Depth at MU? Looking at next year's roster.

[brewcity77]

I sat down the other day and made a list of what Buzz had to work with for next year, and was amazed to see just how deep this team looks to be. We could be talking about a bench that goes 10 deep, possibly more if M'Bao pays his own way to open up another scholarship. It's incredibly early, but here's a look first at a potential starting five:

G Vander Blue
G Darius Johnson-Odom
F Jimmy Butler
F Joe Fulce
C Chris Otule

I have to assume Blue has the potential to start, and Fulce late in the season reminded me a lot of Butler a year ago. Energy guy, took games over at times, good rebounder, and more shooting range than you'd expect. Otule has the body and is going into year three (though only sophomore status) so I think he'll at least get a chance early. Now let's look at the next five:

G Dwight Buycks
G Junior Cadougan
F Jae Crowder
F Erik Williams
C Youssoupha M'Bao

I really think Buycks is better than he looked most of the year and will be a more reliable contributor as a senior. Cadougan could push for a starting role. Crowder sounds like he could be a huge impact off the bench. Williams and M'Bao are both young, but even if we can get 7-10 minutes a game out of them could be really valuable spot players. And beyond that top ten...

G DJ Newbill
G Reggie Smith
G Robert Frozena
? Potential added recruit

Maybe Newbill or Smith could push for some time early, but I don't expect much from them as freshmen, mainly because of the guys ahead of them. We all know what Frozena is, just a walk-on who will get a few garbage time minutes. If we can get another recruit, who knows? Maybe another forward or center that can develop and maybe get into the rotation, even if it's just 5 minutes a game? I really think with this kind of roster, Buzz can start to implement a bit more pressing on the defensive end, our own 40 minutes of hell.

So what do you think? Is this roster as deep as it looks? And who's your starting five, albeit at this very early stage?

[KipsBayEagle]

Jamail Jones?

[DJO's Pump Fake]

When did Fulce ever take over a game?

[brewcity77]

Oh lord, forgot all about Jones. Yeah, another guy who will certainly get time off the bench. And Fulce logged hugely important and productive minutes on the road at Cincy and at home against Louisville, both games we needed to have. With Lazar in foul trouble, his points and rebounds against the Bearcats, as well as a clutch 3, kept us in the game and helped us get the OT win. And against the Cardinals, both Hayward and Butler sat for significant time because of foul trouble, but Fulce came in and played fantastically, allowing us to build a huge lead with our two best players on the bench.

[NersEllenson]

I'm going to take a different approach and rank the players on next year's MU team from best to worst (and I hate to refer to anyone as "worst," the good news being that next year's "worst" will be so much better than what we've had.)

1) DJO
2) Jimmy Butler
3) Dwight Buycks
4) Jae Crowder
5) Jamail Jones
6) Vander Blue
7) Junior Cadougan
8) Joe Fulce
9) Erik Williams
10) Chris Otule
11) Reggie Smith
12) DJ Newbill
139 Mbao/Frozena

[GOMU1104]

I dont think we have a 10 or 11 man rotation next year. I would rather stay away from that type of rotation no matter what. Give me a sound 8 or 8.5 man rotation any day of the week over a 10-11 man scramble.  With that being said, here is how my depth chart works out.

Guards - Junior (PG 1), Vander (PG 2/SG 3), DJO (SG 1), Buycks (SG 2), Smith, Newbill
Wings - Butler, Jones
Forwards - Fulce, Crowder, Williams
Centers - Otule, Mbao


-Junior is the only pure PG on the roster next year.
-I think Jones is that .5 part of the rotation...his 3 point shot makes him valuable
-I want to find room for Reggie Smith...I just dont know where the minutes will come from.

[Hards Alumni]

I sat down the other day and made a list of what Buzz had to work with for next year, and was amazed to see just how deep this team looks to be. We could be talking about a bench that goes 10 deep, possibly more if M'Bao pays his own way to open up another scholarship. It's incredibly early, but here's a look first at a potential starting five:

G Vander Blue
G Darius Johnson-Odom
F Jimmy Butler
F Joe Fulce
C Chris Otule

I have to assume Blue has the potential to start, and Fulce late in the season reminded me a lot of Butler a year ago. Energy guy, took games over at times, good rebounder, and more shooting range than you'd expect. Otule has the body and is going into year three (though only sophomore status) so I think he'll at least get a chance early. Now let's look at the next five:

G Dwight Buycks
G Junior Cadougan
F Jae Crowder
F Erik Williams
C Youssoupha M'Bao

I really think Buycks is better than he looked most of the year and will be a more reliable contributor as a senior. Cadougan could push for a starting role. Crowder sounds like he could be a huge impact off the bench. Williams and M'Bao are both young, but even if we can get 7-10 minutes a game out of them could be really valuable spot players. And beyond that top ten...

G DJ Newbill
G Reggie Smith
G Robert Frozena
? Potential added recruit

Maybe Newbill or Smith could push for some time early, but I don't expect much from them as freshmen, mainly because of the guys ahead of them. We all know what Frozena is, just a walk-on who will get a few garbage time minutes. If we can get another recruit, who knows? Maybe another forward or center that can develop and maybe get into the rotation, even if it's just 5 minutes a game? I really think with this kind of roster, Buzz can start to implement a bit more pressing on the defensive end, our own 40 minutes of hell.

So what do you think? Is this roster as deep as it looks? And who's your starting five, albeit at this very early stage?

since this thread starts up every month or so, I'll stay consistant with what I have posted before.

Starters:
Junior Cadougan
Dwight Buycks
DJO
Jimmy Butler
Chris O'tule

Bench in order of minutes:

Blue
Fulce
Crowder
Jones
Williams
Newbill
Smith
Ro Fro
Mbao

[Boone]

Why would Mbao pay his own way? That happens so infrequently it's not even worth pipe dreaming over.

[brewcity77]

Sure, it doesn't happen much, but this is all speculation, so I figure take all possible speculation into account. Besides, we know Buzz is still recruiting, and there has to be a reason for it. Either a recruit is expected to decommit, someone is considering a transfer, or someone could pay their own way.

[flash]

I have said this before, here is my rotation

Starters

PG Junior Cadougan
G DJO
G Vander Blue
F Jimmy Butler
F Joe Fulce

Bench players who will be in the rotation

G Buycks
F Crowder
F Jones
C Otule

F Erik Williams ( he is on the border between the rotation and not playing much)

Probably will not play many meaningful minutes
G Smith
G Newbill
G Frozena
C Mbao

[Skatastrophy]

Sure, it doesn't happen much, but this is all speculation, so I figure take all possible speculation into account. Besides, we know Buzz is still recruiting, and there has to be a reason for it. Either a recruit is expected to decommit, someone is considering a transfer, or someone could pay their own way.

Buzz said himself that everything always works itself out.  There is natural attrition from programs that, if Buzz weren't recruiting, could put us up a creek without a paddle.  I'm not saying that you're wrong, I'm just saying that Buzz is the type of guy that will prepare for both the expected and the unexpected with regards to bringing in a fresh class of guys.

[HoopsMalone]

I am excited for Buycks next season.  I appreciate his ability to create his own shots and appreciate his defense.  His senior leadership at the guard spot is crucial.  He will need to be a vocal leader when developing the guard depth that we appear to have this season.

[pbiflyer]

I'm going to take a different approach and rank the players on next year's MU team from best to worst (and I hate to refer to anyone as "worst," the good news being that next year's "worst" will be so much better than what we've had.)

1) DJO
2) Jimmy Butler
3) Dwight Buycks
4) Jae Crowder
5) Jamail Jones
6) Vander Blue
7) Junior Cadougan
8) Joe Fulce
9) Erik Williams
10) Chris Otule
11) Reggie Smith
12) DJ Newbill
139 Mbao/Frozena

It will be interesting to look back on this list in a year to see how much it has changed.

[tower912]

Buzz has said he likes a 9.5 man rotation.  9 solid and one specialist, a 3pt shooter, a shut down defender, a 7'2 guy to put at the top of the zone, etc.   Project your rotations accordingly.  

[GOMU1104]

Buzz has said he likes a 9.5 man rotation.  9 solid and one specialist, a 3pt shooter, a shut down defender, a 7'2 guy to put at the top of the zone, etc.   Project your rotations accordingly.  

That is his perfect world. Will there be enough talent next year to do this?  I say no.

[wadesworld]

I think if Buycks can improve his shot selection and decision making (aka decrease his turnovers) he's a starter.  Based on Buzz starting both Acker and Cubillan last year despite 1 being 5'6" and the other 6', it leads me to believe that Buzz is going to give seniors their chance to start and they'll keep that spot until someone takes it from them.  Hence I think it goes:
PG Cadougan (need a true point guard in there...I'd be scared if Blue and/or DJO were our starting point guard).
G DJO
G Buycks
F Fulce
F Butler

Then I think the bench goes to:
F Jones the 1st one off the bench
F Crowder 2nd off the bench
G Blue 3rd off the bench
C O'Tule
F Williams

Then the guys who get in up 30 with a minute left (hopefully that happens a lot):
G Smith
G Newbill
C Mbao

I think the 2 most possible changes in the starting lineup would be to get O'Tule starting as a true C and Fulce coming off the bench or for Jones to take over a starting spot from either Fulce or Buycks.  I think Jones is going to be a fantastic player.  Having watched him play 3 games against some of the top competition in the nation, and Vander playing 4 or 5 games against Wisconsin high school competition, I think Jones is the better player going into next season.  He is physically stronger, taller, just as athletic, and has a better shot.  Blue has the potential to become the better player, but he's slimmer at this point and his shot is somewhat flat.  He's the better ball handler and much quicker, though. I can't wait to see Buzz get his hands on these guys and really light a fire under them.  Both of them at times seemed uninterested in games and Buzz won't have any of that.

Plus, the best part of this will be that our practices next year will be extremely competitive, which will be HUGE in making the players better and in preparation for opponents.

It's exciting, hard to say whether we will continue the success we've had, but we'll have some talent and depth (just still no size).

[Hards Alumni]

I guess I am just a little confused as to why people think that Otule won't be starting?

He was starting last year, and then got hurt.

[Skatastrophy]

I guess I am just a little confused as to why people think that Otule won't be starting?

He was starting last year, and then got hurt.

I was assuming it was "out of sight, out of mind" for most people.  He will be our best big by far next year.

[Jacks DC]

I could definitely see Otule starting but not getting as many minutes as, say, Jones or Crowder.  I think Otule will probably find himself in foul trouble a lot and leave us without enough scoring when he is in.

[Norm]

What did Otule do in the games that he started? Did he make any impact? I don't see him getting much time in the games next year, especially if Fulce steps up and Crowder is as advertised.

[MUBalla23]

This is my lineup
PG Junior
SG Darius Johnson Odom
SF Dwight Buycks
PF Jimmy Butler
C Chris Otule
Order off bench
1.Joe Fulce
2.Jamail "melo" or my favorite "Jamail Man" Jones
3.Van "the man" Blue
4.E Wills
5.Jae Crowder
6.Yous
7.Newbill
8.Reggie
9.Mystery Recruit?
10.Rob