Rest of the season...getting a healthy and up to speed bench...

[MR.HAYWARD]

Although the last 5 games are brutal, the rest of the schedule is very friendly to MU (and the start to the BE season backs that up)--it has given the guys a chance to build a nice record and gain confidence, which I doubt would have happened had the schedule been reversed (where 0-5 would have been very likely from what we have seen so far).

Our 1st real road test is ND, a team we match up with well and have a good chance to win.  We should have a good chance against Georgetown here, and then 3 back-back-back winnable road games before St Johns and Seton Hall come here for 2 very likely victories before the death march.  Most of those should also provide opportunities for Fulce and Otule.

Most importantly, this give Fulce a chance to get his sea legs--I really feel he is our best player off the bench and is most likely to impact games against upper level teams.  He is a better player than Butler, and remember how bad Butler's defense was at the beginning of the year? Had no idea how to play man-to-man,  he has learned quickly.  Hopefully Otule will have the opportunity for some minutes, as well.  Some continue to see him as a legitimate baseline helper this year.  I dont, he is still a year or two away.  Nevertheless, minutes are valuable and hopefully he can get some in JAnuary and early Feb., becuase after that he is probably done unless there is a foul situation.  

[CTWarrior]

Fulce looks like he has great hands and can move a little, but I haven't seen enough of him to know exactly what he is.  I hope you are right.

[muwarrior87]

The more time Fulce gets, the more he'll improve, imo.  His biggest liability on the court is in his defense.  If he is able to shore this up by tourney time, he will definitely be one of the first off the bench.

[ErickJD08]

I liked what I saw on the offensive end for Fulce.  He moved really well without the ball and looked active. 

For defensive reasons, I am not sure when or how long we can run that squad of James, JM, WM, LH, and Fulce, but I liked it.  Hayward and Fulce are two guys who know how to take advantage of our trio breaking down the D off the dribble.