Fulce/Otule

[MarquetteFan94]

This may be imbedded in another thread so I apologize if it's repetitive....but rumor has it that both Otule and Fulce have been cleared to play....can anyone confirm?  I realize that neither will be a savior or total answer to our front line issues but we could sure use the bodies.

[bma725]

This may be imbedded in another thread so I apologize if it's repetitive....but rumor has it that both Otule and Fulce have been cleared to play....can anyone confirm?  I realize that neither will be a savior or total answer to our front line issues but we could sure use the bodies.

Neither have been cleared. 

Otule has just started walking without the boot, but he is only allowed to do that for limited amounts of time and then he has to go back to the boot and crutches.

Fulce has started shooting with the team, but Buzz didn't really give an update on his health, he just said that the stress fracture was in the middle of the kneecap not the sides....no idea if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

[MarquetteFan94]

Neither have been cleared. 

Otule has just started walking without the boot, but he is only allowed to do that for limited amounts of time and then he has to go back to the boot and crutches.

Fulce has started shooting with the team, but Buzz didn't really give an update on his health, he just said that the stress fracture was in the middle of the kneecap not the sides....no idea if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Thanks.

I figured those thoughts were a little agressive.  How does one get a stress fracture in the middle of your knee cap?  Anyway, hopefully Fulce will see action soon.

[🏀]

You sure bma? I heard from a pretty good source Fulce is cleared to practice.

[YoungMUFan4]

Buzz said in his post game comments that they went to the doctor on monday and then said what bma already posted.

[denverMU]

Regarding Joe, Buzz said that he took a few shots before the game, he explained his injury... fractured his knee cap in the middle not on the sides, and then said "pain will have to be our guide".  Not sure what that means but it sounded like they were going to let him start playing again unless it hurt too much.

[muwarrior87]

Both were working with Layer before last nights game.  Joe looked pretty good to go. Expect them both to be back by Tenn.

[downtown85]

Regarding Joe, Buzz said that he took a few shots before the game, he explained his injury... fractured his knee cap in the middle not on the sides, and then said "pain will have to be our guide".  Not sure what that means but it sounded like they were going to let him start playing again unless it hurt too much.

Pain is weakness leaving the body.

[Big Papi]

Sounds like that knee is going to be a problem all year but as long as he can handle the pain, he will play.

[Kramerica]

It'd be nice if Fulce would be back in time for the UW game....Wait, did I just jinx it? Crap.

[mviale]

probably better off letting them heal than play against wisconsin.

[Murffieus]

Well mid December is better than Jan 1 availability, but still, most of the cupcake schedule is over
-----and that's where rookies find their way (cupcake games and early season practices-----these are crucial)-----remember Mbakwe's comeback attempt-----and the year before Hayward's late start-----both were inhibited as frosh.

Because of the 6-8 week interuption in their initial development, don't count on either OTule or Fulce to be saviors this year-----our problems are more fundamental than just being short two promising rookies.

[mviale]

Not certain if there are deep problems as this is the same team that lost to Stanford by 1 last year. However, I do think we have a roster issue in term of bodies and it will continue next year.

[TallTitan34]

You sure bma? I heard from a pretty good source Fulce is cleared to practice.

+1

Both were working with Layer before last nights game.  Joe looked pretty good to go. Expect them both to be back by Tenn.

+1

[Big Papi]

Well mid December is better than Jan 1 availability, but still, most of the cupcake schedule is over
-----and that's where rookies find their way (cupcake games and early season practices-----these are crucial)-----remember Mbakwe's comeback attempt-----and the year before Hayward's late start-----both were inhibited as frosh.

Because of the 6-8 week interuption in their initial development, don't count on either OTule or Fulce to be saviors this year-----our problems are more fundamental than just being short two promising rookies.

I dont think anyone is expecting them to be saviors.  We need more bodies and Fulce and Otule provide addtional length and athleticism that is lacking at key positions.  Fulce gives us another body to plug in if Hayward or Matthews are in foul trouble or need rest and Otule gives us another option down low and at least 5 more fouls to give.  They are needed as soon as possible.

[HarryBalczak]

The one difference between Otule and Fulce compared to Hayward and Mbakwe is that Chris and Joe were able to get basically 7 or 8 weeks of time with group and individual coaching while Trevor and Lazar missed at least 6 weeks with Trevor only being able to practice a couple weeks before his injury occurred.  If they can come back to practice by mid December, they get unlimited practice time over the semester break to get some rust off and play at least one game before the Big East season and it won't hurt to have both back.

Like others are saying, Chris and Joe don't have to come in and play major minutes.  If they can come in and give a couple 3-4 minute stints per half as the Big East season goes on, that equates to 12-16 minutes a game each with 2 more bodies inside and 10 additional fouls.  Joe would also help on the permimeter if Buzz doesn't feel like combining Maurice, Dominic or David in a smaller lineup and he gives us a taller 3 point threat along with a ballhandler and rebounder.

[Marquette84]

Not certain if there are deep problems as this is the same team that lost to Stanford by 1 last year. However, I do think we have a roster issue in term of bodies and it will continue next year.

I don't know why this statement keeps getting made.

We lost four of the five tallest players on the team.  It is NOT the same team that lost to stanford by 1 last year. 

[Murffieus]

SJS/84----it's 90% of the same lineup we had last year against Stanford as we have 4 1/2 starters returning.
And that 10% should be made up by the fact that those 4 1/2 starters should be better this year as they've had a year to grow and other teams have lost key players while MU retained all theirs except Barro (Fitz had a bad year last year).

[jmayer1]

I don't know why this statement keeps getting made.

We lost four of the five tallest players on the team.  It is NOT the same team that lost to stanford by 1 last year. 

Your post is quite misleading.  Yes we lost 4 of the 5 tallest players but look at who we lost and what they did last year:

Blackledgre - Played very little, no loss

Mbakwe - Played very little, no loss

Fitz - Had a bad year.  Will miss some of this 3 point shooting, but definitely not any of his defense or fouling.  Butler/Fulce (when back) should be more than able to make up his production

Barro - Played a lot, states prolly underestimate his value to the team, the only low post threat at all last year and the only guy with any kind of length, will be missed a lot more than people thought, despite what Murf says he was the starting 5 even if he didn't start the game on the floor he got the lion's share of the minutes there especially in crunch time or big games, many were hoping that Burke,  Hazel, and Otule would be able to fill his void but that has not happened yet and it remains to be seen if they will as the season progresses

So, basically MU traded Fitz and Barro for Butler, Fulce, and Otule.  Of course two of those guys have not seen the floor yet so it remains to be seen if that is a positive or a negative compared to last year.  But, Murff is right in that those losses should be offset somewhat by the experience and leadership of the other 4 starters.

[MuMark]

Having to rely on Burke for major minutes and then playing people out of position when he is not in the game(Hayward at center , Wes at the 4, Jerel at the 3 and DJ at the 2) makes everyone worse not better........................

We must be the smallest team in major college basketball. Our tallest player is 6'8 and he plays smaller. Nobody else who plays siginificant time is over 6'6!

[Shack]

The one difference between Otule and Fulce compared to Hayward and Mbakwe is that Chris and Joe were able to get basically 7 or 8 weeks of time with group and individual coaching while Trevor and Lazar missed at least 6 weeks with Trevor only being able to practice a couple weeks before his injury occurred.  If they can come back to practice by mid December, they get unlimited practice time over the semester break to get some rust off and play at least one game before the Big East season and it won't hurt to have both back.

Like others are saying, Chris and Joe don't have to come in and play major minutes.  If they can come in and give a couple 3-4 minute stints per half as the Big East season goes on, that equates to 12-16 minutes a game each with 2 more bodies inside and 10 additional fouls.  Joe would also help on the permimeter if Buzz doesn't feel like combining Maurice, Dominic or David in a smaller lineup and he gives us a taller 3 point threat along with a ballhandler and rebounder.

Agreed.  But is 10 additional fouls a good thing?

[🏀]

Agreed.  But is 10 additional fouls a good thing?

Yes, when you need to send a poor shooting big man to the line

[denverMU]

So, basically MU traded Fitz and Barro for Butler, Fulce, and Otule.  Of course two of those guys have not seen the floor yet so it remains to be seen if that is a positive or a negative compared to last year.  But, Murff is right in that those losses should be offset somewhat by the experience and leadership of the other 4 starters.
[/quote] 

No, to be accurate, we traded Fitz, Barro, Mbakwe, and Blackledge (from the team that lost to Stanford by 1 pt in OT) for Butler!  That's it, you can't count two guys who haven't played a minute for us yet this year or disregard two of the guys who may not of played alot last year but did play in the Stanford game.  We are not the same team and what I thought would be impossible to say but, we are far less of an inside team, so far this year, than at the end of last season.

[Big Papi]

Agreed.  But is 10 additional fouls a good thing?

Its better than giving up an easy bucket.  Have to make them earn on the line.  But more seriously it actually allows us to play our players at their more natural position.  I would rather see Hayward at 4 and Wes at the 3 than either at the 5 position.  I would rather see DJ at the 1 than DJ at 3 which is what we had at the end of the Dayton game when Hayward and McNeal fouled out.

[jmayer1]

No, to be accurate, we traded Fitz, Barro, Mbakwe, and Blackledge (from the team that lost to Stanford by 1 pt in OT) for Butler!  That's it, you can't count two guys who haven't played a minute for us yet this year or disregard two of the guys who may not of played alot last year but did play in the Stanford game.  We are not the same team and what I thought would be impossible to say but, we are far less of an inside team, so far this year, than at the end of last season.

Mbakwe and Blackledge played 5 more minutes against Stanford than Fulce and Otule and recorded exactly zero more points, rebounds, assists, and steals than those two.  To say losing either of them makes this team significantly different that last year is false.

When you return 79% of the minutes played from the prior year, you return essentially the same team.