Which personnel loss cost us the most?

[tower912]

I would argue Liam.   Then Otule, then Cadougan.   I don't think we miss Jeronne, Roseboro, our Yous.       Having an athletic, aggressive 7 footer on this team, even if his offense was limited to putbacks, would have made a world of difference.      Hopefully, Otule and/or Yous can be that guy next year.   

[willie warrior]

Both will be projects with Otule a bit less than Mbao. We neede a 6'9" power forward type. Wen will need hel[p.

[CTWarrior]

I have never seen McMorrow play, and the few times Otule got into games last year, he was pretty much helpless.  Mbao was even more helpless.

Don't think Cadougan cost us much, as Acker and Cooby have been good.  (Cadougan's injury may actually even have helped us this season, as he would have been using Acker's minutes, and I don't think he would have played as well.  Anyway, his injury and the resulting lack of PT is is going to cost us big NEXT season, when he gets the keys to the team).

So, I'll go with McMorrow, based on rumors that he could play some, and then Maymon, who I think with the proper attitude would be giving us 20-25 good minutes a night by now.  

All water under the bridge.  I love the guys we have now and how they compete.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Liam.  I was soooooo looking forward to a big man with good footwork playing for us.

[Norm]

I'd say Liam too. Not sold yet on Otule or Mbao being that serviceable in the Big East.

[bilsu]

If we had Liam, we would not have Yous. So I say Liam's loss hurt us the most.

[IAmMarquette]

How do any of you know what Liam McMorrow would have done? Jeez

Nobody knows, but he was a soccer and hockey player, so the guy was obviously an athlete with (presumably) decent footwork. All that in a 7-foot package. How could he NOT have helped?

[IAmMarquette]

Rod Grosse. Craig Butrym

Admittedly before my time, so I missed the reference. I'm sure your point has some weight. (No sarcasm).

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I don't have any recall of those two playing hockey or soccer (esp soccer) which REALLY improves the footwork.  Maybe they took Irish dancing...

[tower912]

Nobody knows.   But..... In October of 08, Buzz said if he was eligible, he would be contributing.   Buzz never says anything he doesn't mean about a player.    A year ago, after his foot healed, he was blowing everybody away in practice.   Granted, it was only Burke and Otule, but all accounts had him as the dominant big man on the team.   Jerel was picking him to be his two-on-two teammate and they were dominating.      So, if you believe Buzz, Jerel, and his teammates.......

[Nukem2]

Liam. the word was that he was doing well in practice after his injury clared up and before his heart condition became apparent.  could also run well for a big guy. 

[Big Daddy Z]

Jerome

[ecompt]

I'd say Otule just due to his size, and the time away from the game may slow his development.

[mr.MUskie]

I thought Liam played lacrosse?

[Markusquette]

Liam looked like he would have been a nice player to have for sure.  He was 7'0+ with a good muscular build.  He also seemed very intelligent and that can only translate to helping his bball IQ. 

We may have never seen him play an actual game, but I personally feel we lost a great piece of the team when he was gone.

[bilsu]

Liam played lacrosse and his brother was a pro hockey player. If Jerone had stayed, we would have finished with a losing record, because he would have destroyed team chemistry. While we do not know how good Liam would have been, we already know the others with the exception of O'tule would not help much. If Cadougan did not get hurt he probably would have started, but he would not have had the season Acker has had for us. So we are down to O'tule vs Liam and O'tule was not starting before he got hurt. So it is Liam by default.

[Marquette84]

I'm assuming we don't get to pick Tyshawn Taylor.

Here's how I would rank the personnel losses among players who would have otherwise been eligible this year:

The obvious first choice for me is Trevor Mbakwe.  As a junior this year, maybe he wouldn't be as good as Robert Jackson inside, but he would have been an upgrade over anyone inside since Rjax.

I'd put Maymon 2nd.  I disagree with the comment that he would have destroyed the chemistry--everything I've read suggests the issues were with his father--not Jeronne.  He was on the team for the impressive wins over Xavier and Michigan.  Didn't look like bad chemistry at work down in Florida.  We needed more size, and Jeronne would have given it to us.

I'd put Hazel 3rd.  He showed flashes of goodness (if not greatness) last year and experience can be huge--as Acker and Cubillan have shown. 

Liam's Canadian team (the Durham Lords) improved from 17-14 (10-10 in conference) in Liam's only season to 23-8 (16-4 in conference) the year after he left.  That suggests to me the expectations were way too high on his contributions. 

Acker and Cubillan performed well enough at PG that I don't believe we missed Cadougan at all.

I didn't expect much out of Otule, and his 8 mpg in the 3 cupcakes prior to his injury suggests limited playing time against better teams.

Christopherson wouldn't have played regularly, but I think he would have been able to make a difference in one or two games where our other 3 point shooters weren't hitting--most notably Notre Dame.

Given that Mbao barely got off the bench for the non-conference season, losing him for the last 15 games or so hasn't been an impact at all.

Roseboro would have been on the bench next to Mbao.

[nyg]

Damian Sanders.

[ATWizJr]

Damian Sanders.

Pay the man, Shirley.

[bilsu]

I think if Buzz had Damion Sanders on this team, we would be looking at a number one seed.