25-26 Best Defensive Lineup

[bucsrule8872]

Saw the Kam Williams interview where he was talking about how they would be really good defensively and then saw some videos from the media (namely Sleepers) reacting to this, so I started thinking about what would be our best defensive lineup. I’m thinking this is the lineup I want out there if we have the lead at the end of the game and need to get stops to seal the deal:

PG Aberdeen(6’5)
SG Oweh(6’5)
SF Williams(6’8)
PF Dioubate(6’7)
C Quaintance(6’9)

That’s an impressive defensive team, in theory. Could theoretically switch 1-5, though probably better switching 1-4 with JQ patrolling the paint.

Those guys have the length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to defend any team in the nation and make them have to work for a shot.

Thoughts?

[Joneslab]

Aberdeen jumps out in those short practice videos. Seems to have not only the length and size to be a good defender, but looks to have a kind of attitude of a stopper...something that was missing on last year's team, which was built more around offensive skill and versatility.

Quaintance if healthy should give us another dimension as well up front, but there were times last season where I thought Garrison had the potential to be a really good defensive player...so the one/two punch there should be pretty lethal. (Garrison's issue being obviously his mental consistency and staying focused.)

Pope's coaching is always going to lend itself to fast play, pushing the ball up, getting into those quick actions. So in that kind of system, defense will always take a toll simply because of the mentality of the way the team plays, the way they're taught in practice, etc.

Last year's team was interesting because of the way they drilled down into defense in the last 12-14 games and went from a truly bad defensive team to something pretty solid by year's end. So that shows when focused on, the staff can coach defense.

You wouldn't think given the makeup of the roster and our size--particularly at guard and wing--that this coming team would need to have a come to Jesus moment like that defensively. They should be very good.

[SportsFan]

Kind of surprising to see Jaland Lowe, who averaged nearly 2 steals per game last year (1.8, which is more than Butler averaged) not listed as the PG. I know he doesn't have ideal size, but hard to overlook 2 SPG.

[Joneslab]

Kind of surprising to see Jaland Lowe, who averaged nearly 2 steals per game last year (1.8, which is more than Butler averaged) not listed as the PG. I know he doesn't have ideal size, but hard to overlook 2 SPG.

I think the thought with Aberdeen is that his versatility and length *should* make him a very tough defender.

What's interesting is that last year we thought Oweh would be a defensive specialist. And he did draw the other team's best a lot simply because he was the best we had...but nobody saw him being the scorer he became.

Somebody on this team--probably more than one--will turn out to be the kind of player we say, "Wow, I had no idea he could do that." If you have a handful of those types...that's how you win titles.

[SportsFan]

I think the thought with Aberdeen is that his versatility and length *should* make him a very tough defender.

What's interesting is that last year we thought Oweh would be a defensive specialist. And he did draw the other team's best a lot simply because he was the best we had...but nobody saw him being the scorer he became.

Somebody on this team--probably more than one--will turn out to be the kind of player we say, "Wow, I had no idea he could do that." If you have a handful of those types...that's how you win titles.

I haven't seen enough of Kam Williams yet to say that I'd rather see him at the 3 and DA and Oweh at the 1 and 2....than go with Lowe, DA, Oweh, Mo and JQ. It's really between Lowe and Kam....the other 4 I feel pretty good about. But, like you said, that could change once I've seen all these guys in action. For all I know, Jasper Johnson might surprise the heck out of me and end up being a defensive specialist that we want on the court late in tight game situations.

[Pobilly]

Saw the Kam Williams interview where he was talking about how they would be really good defensively and then saw some videos from the media (namely Sleepers) reacting to this, so I started thinking about what would be our best defensive lineup. I’m thinking this is the lineup I want out there if we have the lead at the end of the game and need to get stops to seal the deal:

PG Aberdeen(6’5)
SG Oweh(6’5)
SF Williams(6’8)
PF Dioubate(6’7)
C Quaintance(6’9)

That’s an impressive defensive team, in theory. Could theoretically switch 1-5, though probably better switching 1-4 with JQ patrolling the paint.

Those guys have the length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to defend any team in the nation and make them have to work for a shot.

Thoughts?

Agreed. The 6th man would be Chandler.

[bucsrule8872]

Kind of surprising to see Jaland Lowe, who averaged nearly 2 steals per game last year (1.8, which is more than Butler averaged) not listed as the PG. I know he doesn't have ideal size, but hard to overlook 2 SPG.

I didn’t watch him last year, so all I have seen is highlights, which basically shows offense only, so I don’t know much about Lowe, especially defensively, but Sleepers talked about him being a liability on defense.

But playing for a weak team, where he was basically the offense, probably didn’t help his defensive play. I figure he put most of his energy into offense, so people aren’t seeing him as much of a defensive player.

Also, he doesn’t have much in the way of size. He is listed at 6’3, but is really under 6’2 (according to combine measurements). While that doesn’t mean much, I can see where people might worry about him guarding bigger players, especially if we switch.

The steals are nice, but could be misleading. He may gamble a lot. Like I said, I didn’t watch a single Pitt game last year (why would anyone want to watch a bad team in a weak conference, when you could be watching SEC teams slug it out?), so I really don’t know.

Aberdeen I did watch and I liked his defensive skills. A key reserve on a defense that finished top 10 in the country and won the whole stinking thing. He’s pretty good. And has the length and strength to defend multiple positions and switch 1-4, maybe 1-5.

I hope Lowe is a better defender than people are making him out to be, because I think he is going to be on the floor a lot because of his offense.

But if he is out of control on offense, shooting bad shots like he did at Pitt, and cannot play good defense, then Aberdeen is going to be the better choice at PG, especially when we need stops.

[bucsrule8872]

I haven't seen enough of Kam Williams yet to say that I'd rather see him at the 3 and DA and Oweh at the 1 and 2....than go with Lowe, DA, Oweh, Mo and JQ. It's really between Lowe and Kam....the other 4 I feel pretty good about. But, like you said, that could change once I've seen all these guys in action. For all I know, Jasper Johnson might surprise the heck out of me and end up being a defensive specialist that we want on the court late in tight game situations.

I agree, DA, OO, MD, and JQ should be the best four defensively, making it a question of who is in the fifth spot.

I need to see more of Lowe. I admit that, and more of Williams.

DA, OO, and MD are SEC level defenders. They played in the toughest conference probably in the history of the game and were successful. I saw all three play, and they play defense.

JQ played in the second best conference in the nation last year, and was on the All-Defensive Team for the Big 12. I have watched highlights of him and a lot of his highlights were on the defensive end. Smart people are saying he is special on the defensive end and from the highlights I have watched, I believe it.

Those four individually are good to great defenders.

So, who is better between Williams and Lowe? That’s the main question, like you said. I have only watched highlights for both, and the highlights were all of them scoring.

Williams is known for his defense, though. He is considered one of those “3 and D” guys that everyone covers these days. According to the experts, he can shoot the 3 and plays defense. He has great length at 6’8.

But keep in mind, he shined defensively in the AAC, not the SEC or even the ACC, so that could be misleading. He may get torched in the SEC, where players are stronger and faster overall.

Overall, I think if you are going to switch 1-5, or even 1-4, Lowe is more of a liability. Williams has the length you want.

Now this is just considering defense alone.

Lowe might not be as good on defense, but if he is great on offense, he might be worth keeping out there. We shall see once they start playing.

But looking solely at defense, on paper, Williams is the best option for the best defensive lineup, IMHO.

[bucsrule8872]

Agreed. The 6th man would be Chandler.

For sure.

And maybe you play him over Williams in certain situations or if Williams isn’t quite ready for SEC competition.

Chandler gives you another proven SEC level player as an option. And he played very well on the defensive end last season.

Also, he seems to be a slightly better ball handler than Williams.

I still like Williams purely from a defensive perspective, because of his length, but it might be Chandler as the better option.

I like the idea of having four proven SEC guys on the floor playing defense out there together with JQ anchoring the middle.

[bucsrule8872]

Aberdeen jumps out in those short practice videos. Seems to have not only the length and size to be a good defender, but looks to have a kind of attitude of a stopper...something that was missing on last year's team, which was built more around offensive skill and versatility.

Quaintance if healthy should give us another dimension as well up front, but there were times last season where I thought Garrison had the potential to be a really good defensive player...so the one/two punch there should be pretty lethal. (Garrison's issue being obviously his mental consistency and staying focused.)

Pope's coaching is always going to lend itself to fast play, pushing the ball up, getting into those quick actions. So in that kind of system, defense will always take a toll simply because of the mentality of the way the team plays, the way they're taught in practice, etc.

Last year's team was interesting because of the way they drilled down into defense in the last 12-14 games and went from a truly bad defensive team to something pretty solid by year's end. So that shows when focused on, the staff can coach defense.

You wouldn't think given the makeup of the roster and our size--particularly at guard and wing--that this coming team would need to have a come to Jesus moment like that defensively. They should be very good.

Great point about Garrison. I think he has potential and against teams with impressive size 1-5, we might even want to put him and JQ together. JQ can defend all over the floor, so you could use his speed and length out on the perimeter some and Garrison could man the paint.

Another option would be Moreno, who is being heralded as a shot blocker coming in. Put him in the paint and let JQ roam the perimeter and get weak side blocks.

Mo D would move to the 3, making us even longer with his 7’4 wingspan.

G Aberdeen(6’5)
G Oweh(6’5)
F Dioubate(6’7)
f Quaintance(6’9)
C Moreno(7’0)

That could be nasty.

How do you score against that kind of length?

You better hope you can shoot over it.

[KCKUKFan]

The best defensive lineup will be the starting five: Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Dioubate, Garrison/Quaintance.

[bucsrule8872]

The best defensive lineup will be the starting five: Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Dioubate, Garrison/Quaintance.

Hope so. If Lowe is good defensively and can be more efficient offensively, we are going to be cooking!