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Kentucky Wildcats Morning Quickies: Platoon-style Edition

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Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Eisenberg writes today for Yahoo about an "obscure Division III team" who runs a platoon-style system that may serve as a model for Kentucky and Coach Cal:

Kentucky’s John Calipari and John Carroll University’s Mike Moran don’t appear to have much in common except for one thing: They are two of the only coaches daring enough to run one of basketball’s most unconventional systems this season.

The thing that Moran does that Calipari does not do (at least not so far) is press constantly. The idea of doing that, obviously, is to exact a physical toll with wave after wave of fresh players.

I don’t think you have to press to take that toll on the other team. What you do have to do is play very physical, aggressive defense from every position.

It’s also pointed out that at the end of games, the five players playing the best that day regardless of platoon are on the floor. I think that’s another good idea, a way to put more motivation into the system.

I know a lot of people are skeptical about platoons, but I think they can work if Calipari can lose a few more of his preconceived notions about how to play the game. Sometimes he lets those get in his way. If you are going to innovate, half-measures are usually a step back rather than a step forward.

Tweet of the Morning

Wow. That’s a first I’d love to see die.

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