Here is my returning team. I just took them over and I am not thrilled with any of them.

	Yr.	Pos.	A	SPD	REB	DE	BLK	LP	PE	BH	P	WE	ST	DU	FT	TOT
Ronald Weathers	Jr.	PG	19	74	15	47	13	8	30	49	61	63	79	60	A	518
Benjamin Howard	Sr.	SG	37	63	12	36	11	6	47	53	60	49	75	77	C+	526
Patrick Wiener	Sr.	SG	55	45	18	40	4	14	67	50	17	2	60	41	C	413
David Elrod	So.	SF	38	47	20	33	3	16	14	29	47	62	79	55	C	443
Anthony Bonfiglio	So.	PF	36	34	54	34	39	46	1	13	34	30	72	66	B-	459
Tracy Boswell	So.	PF	23	16	59	32	51	56	1	6	37	81	60	40	C+	462
Robert Atwood	Jr.	C	32	15	64	22	42	57	1	9	43	65	76	92	B-	518

And here are the guys I just signed, with their potentials.

Pos.

GPA

FG%

FT%

A

SPD

REB

DE

BLK

LP

PE

BH

P

WE

ST

DU

TOT

Michael Hodgkins

PG

2.62

34.2

64.5-H

29-H

66-H

5-L

25-H

5-L

5-L

20-H

49-H

44-H

47

65-H

55-H

415

Thomas Ostlund

PG

2.35

57.5

70.6-H

16-H

56-H

1-L

29-L

1-L

3-L

74-A

68-H

42-H

25

62-H

61-H

438

Ronnie Williams

SF

2.71

30

60.2-H

45-H

30-H

33-A

41-H

7-H

8-H

32-H

30-H

42-L

36

58-H

43-H

405

Michael Gordon

PF

3.05

70

66.1-H

30-H

11-A

49-H

37-A

47-A

69-H

1-L

1-A

1-H

30

77-L

52-L

405

Taylor Johnson

C

2.67

61.3

64.2-H

29-H

17-L

66-H

33-A

55-H

38-H

8-L

21-A

15-H

34

50-H

49-H

415

I promised starts to Ostlund, Hodgkins, and Gordon to win battles and to get them to sign. I knew this team was going to be bad so I did not mind giving away starts. Am I making a mistake if I start all 5 Freshman?

This of course is DIII and my team currently runs Flex and FCP. I have never run either but I will probably keep them in place, however, with 3-5 starting freshman maybe I switch  up my Defense.

I know I am going to take a beating my first year but hopefully they all grow and by the time they are Jr's and Sr's I can do some serious damage.

Yea go ahead and start the freshman. They will progress more and if your not looking to win, this will really help you out in the future.

Do it. You'll hate this season, but thank yourself later.

What they said.  My first D3 FCP team is sucking really bad right now, mainly because I'm starting 2 freshmen and giving major minutes to 5.  But I figure this season is a throwaway, so why not play for next season?

if you have to start 3 of them and will therefore suck anyway, might as well start all 5...

I would try to redshirt Johnson.  He'll be a lot better in the future.  I would also at least give some consideration to starting Wiener over Williams at SF in games you expect to be close.  If you pick up a couple of extra wins it might help your prestige a bit and have some impact on who you can recruit next year to be the junior class behind these guys.  Everybody likes to recommend taking the pain and letting your freshmen grow as much as possible, but the other side of the coin is that the more games you win the better the guys you bring in in the next few seasons can be.

Balancing wins and growth is a very tough thing. I hate losing so I will probably play it by ear. I will probably start the 3 freshman and then whoever else deserves to start.

Going to be close to my position next year- my entire starting lineup graduates.  Although I imagine I wouldn't start all freshmen, I have given some coinsideration next year to NOT starting my seniors and giving the Sophomores and Junior the starts.  Probably will start my optimal lineup througth non conference, see where I am then and either keep it or go youtrh.
.

My first thought was to play the best players as long as you have a chance for the PIT. Once it's hopeless, then play the freshmen.  A lousy season could damage your prestige, making recruiting more challenging.  On the other hand, you're at 'C' prestige now and only have 2 seniors.  So, recruiting next season isn't as crucial.