Just for fun look back to 08-09.........

[PGsHeroes32]

It actually might not be so fun if you look back and see what could have been if DJ got hurt, but with all the success of guys recently Id like to know what you guys think about that team if they went back and played right now against those same teams and their players right now as well.



Think we could beat UNC?

How good would we be?

[AhoyaX]

It's so hard as a sports fan not to play that "what if" game. I'm still not ready to open up those wounds though... too painful to even consider.

[NCMUFan]

What good are shed tears?  The futures so bright I got to wear shades. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Just wondering.


Its more to look at how far we have come.....Wes, Jimmy, Lazar, even coobie and mo


rather than psyco T and his little pals

[The Lens]

That was an elite 8 team.  One of four "special" teams* we've had since the KO renaissance. IMO the injury hurt b/c we were a system team...one player (any of those 3 seniors) out could / did make a big difference.

*My "Special" Teams

1994 - Special-ness realized
1996 - Special-ness unfulfilled
2003 - Special-ness realized to the Nth degree
2009 - Special-ness was robbed at gun-point

[MUfan12]

That was an elite 8 team.  One of four "special" teams* we've had since the KO renaissance. IMO the injury hurt b/c we were a system team...one player (any of those 3 seniors) out could / did make a big difference.

That was still the most exciting MU team I've seen. And yes, that includes 03. The tempo and intensity they played with was unreal. They just wore teams down, and found an extra gear and blew past them. Take the Georgetown game at home that year, they came out in the second half and just pulled away. Unfortunately that was gone when James went down. He was so crucial in setting up the other three, and keeping the opposing guards on lockdown.

Started out 9-0 in conference. I'm convinced they would have beaten UConn, UL, and Cuse had Dominic not broken his foot. Might have even won the conference.

[NotAnAlum]

It actually might not be so fun if you look back and see what could have been if DJ got hurt, but with all the success of guys recently Id like to know what you guys think about that team if they went back and played right now against those same teams and their players right now as well.

I think it is best sumed up by a comment Jay Bilas made when asked about MU on a pre-tournement analysis show.  He said "Before Dominic James went down that team was LETHAL"

Probably would have earned a 2 seed and had a decent shot at the FF.

[tower912]

That team was a force of nature with DJ running the point.   Regardless of how many times Murf argues that they lost nothing with Acker running the point, anyone who watched that team knows how much they lost with DJ out and how close they were to being reallllllllly good with him.

[Henry Sugar]

Before James got injured, MU had a slim shot of finishing with the best record in the BE.  To repeat, they had a shot at finishing better than three #1 NCAA seeds.   Granted, the odds were slim, but just being in contention helps put it in perspective.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/02/predicting-rest-of-season.html

[PGsHeroes32]

We probably would have won the Uconn game he got hurt in and definitly would have beat Cuse and won the Nova game in the BET.

[bilsu]

After a 9-0 start we lost at South Florida and got blown out by Villanova. The team was already on a downward spiral when James got hurt. We were also down against Uconn before James got hurt. The team had one first round pick on it, the 30th pick at that. I am not going to look it up but the North Carolina team probably had at least 5 first rounders on it.

[Dawson Rental]

That was an elite 8 team.  One of four "special" teams* we've had since the KO renaissance. IMO the injury hurt b/c we were a system team...one player (any of those 3 seniors) out could / did make a big difference.

*My "Special" Teams

1994 - Special-ness realized
1996 - Special-ness unfulfilled
2003 - Special-ness realized to the Nth degree
2009 - Special-ness was robbed at gun-point

Damn, I couldn't read that without thinking about the 1978 NCAA tourney.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Heartbreak Special.  Crean leaves on the Midnight Express, roster turnover, Mbwake goes AWOL T-1, Otule, Liam and Fulce all with major injures/issues early, Hazel sitting in silence on the bench due to his actions.  And, then DJ goes down.  Never heard the BC so quiet.  Then that Nova loss in the BET still hurts where Jerel lost his man...and that step on the sideline vs. Mizzu was just the last kick in the arse. 

If Trend and Ooze redshirted like they should have, definitely a E8 team.  On the positive, that season gave Jimmy and Mo prime playing time or 2009-10 would have been a freefall.  Here is to a year of good luck for once!

[wadesworld]

And, then DJ goes down.  Never heard the BC so quiet.

Nobody knew James was down.  The Bradley Center didn't go quiet.  It seemed like he just subbed out.  Nobody knew anything had happened.

[tower912]

He subbed out.....and then didn't come right back in after the TV timeout.    I immediately turned to my wife and said that he was hurt and I hoped it wasn't too bad.    Then he stayed out and still nothing was said by the announcer.  I was praying it was just a cramp.......

[Dr. Blackheart]

Nobody knew James was down.  The Bradley Center didn't go quiet.  It seemed like he just subbed out.  Nobody knew anything had happened.

Ummm...he asked out...first clue...then he was taken right to the locker room wincing, being held up by a female student trainer, followed by the docs...if you didn't think there was a pall at the BC then.  The 1500 people sitting by me knew he was done right then and there.   Closer was when Doc Maccoux kept coming out of the locker room whispering in Buzz's ear on status. 

[smrunner99]

By half time people knew he was out, I had numerous text messages. 

[wadesworld]

Ummm...he asked out...first clue...then he was taken right to the locker room wincing, being held up by a female student trainer, followed by the docs...if you didn't think there was a pall at the BC then.  The 1500 people sitting by me knew he was done right then and there.   Closer was when Doc Maccoux kept coming out of the locker room whispering in Buzz's ear on status. 

People knew something was wrong eventually, but to say the Bradley Center went silent as a result was a joke. He hurt it at 1 end of the court and played all the way through UConn's next possession, then limped off under his own power. If you knew right then that his season was done then you're a genious, because in the post-game interview even Buzz said he figured James just cramped up and needed a breather. The word started getting out at halftime in the student section. It wasn't like a torn ACL that you can see the injury and agonizing pain, so to say the BC was silent is just wrong.

[mviale]

He subbed out.....and then didn't come right back in after the TV timeout.    I immediately turned to my wife and said that he was hurt and I hoped it wasn't too bad.    Then he stayed out and still nothing was said by the announcer.  I was praying it was just a cramp.......

Whenever James went down, there was always the chance of Cramps.  This was true for his first 3 years, but then the cramp thing dissappeared in 08-09.  Unfortunately, this last situation was a career ending injury.  However, he was a gem to watch over 4 years. James always gave us the opportunity to win big games with his defense or sometimes stellar play.

[DiaperDandy]

Just thinking about this makes me so depressed.  I was a senior this year and was at the UCONN game when James went down.  Couldnt even stomach watching the rest of the game after learning from friends at home that his injury was serious.  I dont think that looking back at this time is fun.  It just makes me plain miserable.