Why this whole ordeal could be a huge positive

[SCdem@MU]

Going without James for a month forced our numnuts coach to actually go to his bench and get Acker and Cubes some confidence back. With James probably not in 100% game playing shape, I fully expect Acker and Cubes to continue to rotate in.

Hopefully Buzz realizes this and in addition to giving James rest, he gives McNeal and Mathews breathers as well. They will need it to get through Missouri's pressure.

[4everwarriors]

our numnuts coach

Where have you been at? He left for IU almost a year ago.

[Lighthouse 84]

Where have you been at? He left for IU almost a year ago.

Now that, I laughed out loud at....but upon further reflection, I'm thinking, that's so true

[SERocks]

Personally, I think the big thing about this is IF we win today, then James gets a week of practice and this team will be at full strength come next weekend.  In fact, it would be better than full strength for the reasons you mentioned in your post...others have gotten significant playing time.

I don't think anyone could say we are at full strength today....so today just gotta win baby!  Then we will have a chance to see how good this team really can be.  

[Daniel]

Yes - one game at a time.  this one today will be tough because of the deep bench Mizzou has (they play 9 - 10 players), and for the fact that they have all season worn down theor opponents with this and have dominated the second half for th emost part.  So, we need to use our bench.  Their press can't be better that Louisville's can it?  And we saw that and handled it well.  It's the fatigue factor that concerns me, and if we sub in and out, we could be just fine.

Let's GO MARQUETTE!!!!

[SCdem@MU]

Where have you been at? He left for IU almost a year ago.

Perhaps I'm being a little hard on Buzz, but he should have been working in our bench players all season long. Instead he would put them in for 30 seconds and if they did anything at all that he didn't like he immediately yanked them --- not exactly confidence inspiring. It's kind of sad that it took our starting PG going down for Buzz (and posters on this board) to realize that while our bench players aren't going to be winning All-Big East honors, they aren't complete wastes of space either.

Its extremely difficult to make a deep run in the tournament when you are only 5-6 players deep.

Crean may be the ultimate douche and I dislike him as a coach and a person for a number of reasons, but I never questioned his substitutions.  

[NavinRJohnson]

Well, I was thinking win when I went to bed last night, and while I slept we added a Senior PG, floor leader, ball handler, etc., even if a bit rusty and only for a handful of minutes - a big emotional boost. I don't see how that can be anything but a positive.

[SCdem@MU]

Personally, I think the big thing about this is IF we win today, then James gets a week of practice and this team will be at full strength come next weekend.  In fact, it would be better than full strength for the reasons you mentioned in your post...others have gotten significant playing time.

I don't think anyone could say we are at full strength today....so today just gotta win baby!  Then we will have a chance to see how good this team really can be.  

I agree with that as well.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Perhaps I'm being a little hard on Buzz, but he should have been working in our bench players all season long. Instead he would put them in for 30 seconds and if they did anything at all that he didn't like he immediately yanked them --- not exactly confidence inspiring. It's kind of sad that it took our starting PG going down for Buzz (and posters on this board) to realize that while our bench players aren't going to be winning All-Big East honors, they aren't complete wastes of space either.

Please stop with the comments against Buzz before Pakuni, DKC put you under house arrest.  But Hayward is glad you spelled numnuts (sic) the way you did.  That way he can process it internally.   

And yes, I agree that he should have been developing the bench all year long so it's good to see some of these guys got some quality minutes of late. 

[Tugg Speedman]

Perhaps I'm being a little hard on Buzz, but he should have been working in our bench players all season long. Instead he would put them in for 30 seconds and if they did anything at all that he didn't like he immediately yanked them --- not exactly confidence inspiring. It's kind of sad that it took our starting PG going down for Buzz (and posters on this board) to realize that while our bench players aren't going to be winning All-Big East honors, they aren't complete wastes of space either.

Its extremely difficult to make a deep run in the tournament when you are only 5-6 players deep.

Crean may be the ultimate douche and I dislike him as a coach and a person for a number of reasons, but I never questioned his substitutions. 

Have you actually been watching MU games this year?  Because I saw a team that was ranked #8 and tied for the lead in the BE when DJ went down.  They won with DJ playing a ton of minutes.  What is wrong with this?

I saw Buzz play Cubes and Acker earlier this year and their play confirmed why they were only getting 30 seconds a game (save Acker against ND which he showed was a fluke in the next game).  They were not playing because their was a huge drop off between DJ and the bench.  The team was worse when DJ was not in the game.

You play to win the game.  When you have three seniors and a junior you ride them for all they are worth.  You don't sit them to play an inferior bench.

Put it another way, Butler played his way into the rotation.  Cubes and Acker did not.  So why are you advocating forcing Cubes and Acker into the game?  For next year?  They still might not play next year.  Junior and Bykes might jump ahead of them.