From the cheap seats ...

We have four guys that for any particular game, or stretch of games, we may refer to as our 'best' players:  Hoggard, Walker, Akins & Hall. 

I don't care the depth, Hall will find his way on the court and will often be referred to as our 'glue' guy.  

Holloman will find minutes hard to come by and it will be no fault of his own.  Rather, I think Fears will just prove to be too good.  Also, expect some Walker at the point to allow him to share the court with Akins at the 2.  For Holloman to get consistent minutes, he'll have to get them at the 2-spot by showing a willingness and consistency in his shot, including from range.  I understand he may have shown this at Moneyball, but didn't Tum Tum do the same?  Either way, with Walker and Akins on the team, is there really any room for minutes at the 2?  Beyond blowouts or foul trouble or the occasional moments AJ shifts over to mix things up, come B10 season, I believe the answer will be 'no'.  In essence, I expect Holloman to be an odd guy out given our unprecedented depth.      

Akins will get a large chunk of minutes at the 3 but, as mentioned, will also spend time at the 2.  Hall will also get minutes at the 3 in an effort to just get him on the court and also to go 'big' and play along two from the center + Booker group.  This doesn't leave a ton of minutes for Carr and Normand, but there's still a solid opportunity here for them.  Like always, they'll have to show they defend first.  I know there's plenty of accolades on Carr's athleticism, but I've also heard he's still raw.  It seems like he'll be able to rebound, which is definitely key, but will he be able to play defense within a team concept?  As to Normand, it seems he can definitely shoot, and there's always a need for that.  But, same question, can he defend within a team concept?  Whoever does it best, regardless of athleticism or shooting, will get the bulk of 3-spot minutes behind Akins and sometimes Hall.  The other guy is likely to find minutes hard to come by (though not quite as hard to come by as Holloman).         

Hall will start at the 4 and Booker will back him up.  Hall will more often than not be on the court at the end of games whether it's at the 3 or 4.  Booker has to be ready because Cooper and Kohler will be ready and able to take some time at this spot.  

Sissoko will continue to start at the 5 but it'll be game by game that whoever's playing best will be playing at the end.  In that regard, I say damn with playing these guys according to matchups.  Syracuse isn't our opponent, we need to force and dictate the matchups and not follow them.  (Sorry for the Syracuse cheap shot, didn't mean to drudge up that memory.)

Is it a copout to say that Sissoko, Kohler, Cooper and Booker will share minutes equally?  I'd say it is as I have no reasonable guess, but will be anxious to see how it unfolds.  Overall though, we had three seasons of more-or-less weakness at center, and it will be anything but that this coming year.  In fact, I'll say it'll be the opposite, regardless of who gets the minutes.  I'm really looking forward to see what these big guys will do.

Summing up, Hoggard, Walker, Akins and Hall will lead the team in minutes and they'll be joined game-by-game by whoever is playing best first in practice and then in that particular game.  

Overall, I can't remember the last time I was this excited for a season to start, Go Green!!