Some college basketball coaches juggle their starting lineup so often they might as well draw names from a hat. Usually it’s out of necessity.
Then you have Northern Colorado’s Tad Boyle and Denver’s Joe Scott, who rarely change their lineup. Staying with the same starters has contributed mightily to their team’s success, they believe.
“It helps in that the players’ roles really become much more defined,” Boyle said. “The guys coming off the bench know what to expect. The guys starting know what to expect.”
Northern Colorado (17-5, 6-3 Big Sky) has started three players (Devon Beitzel, Yahosh Bonner and Mike Proctor) all 22 games. Senior guard Will Figures has started 21 times, and it’s 20 for forward Taylor Montgomery. The few changes in the lineup were made reluctantly, Boyle said, and only when a regular was banged up or ill.
Scott can top that. The Pioneers (13-8, 6-4 Sun Belt) have sent out the same fivesome — Nate Rohnert, Brian Stafford, Chase Hallam, Kyle Lewis and Justin Coughlin — every game.
Neither coach is afraid to use his bench. In fact, three DU reserves average more minutes than Coughlin, a developing 6-foot-9, 195-pound sophomore from Yuma on the eastern plains. But regardless of substitutions, there is some comfort, Boyle and Scott say, in not having to fret over the opening lineup.
“It’s really not a big deal who starts and who doesn’t start,” Scott said. “But it can be helpful in terms of getting each guy ready, ready for when he is going in. It’s been good for our team. Guys have improved quicker, I think, because it puts them in position to know what their roles are.”
The only potential drawback, Boyle said, is the threat of complacency. “You have to make sure your practices are still competitive,” he said. “I tell the guys, ‘If you’re getting your tails beat in practice, the starting lineup may change.’ “
The book on Levi.
Look for Colorado junior guard Levi Knutson to start logging more minutes. The former state prep player of the year from Arapahoe High has battled hip problems but seems to finally be rounding into form. Knutson came off the bench Wednesday in the home victory over Nebraska and played 23 minutes, attaining season bests with two 3-pointers and two assists, while tying a season high with three rebounds.
At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Knutson isn’t afraid to bump and jostle with bigger players. He might have been CU’s best baseline defender against the Huskers.
“Levi is one of our toughest guys,” junior guard Cory Higgins said.
Like father, like daughter.
Wyoming junior Aubrey Vandiver, a 5-11 guard, has 10 double-doubles to lead the Mountain West Conference. She is a daughter of former Colorado star Shaun Vandiver.
Footnotes.
Amazingly, CU freshman Alec Burks has not earned a Big 12 rookie-of-the-week award although he leads the league’s newcomers with 17.2 points per game. Iowa State forward Marcus Gilstrap, a junior college transfer who will battle the Buffs tonight, has gotten the nod five times. . . . Colorado’s Jeff Bzdelik, CSU’s Tim Miles and UNC’s Boyle plan to wear sneakers during games this weekend in support of the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. DU’s Scott left his dress shoes at home last weekend.
