2025-2026 Way Too Early Playing Time Predictions

[37620VOL]

Just a fun thread here. I think we've all figured out that starters/bench designation doesn't really mean much in our current strategy. Let's have a little fun predicting who will get the standard 200 minutes each game.

So, just to give a little structure:

1) Give us your prediction of the breakdown of the 200 minutes (no pressure -- I did this last year and ended up way off, especially regarding Cooper)

2) Be the coach -- there's 3 minutes left in the LSU game and the score is tied. Who are you playing for those final 3 minutes to get us the win?

 

[Special Ed]

No thanks.
I stopped doing homework eons ago.

 

[37620VOL]

Cooper, Barker, Ruby, and Zee will get ~25 minutes; the rest of the minutes are completely up for grabs. I think the remaining minutes will lean toward players who can space the court on offense with a good 3% and are also excellent high-pressure defenders. Here is how my 200 minutes breakdown:



In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - offensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Mia

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - defensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Boyd

 

[J-Dog 1313]

Cooper, Barker, Ruby, and Zee will get ~25 minutes; the rest of the minutes are completely up for grabs. I think the remaining minutes will lean toward players who can space the court on offense with a good 3% and are also excellent high-pressure defenders. Here is how my 200 minutes breakdown:

View attachment 762019

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - offensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Mia

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - defensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Boyd

I believe Kaniya will get more than 15 minutes per game. Look for Kaniya to have a substantial leap in her sophomore season. GBO.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

The great thing about most of the playing time predictions is they are highly likely to be wrong after seeing Coach Caldwell substitutions and lineup changes in 2024-2025. Not many would’ve guessed that starting the regular season the first starting lineup would’ve been Puckett, Whitehorn, Cooper, Spear, and Spencer.
I expect a similar surprising first starting lineup this season.
It’s great for the sport and LV fanbase to speculate! Will it be a four guard lineup which Coach Caldwell is an expert in uptempo positionless basketball or will it be more of a mix of height/size and elite guard play featuring multiple forwards & guards.
I think the one cue I will take from the highlights is that 6’5 forward Jersey Wolfenbarger will likely not be 4th in forwards rotation per minutes. I believe there’s a chance due to versatility where all four forwards are high in minutes per game due to their ability to play multiple positions.

 

[Higbee]

Cooper, Barker, Ruby, and Zee will get ~25 minutes; the rest of the minutes are completely up for grabs. I think the remaining minutes will lean toward players who can space the court on offense with a good 3% and are also excellent high-pressure defenders. Here is how my 200 minutes breakdown:

View attachment 762019

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - offensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Mia

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - defensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Boyd

Please don't underestimate Robertson. She will be seen .

 

[37620VOL]

Please don't underestimate Robertson. She will be seen .

True, she could be my big oversight this year. I tend to discount the ones I haven't seen IRL.

 

[Dak1219]

I believe Kaniya will get more than 15 minutes per game. Look for Kaniya to have a substantial leap in her sophomore season. GBO.

Had Kaniya not injured her knee and stayed in high school to finish her senior year, she would probably be showing up as a McDonalds All-American as well. She had moved into the number 29 spot in her junior year and was climbing quickly. Her on ball defense, overall court speed and body control is outstanding. She can basically get to the rim at will and her outside shot came a long way in the course of just one season. Kaniya is going to surprise many this year.

 

[37620VOL]

I believe Kaniya will get more than 15 minutes per game. Look for Kaniya to have a substantial leap in her sophomore season. GBO.

I don't disagree but who do you take minutes from to get her to 20+? Ruby? Mia?

Plus, you'll note that she is in the defensive lineup I have to close out any tough game.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I don't disagree but who do you take minutes from to get her to 20+? Ruby? Mia?

Plus, you'll note that she is in the defensive lineup I have to close out any tough game.

Her last team at Glenville State the players min/g were 24, 23, 19, 19, 19, 18, 18, 17, 17, 14, 13, 11 before dropping into single digits. Those are full season numbers, and I seem to remember one of her better shooters came back late in the season and was on a “pitch count”.
Not sure, but I think that sounds like a good place to start this year.

 

[37620VOL]

Her last team at Glenville State the players min/g were 24, 23, 19, 19, 19, 18, 18, 17, 17, 14, 13, 11 before dropping into single digits. Those are full season numbers, and I seem to remember one of her better shooters came back late in the season and was on a “pitch count”.
Not sure, but I think that sounds like a good place to start this year.

I expect it to be more top heavy than that, maybe even more so than last year. The thing about Marshall and Glenville is that there were no TV timeouts -- so no built-in breathers like there are in the SEC.

Here is last year's minutes

 

[HerdLVol]

Her last team at Glenville State the players min/g were 24, 23, 19, 19, 19, 18, 18, 17, 17, 14, 13, 11 before dropping into single digits. Those are full season numbers, and I seem to remember one of her better shooters came back late in the season and was on a “pitch count”.
Not sure, but I think that sounds like a good place to start this year.

One of if not the best 3pt shooter also led the team in rebounds @5’4”. She had a non stop motor on offense and defense. She was a constant menace to other players. Like a gnat that wouldn’t go away. I think she’s playing in Europe now.

 

[chuckiepoo]

One of if not the best 3pt shooter also led the team in rebounds @5’4”. She had a non stop motor on offense and defense. She was a constant menace to other players. Like a gnat that wouldn’t go away. I think she’s playing in Europe now.

Sounds like Georgia Amoore. Hopefully we’ve got one or two like that starting this year.

 

[gymmlover]

Cooper, Barker, Ruby, and Zee will get ~25 minutes; the rest of the minutes are completely up for grabs. I think the remaining minutes will lean toward players who can space the court on offense with a good 3% and are also excellent high-pressure defenders. Here is how my 200 minutes breakdown:

View attachment 762019

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - offensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Mia

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - defensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Boyd

Robertson will get more then 2 per game..........15 minutes or more per game. She is that good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RespectAPA]

She needs to be unselfish offensively now that she's on a better roster. If I remember correctly, she was the one that had a lower shooting percentage inside the arc than outside it. I figure she was getting double teamed, but still...

 

[madtownvol]

Things will get a bit scrambled because injuries are bound to happen and players will miss games.

having said that, Boyd's role will be interesting to watch, The staff clearly loved her and she played beyond her years last season but there has been a major influx of talent. For a team striving to win an NC in the next few seasons (and were the teams talent level had dropped), some existing players are going to have be recruited over and make the most of a reduced, niche role.

 

[KnoxLikeUs]

Tennessee is a preseason Top 5-10 team (#7 according to ESPN) coming off the Sweet 16 run and securing the top transfer portal class along with a top high school class, the championship roster is already in Knoxville.
No player is getting recruited over it’s about stacking talent and building depth. This is a roster that features 7 McDonald’s All-Americans, 7 players ranked in the Top 20 of their respective recruiting class, 7 5-star recruits, and 9 players ranked in the Top 35 of their respective recruiting class.
Tennessee has one of the deepest rosters in WBB

 

[Rons1989]

Cooper, Barker, Ruby, and Zee will get ~25 minutes; the rest of the minutes are completely up for grabs. I think the remaining minutes will lean toward players who can space the court on offense with a good 3% and are also excellent high-pressure defenders. Here is how my 200 minutes breakdown:

View attachment 762019

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - offensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Mia

In the last 3 minutes of the tied LSU game - defensive possessions

Cooper
Barker
Whitehorn
Spearman
Boyd

I promise you Robertson will not be getting 2 mins lol....she is a straight bucket getter

 

[RespectAPA]

Scoring her points =|= being a bucket getter. Her PPSA was a full tenth worse than our worst shooter, Sara. Players that play selfishly tend to 'get their points' but the team will do poorly scoring because her teammates won't be scoring their points during that player's stretch on the court. (Especially if the selfish player is the point)

Cooper, as athletic of a player as she is, had this problem last season; (fantastic defensiv analytics, but) poor offensiv analytics due to low PPSA (only Sara was lower) and not using her skills to help her teammates score as much as she aught to.