DaShonte Riley Recruitment

[downtown85]

Because the university offered him a scholarship.
I'm well aware that scholies are only year-to-year contracts, but I'd be embarrassed if MU cut a kid loose - a kid who's already been to three schools in three years - and forced him to leave college altogether because of an unfortunate injury.

That's what I was wondering.  Don't some schools have scholarships for players who get injured and can't come back to the team because of the injury?  I remember Iman Schupert mentioned that that was one of the reasons he chose Georgia Tech.  It would allow the athlete to finish his degree without eating a scholarship from the team.  I would imagine football schools have such scholarships.  Does MU have any such schollies?

[Hards Alumni]

1. Hazel is undersized, but has acquitted himself decently in his limited playing time, particularly on defense. It's less than an ideal situation, but he's certainly shown us more than Otule. And apparently Buzz Williams and the coaching staff feel the same, given the distribution of playing time even since Otule got healthy. I'd love for Otule to develop like gangbusters over the summer and win a starting job, but until he shows that he's ready for that, I'll leave him on the bench rather than throw him out there and hope for the best.

2. I don't have Butler starting but, unlike you, I also don't have him as the third backup out of position.

In Buzz's offense his plan is to have a PG, a Big man, and 3 atheletes... am I wrong?

so how can anyone in the 2-4 postions really be out of position?

Butler plays more stiff than I would like any 2 to play, but that could just be the learning curve.

either way, I don't see him starting anywhere.

As for Hazel, there seems to be a pretty strong consensus that he won't be starting... let alone playing much next year.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Otule's performance against DePaul was great for him.  If you are afraid to put a kid in because he might make some mistakes, how is anyone going to get better?  As long as we are not putting him in losing situations (situation where we know he will fail, like up against Gody) I am fine with his PT.  As for Fulce, where was he at the DePaul game?  Our whole team was sleep walking that game and you don't think Fulce could have gotten some quality minutes.

Playing time in games is earned bu demostrting the ability to contribute and succeed during PRACTICE.  It is that little thing this team does for a few hours ever day that you do not see them on the television.  It is the same thing that JOE and Chris missed for almost two months, it is the same thing that is needed to perform at the same level as the players that are playing.  It is the same thing that they have missed that has BUzz saying on numerous occasions that has them playing as though it were October.  MAybe you would run the team differently, but I think most coaches that are in the hunt for a Big East championship are not going to play first year players that have missed almost the enitre season unless the game is out of hand.  The deapul game was not out of hand.  Did you not witness Joe Fulces defense against Providence?  It looked like Jimmy Butler's in Novemeber.  Do you really think Buzz should have played him when we were struggling and only up 6-8 against Depaul?  Should Buzz have played him up 3 or down 3 against ND?  The players will play when they demonstarte to Buzz in Practice that they will provide a lift or at a minimum not a dramatic falloff when they go in.  Neither has done that.  Now I am sure your silly comment will be "well how would we know",  Through Practice...which you dont see.  Did you think Otule coming in and turning the ball over and then running down on defense and falling over while his man scored was a good situation for his confidence or did it help Mu pit deapul away in it's attempt to win the BE?

This Fulce and Otule not playing is so stupid.  Buzz williams wants to win and no differnt than any coach in America at any levle is going to play the players that best help the team to that affect.  If they wish to play and demostrate the ability to help the team during Practice, they will play.  Very simple no so sure why everyone is stuglling with this great Otule Fule myth.

[jce]

Gotta agree with Mr. Hayward on this one.

Right now you have a basic 8-man rotation, which is all you really need at this point in the season.  Five starters plus Acker, Hazel and Butler.  If you have to, you can get a couple of minutes here and there with Cubes, Otule and Fulce.  If Otule and Fulce practice hard during the off-season, they will get major minutes next year...they aren't ready right now.