long run if Payton Dastrup started eventually, or at least got a lot more minutes, with both Nixon and Worthington backing up the PD and YC, and with Zac Seljaas and TJ splitting time as offensive specialists, coming into hit 3's and provide other offensive spark off the bench, and with TJ as a 2nd PG behind Hardnett to distribute the ball when TJ's shot is not falling as well as it was tonight. TJ's a great passer just waiting to happen - sure he had some TO's trying to thread the needle a little too often as a freshman, but you could see the potential was clearly there, and that ability for assists is especially open if he continues to be threat from 3, and a threat to penetrate as he was tonight.

Regardless, I'd still like to see TJ and ZS splitting time, with whoever starts to show that they are the clear "hot hand" for the night getting the more minutes. With the VERY welcome emphasis and improvement on defense with this year's team COMES A PRICE. Everyone keeps wondering why TJH and ZS are not shooting as well as their former selves, but I don't think it's a big stretch to postulate that it could be related to the increased work they're both putting in on D (and possibly also due to a little bit of "Schroyer-fear"). Anyway, with them working a lot harder on D, they may just not have the legs left to be as effective offensively - good shooters need their LEGS more than anything else. Then, when they start hitting shots, the confidence comes back, another key for truly good shooters, with TJ as a case-in-point tonight. To the contrary, that same confidence can wane with every miss of shots that they are usually accustomed to making.

Anyway, if we're going to beat any of the better teams we need to beat in this latter part of the year, and get into the NCAA tourney, and going forward into next year, I think that Dastrup needs more PT- he's a very smart player, great passer, rebounder, and his defense is admittedly a work in progress, but improving. And I don't think ZS's defense is better than PD's, and his 3 point shooting may not be better than Payton's either. Also, PD's per minute production is a more objective measure than anyone's isolated "eye" test about a few TO's he's generated, or a few misses on defense he's shown. IMO, his mistakes are largely a result of not enough PT, which is common for all players (see NBA Jimmer), and the ever-present, tentative-prone, forcing-it tendency of players who know they only have a short leash, and a short time to contribute before the quick yank. And his upside, combined with his incredible team loyalty and enthusiasm easily make up for a few TO's and missed defensive assignments. Those two amazing dunks the last two games don't hurt either.