Cute, and I assume you're missleading to go for the joke, because while irritating, you're not ignorant. Trouble is, some newbies might believe the joke. But those that watched the games last year know that Gift finshed out the season with 28 minutes at Pitt (and 17pts), 29 against Rutgers (12 pts), and 30 against Pitt (12 rebs)....
SJ had all of six players last year. Someone had to get minutes. I suppose we could have gone the Hoosiers route and played four: My team is on the floor.
Despite which at years end Garrett got
27 (fouled out), 29, 39, 38, 37, 37, 32, 31 (fouled out) = 33 MPG
Gazunheit got
18, 26, 24, 24, 24, 18, 12, 28, 29, 30 = 23 MPG
And he only got those last three bumps because of injuries and foul trouble. Meaning either GG played center or Jamal White.
Amir became eligible December 21st, NOT February.
Besides being exquisitely irritating I'm a very careful writer. That's why I said "was eligible" not "became eligible." When Garrett became eligible he played 15, 15, 16, 22, 18. The more he got up to speed the more he played. Which made sense, because he's more skilled than the rest of them, other than DH and MH.
In games where Amir was eligible, Gift played 27.8 minute a game. That means Amir's impact on Gifts minutes was.....2 whole minutes a game. But then, you actually KNEW that, didn't you?
Yes and I read how to lie with statistics as well. GG amassed minutes and stats against the DIII teams we played in December. After that he was pretty much the best 6th man on a six man team.
BTW, just so you feel complete with a UCLA reference, even at the reduced 27.8 minutes per game (not the 29.9 he actually accrued for the season, that was still the most minutes per game ANY Steve Lavin center has ever played - be it Jelani McCoy, Travis Reed, Dan Gadzuric, Jerome Moiso, Mike Fey, Ryan Hollins...8 year NBA center McCoy had that distinction at 26.4 in Steve's first season as head coach (his Elite 8 team in 1997) until Gift's season last year.
Are you attempting to make a meaningful comparison between the minutes played by the loaded rosters TGAPL amassed while riding on Wooden's coattails and last year's version of the Wonder Five? I hope not.
Thank you for realizing my larger point.
CR, it's not hard to see that once conference play started - God's Gift's minutes went down significantly. He averaged 30, because in November and December he 38, 39, and 40 minutes most nights.
(SIGH) - I' m afraid you're missing MY point - I don't dispute his minutes probably drop considerably THIS year. I took exception to the specific statement " Because really, there were opportunities to play him BIG minutes last year. And they decided to play undersized freshmen instead, for the most part" - I even highlighted it in 14 pt type and in red!
I have a problem when folks "perceptions" clash with the demonstrable facts. For instance - "Once conference play started, GG's minutes went down significantly." Conference play started with Providence Dec. 27, UConn New Years Eve - that would be for GG: 36 minutes vs Providence. 36 UConn. then 32 at Louisville, 31 Cincy, 39 Marquette, 30 Georgetown, 39 South Florida, 32 Villanova, 28 West Virginia - and as noted in my original post, finished the season with 28 at Pitt, 29 at Rutgers, and 30 in the season ender vs Pitt. "Once Conference Play Started", over those 21 games, Gift averaged 27.9 minutes per game. Going back to the original concept I was commenting on, those ARE "Big Minutes". As also noted, those are the most minutes ANY center on ANY Lavin team has ever played.
As for this year I doubt, once we're at full strength, that anyone other than D'lo will have "bigger minutes" this year. I mean, as a senior DJ got only 28 a game under Lavin . With this years depth, I expect 8 players to be in the 20-25 minute range.