PG minutes might be similar, but those older teams had fresher help. Both games, 7 guys with at least 18 minutes.
Last night, only 5 plus 1 with 16 mins.
2015 looking gassed late. Only Setty & Campbell have full CBB experience of playing big minutes. Simmons, KK, Dartis, Block all inexperienced in that. I'd like Laster & Taylor to get more time with Block. Both have proved they can be valuable (especially on defense & rebounding)
I agree with that facet....I had been reading about the PG mostly and reflected on DJ and the massive minutes he logged from the time he was a frosh...and looked at his body type all 4 years marvelling at how he stayed healthy.
On this subject....the last 3 or 4 games I have watched Iowa and Iowa State have looked run down and stale. I think the season is wearing on both of them and a lot of it has to do with minutes logged. YOu are correct with the rotation shortening up....but you can also probably go back through threads on this board and find folks talking about shortening rotations to 7 players being a good thing. We never did get to Groce's want which was 10 players running in and out with no drop off. I am sure you can ...or maybe pre board crash....find a thread talking about that concept was untenable and would not give kids the timie to get into the flow of the game. I think it is a balance, keeping kids in the rotation snd fresh and being competitive every game. I think we are a bit worn down. I think next year will be an expanded rotation and will pay dividends.
I think you are definitely right about next season. You'll obviously subtract Setty from the mix, but with a year under their belt....Saul has the option of having a pretty deep rotation next year if he chooses (still a little thin at PG, but hopefully someone incoming can spell Simmons from time-to-time if needed)
Simmons
Campbell
KK
Dartis
Block
Mompremier
Taylor
Laster
Gollon (hopefully can give them 5 mins a night????)
Harley (maybe has an attitude adjustment similar to Setty in '15 & can contribute)
Dozier (coming off what I'm guessing is a redshirt year...maybe contribute???)
+ incoming freshman/JUCOs
That's 11 guys at minimum that have been in the program 2-3 years. Depth shouldn't be much of an issue, I'd think in 2016-17....which hopefully leads to a less worn down team come March.
Tired or not...if they can get hot for three nights in Cleveland, there is a chance (assuming they don't stumble in Oxford Friday.....then things get really murky)
Regardless....it's at least nice to be back to (at worst) competing in the tourney after what we saw in 2014-15