After watching the "elite" teams this weekend, 2 things became clear to me. We need:
1) More / upgraded bigs - I don't usually jump on the "why can't Crean get bigs" bandwagon. I'm not even saying we need to have a guy like Oden, but rather, if we could only have 2 more guys like Ooze, we'd be doing pretty well. I know, he's no All-American, but he's serviceable and he works hard. Hopefully a couple of the new guys can fill this roll, or Burke has a great off-season. Only time will tell.
2) Lots of Guards! After seeing how dangerous Carolina is and how much trouble Oregon and USC (and almost Georgetown) were in once foul trouble started - there is NO WAY Crean should redshirt Christopherson. Being able to throw guys out there that can handle the ball and be a scoring threat is invaluable. Gives you the opportunity to run the other team off the floor, and eliminates foul "trouble". Cube and Acker will play a big roll in being able to do that too.
Note, the item "a new coach" is not included on my list ;)
More serviceable bigs are definitely needed. We seemed to struggle whenever Barro was out of the game. Burke picked it up for a very small stretch so he has shown an ability. Hopefully he improves for next year and Mbakwe can step in and give us some quality minutes that he is capable of providing.
It's refreshing to see an offense being run where they can dump the ball down low and you can watch a quality big man work the post. Watching Horford and Hibbert abuse their defenders on the low block was something I haven't seen in a long time.
I'd almost be afraid that our guards would forget how to enter the ball into the post after playing for awhile without a big man that had any low-post moves. With the exception of an occasional "miracle" shot that Scott merritt would throw in the last time I recall a Marquette big-man scoring with his back to the basket was robert jackson...
The most important 2 things MU needs are both big men. Burke plays too small to be of any help. every team of note in the tourney has a starter whom (after a hilight special play) is described as 'a true freshman'. I expect much greater contributions from incoming frosh than that which we have received. BTW, I expect Christopherson to contribute a tremendous amount at the 2-3(anywhere except where McNeal is), relieving James of the incredible burden of constantly throwing up threes, and allowing him to play point, again.