watkins and Whitt.

Anderson can experiment with combinations to come up with a balance of scoring and defense amongst the threesomes.  For instance, each threesome should have one defensive stopper, and one three point shooter.

The front court twosome would come from Kingsley, Miles, Thompson, Kapita, and Williams.  Again, a balance of scoring and defense and rebounding.  One defensive specialist/rebounder on each twosome, one player who can produce some inside scoring.

We would not match up well with the big teams, but not many in the SEC are that big besides Kentucky.  With our system, we could still beat a lot of teams in the SEC.

This is all predicated on existing players committing themselves to becoming better in all phases of their games.  That's what Anderson has to sell, and playing time is the carrot.

I doubt those will be the only guys on the roster next year. There will be some additions.

[mbgrulz]

We just won 27 games with a 3 guard lineup IIRC.

I agree though...Need some length. Need to add a 6'6" wing, and preferably, one that can shoot. 

[WarPig88]

A wing/SF can also play on the perimeter, as could an occasional post player like Dwight Stewart. But if you're going to play a '3 guard' lineup, it helps immensely when your guards have size/length.

Right now, we don't have size/length on the perimeter.

That is a fact. We would not only be a three guard lineup, but a small three guard lineup.

This team will have to shoot very well to have any hope of making the tourney next season with the lack of size on the perimeter.

I always felt that was the downfall of Pelphrey here. He recruited too many small guards to play against SEC teams loaded with guys 6'4"+ on the perimeter.

[Hawg Red]

We just won 27 games with a 3 guard lineup IIRC.

I agree though...Need some length. Need to add a 6'6" wing, and preferably, one that can shoot.

Qualls was a college SF. You could totally call him a guard, no argument there. But he's 6'6 and played a lot like a SF at times. We truly will have a 3-guard lineup next season. I think Manny might be the tallest guard. Maybe Whitt, too. Luckily Whitt has a freak wingspan.

[mbgrulz]

Qualls was a college SF. You could totally call him a guard, no argument there. But he's 6'6 and played a lot like a SF at times. We truly will have a 3-guard lineup next season. I think Manny might be the tallest guard. Maybe Whitt, too. Luckily Whitt has a freak wingspan.

I consider a SF a guard. I guess its just splitting hairs really.

[TRUHOG718]

I wouldn't be opposed to a 4 guard lineup. That 06 Villanove team was one of my favorite non Hog tournament teams. Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Kyle Lowry, and Nardi gave teams fits that year running and gunning until running into a juggernaut Florida Squad with Noah, Horford, Brewer and co.

[Biggus Piggus]

You are going to see a lot of four guards + a post player. Probably rotating Kingsley and Thompson down low. Kapita can be a face-up power forward when he is ready to play. Question is when he will be ready to play, then how much. Jacorey Williams will have to play at the four. Keaton Miles - will he play? If so, he would be a 3 or a small 4. The team really needs a 3 who has some offensive skills.

At guard, Jimmy Whitt better be ready to go. Among the guards, the only one with any size and muscle is Watkins. They could use somebody on the wing to help them out, add some rebounding and ability to match up with opponents who play only two guards.

I hope Portis and Qualls have no illusions about what state they left Arkansas basketball in.

[HawgAdvocate]

You are going to see a lot of four guards + a post player.

"40 Minutes Without a Post Presence is back, baby!"



Do you happen to know for certain if Kapita is qualified? I can't seem to get confirmation on this.

[Biggus Piggus]

Do you happen to know for certain if Kapita is qualified? I can't seem to get confirmation on this.

Some folks cast aspersions about his amateur status, but only rumors.

[TheRazorbackGuy]

"40 Minutes Without a Post Presence is back, baby!"



Do you happen to know for certain if Kapita is qualified? I can't seem to get confirmation on this.

+1 HA

[lefty08]

Isn't whitt bringing a 7 foot wingspan? Watkins is 6'3" and bell is skinny but pretty long, I wouldn't call us small by any means. We aren't '14 Kentucky big but who is?

[Biggus Piggus]

Isn't whitt bringing a 7 foot wingspan? Watkins is 6'3" and bell is skinny but pretty long, I wouldn't call us small by any means. We aren't '14 Kentucky big but who is?

Need someone who can match up on the wing with the strong/quick 6-6 types.

[mbgrulz]

Isn't whitt bringing a 7 foot wingspan? Watkins is 6'3" and bell is skinny but pretty long, I wouldn't call us small by any means. We aren't '14 Kentucky big but who is?

Yea, were not Pelphrey era, 3 6' guards at once, small, but were a little under-sized. As has been said...need to add 1 or 2 6'5"-6'7" wings.

[psooie]

"I hope Portis and Qualls have no illusions about what state they left Arkansas basketball in."

agreed, not sure i get all the love letters to them on this site. Hogs went from a possible final four team with all the juice to land great recruits in the fall. Now it looks NIT with the coaching staff scrambling to find players this spring with not much mo for the fall class. Coach A will get a full pass next season but come 2016-17 the heat will be on if he has gone 5 years with only 1 tourney bid. 

[JIHawg]

"I hope Portis and Qualls have no illusions about what state they left Arkansas basketball in."

agreed, not sure i get all the love letters to them on this site. Hogs went from a possible final four team with all the juice to land great recruits in the fall. Now it looks NIT with the coaching staff scrambling to find players this spring with not much mo for the fall class. Coach A will get a full pass next season but come 2016-17 the heat will be on if he has gone 5 years with only 1 tourney bid. 

I think our gut instincts told us they were both gone.  Might as well wish them well.  We want to be a school in the future in which one and dones and two and dones consider us.

[WorfHog]

"I hope Portis and Qualls have no illusions about what state they left Arkansas basketball in."

agreed, not sure i get all the love letters to them on this site. Hogs went from a possible final four team with all the juice to land great recruits in the fall. Now it looks NIT with the coaching staff scrambling to find players this spring with not much mo for the fall class. Coach A will get a full pass next season but come 2016-17 the heat will be on if he has gone 5 years with only 1 tourney bid.

Portis and Qualls don't owe Arkansas anything, they put in their time as Hogs. The fans should thanks them and wish them well.  You guys are delusional.

[hogman99]

What about the 2nd tier rotation guys?

Crawford was a big guard, Dillard small, Rimac was a perimeter player as well at 6'7".

Point is, that NC team played almost exclusively a 3 guard rotation and won at a high level.

Next season's team won't have that kind of talent, but if they just made the round of 32 they would be short of the NC team and no one is claiming that they will be that good.

The notion that you will suck if you play 3 guards is not really a worrisome situation at all.

They also had a great post player in Williamson, great/consistent shooter in Thurman and a great floor general in Beck.  Guess what? Ain't nobody on the list above come close to any of them. Prepare for a long year of would have, could have, should have conversations.

[Biggus Piggus]

Portis and Qualls don't owe Arkansas anything, they put in their time as Hogs. The fans should thanks them and wish them well.  You guys are delusional.

Don't get upset. They can do what they want. They just acted as though they cared.

[Marshfieldhog]

To be honest they screwed over Anderson UNLESS they were up front about leaving for sometime. Anderson shares some blame but Qualls and Portis stuck it to him.

[Danny J]

To be honest they screwed over Anderson UNLESS they were up front about leaving for sometime. Anderson shares some blame but Qualls and Portis stuck it to him.

Blunt but honest.

[WorfHog]

Don't get upset. They can do what they want. They just acted as though they cared.

I am not upset, I'm happy for Portis and Qualls, and I'm optimistic about what Mike will be able to do next year. It's the anti-Mike crowd that's upset, but they've been upset since he was hired .

[Biggus Piggus]

To be honest they screwed over Anderson UNLESS they were up front about leaving for sometime. Anderson shares some blame but Qualls and Portis stuck it to him.

They were not up front about it until the postseason. Remember when Arkansas suddenly was reported to be offering people?