Probable Starters

My friend TJ in Reno asked for our roster and rotation probable starters yesterday. I had to wait until today when I was sure the roster was set for the trip before responding.

All teams want rosters, but he was the first to ask me for probables. So, I responded the only way I know how:

Friday – RHP Reymond Cruz
Saturday – LHP Jesus Sanchez

TJ's a fellow baseball person, so he laughed.

Then I thought about it, who will the Vipers start Friday?

Here's what we probably know:
PG – Will Conroy
PF – Mike Harris
C – Julian Sensley

That leaves shooting guard and small forward. The candidates? Jonathan Wallace, Stanley Asumnu, Jermaine Taylor and Antonio Anderson.

On first glance, the answer is easy – Taylor and Anderson, right? Not so fast. Asumnu has started five-straight games. The Vipers are 3-2 in that span and Asumnu has played extremely well, averaging 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He hasn't exactly played himself out of the starting lineup.

Wallace has been known to start at SG when the Vipers have been short on SGs, though that's really not the case right now.

At least one of Taylor or Anderson seems likely to provide that scoring punch off the bench the Vipers are missing with Craig Winder injured. My guess would be Taylor.

So perhaps Anderson and Asumnu the final two starters with Taylor, Wallace and Ernest Scott providing  sparks off the bench?

Remember, Coach Finch thinks starting is overrated, and I've come around to agree with him. It's about minutes, after all. Coming off the bench to provide a spark is a very valuable skill, and, honestly, starting Anderson and Asumnu is a pretty dangerous combo right now, and probably the best defensive option.

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So far so good in the CBI. BU wrecked defending CBI Champion Oregon State at Oregon State. You know what that means? They get to HOST Morehead State in the Elite 8 on Monday.

Speaking of college basketball, I was at the grand opening of Kidiatric Therapy Services in La Joya with some of the players on Wednesday, and I was chatting with Jonathan Wallace about Georgetown. Really, we were talking about the area and all that. My brother is a grad student there, working towards a masters in public policy. Ernest Scott joined the conversation and asked me how come all the attention is on guys like Jonathan because he went to Georgetown. After all, Valdosta State is in the Elite 8! That led to some bracket/smack talk, including Ernest saying Georgetown would be one and done. Jonathan said there's no way Georgetown would lose to Ohio. You know, that Ohio team that was a 9th seed in the MAC and had to win four-straight games to win the MAC for their only shot at post-season ball? You know, that Ohio team that probably should've been a 16 seed? You know, that Ohio team that beat Georgetown 97-83? Oops.

Ohio will now face Stanley Asumnu's Tennessee squad.

Craig Winder's Texas is out, but Will Conroy's Washington looked good in a win tonight.

Oh, and of course Scott's Valdosta State faces Indiana (PA) on Wednesday in Springfield.