[Enlund's Blog] Big East tourney is next test for Gardner

[TomEnlundSays]

Big East tourney is next test for Gardner
               




               

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/141596283.html
               

[RJax55]

If MU wins on Thursday, I think Buzz & co. have a tough decision to make with Gardner. Do you want him playing back-to-back games with a knee that is still not 100%?

Personally, I'll have him play on Thursday and then shut him down. That way he gets in some action, but still has a week of rest before the NCAAs.

[MarsupialMadness]

If MU wins on Thursday, I think Buzz & co. have a tough decision to make with Gardner. Do you want him playing back-to-back games with a knee that is still not 100%?

Personally, I'll have him play on Thursday and then shut him down. That way he gets in some action, but still has a week of rest before the NCAAs.

I agree with your thinking... I wouldn't risk too much at all with Gardner in the BET... it really doesn't mean that much for us at this point and we're going to need him down the stretch.

[TallTitan34]

Agreed.  I feel like getting one win is the main thing.

[MU82]

You play him the first game, see how he responds and talk to the doctors. You err on the side of caution. Maybe you bring him back Friday, maybe you wait till Saturday, maybe you let him rest a week. You use all your info and make a rational decision.

[wiscwarrior]

I know we're looking for bigger things this year, but if Davante can help us win a BEast championship I think it would be as good as a Sweet Sixteen run. So, play him if he can help us in the conference tournament and see what happens in the dance.

Who knows, he may help us in both tournaments.

[ringout]

I know we're looking for bigger things this year, but if Davante can help us win a BEast championship I think it would be as good as a Sweet Sixteen run. So, play him if he can help us in the conference tournament and see what happens in the dance.

Who knows, he may help us in both tournaments.

Sweet 16 is way more important, both financially and  in recruiting.

[mu_hilltopper]

Sweet 16 is way more important, both financially and  in recruiting.

+1000 .. BET is an appetizer.  NCAA/S16 is the main course.

[chapman]

You play him the first game, see how he responds and talk to the doctors. You err on the side of caution. Maybe you bring him back Friday, maybe you wait till Saturday, maybe you let him rest a week. You use all your info and make a rational decision.

This.  No reason to irrationally shut him down when he can help us win the BET.  But absolutely no need to push him if it's not feeling really good on Fri or Sat either. 

[Oldgym]

Nearly everyone on this thread is on the same page.  I'm a little concerned.

[Canadian Dimes]

this is possibly the dumbest thread i have every read.  Speculation on the unknown....I am dumber for reading it and even dumber for responding

[MU82]

I know we're looking for bigger things this year, but if Davante can help us win a BEast championship I think it would be as good as a Sweet Sixteen run.

Respectfully disagree. I would gladly trade Big East tournament for anything good that happens in the NCAAs.

[MU82]

this is possibly the dumbest thread i have every read.  Speculation on the unknown....I am dumber for reading it and even dumber for responding

Yes, because college team fan boards are supposed to be about solving world problems and not about speculating about silly stuff.

For more suitable discourse, you might want to check out the global warming fan board.

[strotty]

He was 80 percent on Saturday, playing without a brace, and will have had over four days to rehab it. One has to think he's closing in on being 100 percent, with the knee not being a concern.

[muwarrior69]

+1000 .. BET is an appetizer.  NCAA/S16 is the main course.

Coach Calhoun said winning the BET was more satifying than winning the national championship. Give me a break!

[Silkk the Shaka]

Respectfully disagree. I would gladly trade Big East tournament for anything good that happens in the NCAAs.

I agree, BET is small potatoes compared to the NCAA.  However, since MU joined the winner of the BET has advanced to the sweet 16 every year aside from the fluky 7-9 Syracuse team that won on a ton of buzzer beaters then got bounced in the first round of the real tournament.  That includes national champion UConn, final fours from WVU & Georgetown, and an elite 8 from Louisville.  While I would trade the BET championship for NCAA tourney success, winning the BET is definitely a harbinger of good things to come.  Not that I would risk Davante to do so.

[MUFan42]

He was 80 percent on Saturday, playing without a brace, and will have had over four days to rehab it. One has to think he's closing in on being 100 percent, with the knee not being a concern.

I like your thinking, however it took a month to get him from probablly 40-80. I'd expect him maybe at 85-90 tops for the game. My dad and I were debating. What do you think is harder. He worries about teams that would take 5 games to win BET. I say its harder for a team from a small name conference to win there tournament then have 14 days off before having to play in the tournament. What do people think is harder? Playing 5 games in a row with 4 days off. Or be on a streak and win your tourny and wait about 2 weeks before playing in the tourny. Disregard the match-ups.

[kmwtrucks]

The hard part for me is many times it takes a day or 2 for the soreness, so if they play him thursday you might not really know how much worse it got till Sat morning. 

What if you play him thur and Fri and on Sat morning it feels like it did 2-3 weeks ago where would that leave him for the NCAA's? 

[Canadian Dimes]

Having had the same injury and watching the boards it is clear no one has any grasp on the severity or timeframe on a severely sprained knee .  First of all given what DG did on Sat.  The swelling and pain will probably set him back 3-4 days.  My guess is 10% a week on recovery .. It is easily an 8-10 week injury

[79Warrior]

Respectfully disagree. I would gladly trade Big East tournament for anything good that happens in the NCAAs.

A big east tourney title would be huge for MU, especially while it is still is the 16 team league. The exposure for the program to be on TV in Prime Time 3 consecutive nights cannot be underestimated. They are on the big stage in NYC. to even think one win and call it a day is absurd. Go all the way baby or dont play!