For a new guy like me... Topic

rogelio
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The quick & dirty method to project is to assume that "high" is about 23; "med" about 12; and low about 3.  If you used scouting reports, then you can identify between 5 categories of potential improvement.  There are many forum strings that point it out, but "Massive", "Tremendous", "Sky's the limit", & "Significantly" indicate categories that can be projected to about 30 points of improvement.  [I'll let you look elsewhere in the fora for the precise potential ranges.]

The most important bit of advice is about O & D IQ.  You're running flex & man.  IMHO, man defense requires good DE ratings even in D3.  That makes Wilson somewhat marginal even with the "high" in ATH and Lovejoy a liability on the defensive end.  It is not easy to switch defense and I would never advise switching offense (change teams instead).  You'll probably do better by standing pat, but make sure you practice IQs, at least at 20 each and possibly up to 25.

The biggest problem your team faces is the lack of a PG.  If you're willing to stick it out, then starting Thomas at PG and Brown at SG is the way to go as they will improve quickly with more minutes and starts, but it will be a bit tough while they learn.   Brown will be a stud, but for his defense.  Lovejoy will probably need to be your backup PG.  If you do start 2 freshman, then go ahead and start Howe as well.  In your 4th season, this team will be very strong, but not so much this season.

Finally, if you've already purchased an additional season, then hold a couple freshmen out of the first exhibition game and try to give them a redshirt.  If either Frye or Bien has big upside, then you could give them a shirt.   I wouldn't bother with Wilson as that 84 WE will make it easy to max out his ratings anyhow.

4/2/2012 12:54 PM
jbattaglia
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So I should start freshmen over better upper clansmen because my team will be average either way?
4/2/2012 1:01 PM
reinsel
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Yeah, if you are willing to kind of throw away a year, starting freshmen allow their work ethic to improve and they get closer to their potential faster by playing instead of just practicing.  But its tough to win starting a bunch of freshmen.  But if you are going to lose either way, lose with guys who will be back next year and can improve. 

The key gameplanning stuff is:

1)  Depth Chart - usuallly until you know what you are doing just go 10 deep with a starter and backup at each spot.
2)  Distribution and 3pt frequency.  Set bigs to -2, most others to -1/0/+1.  I have never set anyone to +2.  Don't give one player more than about 30% or they will have a lower FG%.  Use something like 25/20/15 for your top 3 options, maybe 15 for a bench scorer and then the remaining 20 on the role players.
3)  Team settings:  Tempo is important, if you are more talented, generally uptempo, if you are less, generally slowdown is better.  Play a +1/+2 if they shoot a lot of 3s, -1/-2 if they don't.  More extreme settings are possible, but generally not needed unless you find a weird team with no post game or more usually a PG that can't shoot and a SF playing SG.
4/2/2012 1:39 PM
jbattaglia
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Cool thanks
4/2/2012 1:49 PM
rogelio
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When you say "better", I would point out that overall rating can be deceptive.  WE & DUR do not show up on the court.  

Compare Lovejoy and Thomas.  Lovejoy has the much better overall rating, but that includes a difference of 26 points of WE and 66 points of DUR.  If you subtract out the sum of 92 from Lovejoy's overall, then you get the more direct comparison of 394 to 421.  Of factors that show up on the court, Thomas is better.  On top of that, he's faster, a better passer, nearly identical perimeter, a better defender, and more atheletic than Lovejoy.  The poor IQ ratings will hold him back in his first year, but even then, at least he knows the flex a little.
4/2/2012 4:33 PM
yanks250125
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i would say it's OK to set a guy to +2 if his speed and perimeter values are good (60+?) but athleticism is low (sub 40).  if his athleticism is high, he'll easily create more fouls, both getting to the line and getting the opponent in foul trouble.  I'm a huge fan of setting guys to +2...if he'll make 41% from 3pt range, why not shoot as many 3's as possible?
4/2/2012 5:40 PM
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