Jerel's absence was felt

[tower912]

It was driving me crazy watching DJ standing around on the outside and Wes traveling every time he tried to put the ball on the floor.  With all of the foul trouble that MSU had, somebody had to attack the basket every time down.  Make them foul you or give you the layup.  The guy to do it was over on the bench with his thumb in a cast.   Very unfortunate.   Hey, at least DJ found his shot, sort of.  He traded it for his driving ability.    Two good things.  1. DJ won't go pro.  2.  Kentucky won't want TC.     

[muwarrior87]

not having Jerel play hurts so much. I was trying to figure out why we weren't attacking the basket more when we got them into foul trouble. Wes kept travelling and Dom wasn't doing any attacking. That's what Jerel brings to the table. He is aggressive and breaks down defenses with his driving ability. It was too bad we couldn't have him in since the game would have been completely different had he played and we may have been able to score in the first 9+ minutes. that would have been nice.

[Mayor McCheese]

not having Jerel play hurts so much. I was trying to figure out why we weren't attacking the basket more when we got them into foul trouble. Wes kept travelling and Dom wasn't doing any attacking. That's what Jerel brings to the table. He is aggressive and breaks down defenses with his driving ability. It was too bad we couldn't have him in since the game would have been completely different had he played and we may have been able to score in the first 9+ minutes. that would have been nice.

I think Wes traveled three straight times he got the ball... did he forget how to play the game of basketball?????

[Murffieus]

Credit MSU ono on one position defense for that-----Mathews walked trying to do something different to get to the hoop as MSU was very successful keeping a body between he and DJ on their attempted penetrations to the hoop . That was no accident as the MSU defenders were very well schooled on containment defense-----best we've seen this year.

If DJ and Mathews couldn't penetrate----McNeal wouldn't have done much better if any. Remember we lost 4 of McNeal's last 5 games----so by itself----he's not he answer either!

[chapman]

It may have been a little closer had Jerel played because of his driving ability and the intangibles he brings.  Still, unless Jerel was at 100% which he was not he would not have had a major impact on the game.

Gotta feel for him though.  He attempted 200 left-handed free throws and dressed knowing he wouldn't play because he wanted to so badly.  With every win we get his chances of playing increase, but then he had to watch his team lay an egg knowing he could do nothing about it.