Who can't get injured on this team?

[MarquetteDano]

This team is really deep.  I don't necessarily think this team is better than last year's team but the depth is unbelievable.

It got me thinking.... who can't be replaced?  Other than Cadougan, I am not sure there is anyone on the roster we do not have a near equal backup for.  Not badmouthing Derrick, but he just isn't Junior.

If we get multiple injuries that is probably another story but I just can't think of anyone other than Cadougan that would be devastating if they were done for the season.

Thoughts?

[KipsBayEagle]

Jamil, he's our only 4, plus his versatility opens a lot of things up in our lineup

[MUSF]

Junior.

I think he will be the most important player on the roster this year.

[brewcity77]

I think we can weather any injury, but we'll struggle with multiple injuries. I think a combination of Blue, Mayo, and DW would allow us to shoulder Junior's share of the load. We will be much better if everyone stays healthy, but with a roster that could go to 10-11 deep (Taylor, Anderson, DW, Jake after the obvious first 7) we are far better prepared for an injury than we have been in years past. But if they start to mount, we could be in trouble.

[cheebs09]

Junior.

I think he will be the most important player on the roster this year.

I agree. Our offense usually was stagnate without Junior for an extended period of time. Looking back, I'm surprised we won the Wisconsin game without him. It seems Wilson's only goal out there is not turning the ball over. Granted that's when he was a freshman and point guard is the toughest position for a freshman. It just seemed he didn't create much, although that could change as a sophomore.

I think if Junior can cut down on some careless turnovers, he could be a top PG in the conference. He can make some unbelievable passes. My favorite plays were when there seemed to be nothing, and all of a sudden he fired a pass to a wide-open Crowder by the basket.

[NersEllenson]

Gardner - This team will need his offensive skills to be a Top 4 Big East team/Elite 8 caliber team.  So many good things happen with DG on the floor - he either gets a basket, gets fouled and goes to the line and makes 75% of his free throws, or he forces a double team...he sees the floor well and feeds cutters....will help create some separation for better perimeter shots.  There is no other player on the team who possesses a skill set even close to Gardner....everyone else on the team other than perhaps Otule and Cadougan, have interchangeable skill sets largely...

[Stronghold]

Keeping both Otule and Gardner healthy is my hope.  That way no one else has to play out of position at the 5.  Last year we were able to manage with Jamil and Jae but without Jae I think its critical we keep our actual big guys at the 5.

[GGGG]

1. Junior
2. Jamil

Everyone else has a ready substitute.

[bilsu]

We played most of last year without Otule and several games without Gardner and when he came back he could only drag his leg and we still survived. Of course we road the backs of Crowder and DJO, so injuries to both centers would have a different result this year. Losing only one player would have to be Cadougan. It is hard to replace a point guard by committee, which is what UW is going to find out.

[brewcity77]

It is hard to replace a point guard by committe, which is what UW is going to find out.

If we had to do it (and I hope we don't), I would much rather do it with an experienced junior and a pair of sophomores that have played meaningful minutes than primarily with a freshman.

[Dawson Rental]

Wow, a great thread about something truly basketball, yea!

I got to sign on with Ners and say Gardner.  There's no replacing what he brings to the offense.
Junior is definitely number two on the list.

Taylor's development will be interesting to see.  If he's coming along as well as advertised, will that allow Buzz to move Jamil around more?  Maybe create a bigger lineup?

[LAZER]

1. Junior
2. Jamil

Everyone else has a ready substitute.

Agreed

[jsglow]

Agreed

Agreed.  Didn't you guys learn from Coach Al that PG is the most important position in college hoops?  And this year that guy also happens to be the defacto team leader.  JC stirs the drink.  We'll all be better off if he makes this 'his team'. 

[JD]

I think it depends on the team we're playing, matchups, etc.  If we're playing Louisville which would more than likely press the hell out of us, i could do without Junior. 

[bilsu]

I think it depends on the team we're playing, matchups, etc.  If we're playing Louisville which would more than likely press the hell out of us, i could do without Junior. 

Apparently you do not remember playing Louisville when Diener was hurt.

[4everwarriors]

Apparently you do not remember playing Louisville when Diener was hurt.

Yeah, but take that with a grain of salt 'cuz Crean was coachin'.

[EnderWiggen]

Junior.  The two important games that we lost were the ones were he wasn't performing at his normal level.  I'm also not seeing a great backup for him either.

[Aughnanure]

Otule or Gardner. When you have a multitude of real, competent, big men it changes the game, how you can play, takes pressure off of key players and opens of the game for making strategic adjustments.

Junior is nice and all, but I hope far the from the key to this team.

[NersEllenson]

I hope Jamil turns out to be one of our most invaluable pieces - and turns it up a notch this year.  Has all the tools, and hope he is assertive throughout the season and develops a killer instinct.  Think if he can ratchet up his toughness and intensity on all possessions he can be an impact player.  If passive, then can see Steve Taylor eating into some of his minutes...

[Earl Tatum]

Junior is the man. I believe it takes someone special to run  an offense like MU's. Watched the Kentucky practice on Espn called
Access Kentucky. Boy does Calipari really get on his point guards Ryan Harrow and Archie Goodwin. Up to Junior to make the show go.

[The Equalizer]

This team is really deep.  I don't necessarily think this team is better than last year's team but the depth is unbelievable.

It got me thinking.... who can't be replaced?  Other than Cadougan, I am not sure there is anyone on the roster we do not have a near equal backup for.  Not badmouthing Derrick, but he just isn't Junior.

If we get multiple injuries that is probably another story but I just can't think of anyone other than Cadougan that would be devastating if they were done for the season.

Thoughts?

First, we have an early check on depth in Maui:  If our first game against Butler is at all close and anyone plays more than 30 minutes we lack depth.  If the game is close and nobody plays more than 25 minutes, we're deep.   To survive 3 games in 3 days, especially in the heat and humidity of Hawaii, we're going to have to limit minutes of our first team in early games.  If we have to play our first string players more than 30mpg in the first game, that is a sign the bench isn't as strong as people think.

Next, at PG, DWilson scored 10 points and dished out 12 assists last year--not in a game, but the entire Big East season, BET and NCAA tournament combined. Suggesting at this point that he's going to be a big contributor to the rotation next year is assuming quite a lot at this point.  I predict he'll get the same 5-8 minutes backing up Cadougan he got last year.  More if we're up (or down) big or against cupcakes, fewer if we're in a tight game from end-to end or in the BET/NCAA tourney.

Third, if either Gardner or Otule are injured, we wind up with the same out-of-position rotation we've had each of the last four seasons. Neither player is capable of stepping up his play to 35 mpg if the other is injured.  And if history is any guide, one is going to be injured for at least part of the season.  If either one goes down, we have at least 15 mpg with an out-of-position JWilson or Steve Taylor playing 5.

Four, we've been through this before. We have a history of people every year claiming that "we're really deep" based on over-exbubant expectations of sight-unseen players, assumptions that we won't have an injury, or drastic year-over-year improvement that doesn't come to fruition. Last year at this time expectations were that we'd "be really deep' because of contribution from Juan Anderson, Jamail Jones, and Derrick Wilson. The year before we were supposed to see dramatic improvement in Erik Williams.  Otule wasn't supposed to be lost for the season 8 games in. 

I'll grant that we're deep at the 2/3/4 anchored by Blue, Mayo, JWilson and Lockett.  If one of these four players is injured, the other three can pick up the majority of the 40 mpg. 

But I won't believe we're really deep until we get 5 games into Big East play, nobody is averaging 30+ mpg/game, and we have 10 players averaging double-figure minutes.  Until then, I'm going assume that we have our normal 7 or 8 player rotation (likely to be Cadougan, Blue, Mayo, Lockett, Wilson, Taylor, Otule & Gardner)--and as has been frequently stated Cadougan, Otule and Gardner are absolutely the most important of them.

[RJax55]

But I won't believe we're really deep until we get 5 games into Big East play, nobody is averaging 30+ mpg/game, and we have 10 players averaging double-figure minutes.  Until then, I'm going assume that we have our normal 7 or 8 player rotation (likely to be Cadougan, Blue, Mayo, Lockett, Wilson, Taylor, Otule & Gardner)

I'm with you, 84. 8-man rotation with the guys named above. The wildcard is D. Wilson, but that not only depends on his play, but others (mainly Blue) as well. If Blue can man the point for a bit, it will cut D. Wilson minutes. And, I don't see anyway that Junior is not playing at least 28 minutes a game.

Its not just MU fans, it seems every fan base talks up their team's depth. Check out other team's boards, it is a constant theme... Great depth, tons of talent, 10-11 guys getting serious minutes, etc.

[JD]

Apparently you do not remember playing Louisville when Diener was hurt.

Refer back to the Big East tournament last year...