2014-2015 Roster (because no one ever transfers)

[tower912]

C:  Fischer, Pierce
F:  Taylor, Anderson, Burton, Shaylock
SG:  Mayo, JJJ, Cohen, Hill
PG: DeWilson, DuWilson, Dawson

This team really needs an overseas trip to learn how to play together.   The extra 20 or so practices could be a season changer.   Someone is going to have to emerge as a leader.   Taylor?   Fischer?   Other than Hill, someone has to emerge as a 3 pt shooter.  Buzz really isn't going to have a choice other than to play guys who haven't gotten a lot of PT before.    Because 120 mpg and 40 PPG are walking out that door.  I see all of the size, all of the versatility, all of the potential any team could ever want.   I just don't know if they are going to find it.   It is going to be a far different challenge than this year, as well as all of the other teams.   That much youth?    A complete lack of proven ability?    It is either cause Buzz to explode or it is going to free him from his OCD tendencies.   He will have no choice but to loosen the reins. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

That is a LOT of talent...But as we know we cant rely on talent alone. I would love to see STJ emerge as a Jae Crowder type of player, especially if he can start hitting some trail 3s. But that plus, Nosikowski and hopefully Stone in 2015 as well as Flory (who is making a pretty big impact as a freshman) in 2017 is a lot to look forward to.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It's true, Buzz literally has no choice but to start an underclassmen. There are only 4 upperclassmen to start. And considering that Buzz has used 11 man rotations the last three seasons...we'll see around 6 underclassmen getting regular action. If I had to guess the rotation now it would be (in no particular order):

Mayo
Taylor
Burton
Du Wilson
De Wilson
Anderson
Fischer
JJJ
Hill
Cohen
Pierce (Pierce over Dawson because we need another big body and Du Wilson could replace Daswson as the offensive PG)

Benchwarmers:
Dawson
Shayock
Harris?

[tower912]

I suspect that until Fischer is eligible, STjr, Juan, and Deonte will be starting up front. 

[leever]

C:  Fischer, Pierce
F:  Taylor, Anderson, Burton, Shaylock
SG:  Mayo, JJJ, Cohen, Hill
PG: DeWilson, DuWilson, Dawson

This team really needs an overseas trip to learn how to play together.   The extra 20 or so practices could be a season changer.   Someone is going to have to emerge as a leader.   Taylor?   Fischer?   Other than Hill, someone has to emerge as a 3 pt shooter.  Buzz really isn't going to have a choice other than to play guys who haven't gotten a lot of PT before.    Because 120 mpg and 40 PPG are walking out that door.  I see all of the size, all of the versatility, all of the potential any team could ever want.   I just don't know if they are going to find it.   It is going to be a far different challenge than this year, as well as all of the other teams.   That much youth?    A complete lack of proven ability?    It is either cause Buzz to explode or it is going to free him from his OCD tendencies.   He will have no choice but to loosen the reins. 

You left out Otule.  He has another year of eligibility left, right?

[willie warrior]

I suspect that until Fischer is eligible, STjr, Juan, and Deonte will be starting up front. 

That front line will be getting crushed against quality teams. Hope we have about 10 cupcakes scheduled pre-conference. Look, I like all those guys, but Juan can't score, Burton will be a stud when he learns how to control his body, and Taylor in the post is not where he needs to play. But likely this will be the first 5:
C Taylor
PF Burton
SF Anderson
PG De. Wilson
2G Mayo
Where will the 50 plus points come from this group? At best: Taylor 8ppg; Burton 10 PPG; Anderson 5 PPG; Derrick 5PPG; Mayo 12-14 PPG. That puts us at about 40 ppg at best. Don't see the bench coming up with the needed 30 ppg for us to win consistently. Unless JJJ and Du. Wilson can both pull off double digit averages and Hill really scores. Then slot those guys in for Anderson and De. Wilson, which would be a better lineup, but that is not how Buzz operates.

[NersEllenson]

It's true, Buzz literally has no choice but to start an underclassmen. There are only 4 upperclassmen to start. And considering that Buzz has used 11 man rotations the last three seasons...we'll see around 6 underclassmen getting regular action. If I had to guess the rotation now it would be (in no particular order):

Mayo
Taylor
Burton
Du Wilson
De Wilson
Anderson
Fischer
JJJ
Hill
Cohen
Pierce (Pierce over Dawson because we need another big body and Du Wilson could replace Daswson as the offensive PG)

Benchwarmers:
Dawson
Shayock
Harris?

Buzz virtually never uses 11 guys consistently during conference play in his tenure at MU.  His real rotation will be about 8.5-9 deep.  And I love how you just think DuWilson will automatically come in and be a better PG than Dawson, and also love how you assume Derrick is a shoe in for minutes.  Could well be Derrick is the benchwarmer...we'll see how it plays out the rest of this year.

[Aughnanure]

That front line will be getting crushed against quality teams. Hope we have about 10 cupcakes scheduled pre-conference. Look, I like all those guys, but Juan can't score, Burton will be a stud when he learns how to control his body, and Taylor in the post is not where he needs to play. But likely this will be the first 5:
C Taylor
PF Burton
SF Anderson
PG De. Wilson
2G Mayo
Where will the 50 plus points come from this group? At best: Taylor 8ppg; Burton 10 PPG; Anderson 5 PPG; Derrick 5PPG; Mayo 12-14 PPG. That puts us at about 40 ppg at best. Don't see the bench coming up with the needed 30 ppg for us to win consistently. Unless JJJ and Du. Wilson can both pull off double digit averages and Hill really scores. Then slot those guys in for Anderson and De. Wilson, which would be a better lineup, but that is not how Buzz operates.

We've gone to war with worse (6'4 Jae and Lazar?). I think Taylor can average double digits and rebounds enough. Burton knows how to play post. How good we are early in the season though will depend more on the guards than on the inside play. But I think we aren't as weak as you may think, especially if Taylor can be what he showed us last game.

[Lennys Tap]

It's true, Buzz literally has no choice but to start an underclassmen. There are only 4 upperclassmen to start. And considering that Buzz has used 11 man rotations the last three seasons...we'll see around 6 underclassmen getting regular action. If I had to guess the rotation now it would be (in no particular order):

Mayo
Taylor
Burton
Du Wilson
De Wilson
Anderson
Fischer
JJJ
Hill
Cohen
Pierce (Pierce over Dawson because we need another big body and Du Wilson could replace Daswson as the offensive PG)

Benchwarmers:
Dawson
Shayock
Harris?

Dawson won't be a benchwarmers next year.

[tower912]

Prior to December, there are only going to be 7 players on the roster who have played D1 basketball.   I will provisionally make Duane #8  in projecting minutes because he will have practiced with the team for a whole year and will be healthy.    So,  Duane, Derrick, Dawson, JJJ, Deonte, Taylor, Juan, Todd.      3 PG's, 3 SF's, 2 SG's.      More size than the 09-10 rotation.    So, unless Buzz breaks tradition and immediately gives one of the incoming frosh big minutes, that's it.     Now, I can picture Buzz winning games with that bunch, assuming health and development.   And that 8 plus Fischer could be tough.    I just don't see, though, how Buzz can't integrate the freshmen faster than usual.   Of course, there will be two transfers out and a JUCO arrival that will throw all of this out the window. 

[brandx]

Prior to December, there are only going to be 7 players on the roster who have played D1 basketball.   I will provisionally make Duane #8  in projecting minutes because he will have practiced with the team for a whole year and will be healthy.    So,  Duane, Derrick, Dawson, JJJ, Deonte, Taylor, Juan, Todd.      3 PG's, 3 SF's, 2 SG's.      More size than the 09-10 rotation.    So, unless Buzz breaks tradition and immediately gives one of the incoming frosh big minutes, that's it.     Now, I can picture Buzz winning games with that bunch, assuming health and development.   And that 8 plus Fischer could be tough.    I just don't see, though, how Buzz can't integrate the freshmen faster than usual.   Of course, there will be two transfers out and a JUCO arrival that will throw all of this out the window. 

Personally, I like teams like MU will be next year. To hazard a guess, record wise, they will probably be around the same as this years team.

What I like though, is that it will be a young team that can only get better and I enjoy seeing the improvement as the season and the next season progress. With 4 seniors and a junior getting most of the time this year - what you see is all that you will get. Not a lot of growth to be expected in the 2nd half of a senior season.

One of the best aspects of the years under Buzz was watching the team get better as the season went on and with all of the young guys next year, we will see that again.

[QPSS70]

Of course, there will be two transfers out and a JUCO arrival that will throw all of this out the window. 

Not to mention Malek Harris who apparently still plans to be here.

[thehammock]

Duane might play more at sg than pg.

[brandx]

Duane might play more at sg than pg.

I don't know - with Mayo, JJJ, and Hill at SG

[Nukem2]

I don't know - with Mayo, JJJ, and Hill at SG

Suspect we will be seeing 3 guard lineups next year with 4 at times.....?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Buzz virtually never uses 11 guys consistently during conference play in his tenure at MU.  His real rotation will be about 8.5-9 deep.  And I love how you just think DuWilson will automatically come in and be a better PG than Dawson, and also love how you assume Derrick is a shoe in for minutes.  Could well be Derrick is the benchwarmer...we'll see how it plays out the rest of this year.

In conference play that is very true. I was talking for the whole season.

I am assuming Du Wilson will play over Dawson because of how highly touted he was compared to Dawson. The rankings could be wrong. This is completely speculation, no data.

I am also assuming only 2 PGs will make the rotation because Buzz usually rolls with 2 PGs 2 Cs, and a bunch of switchables.

I am assuming Derrick will get minutes because if the plan was to bench him, than Buzz would tell him to transfer somewhere else. I don't think Buzz would let a senior warm the bench and take up a scholie. It is not fair to Derrick and it's not smart for the program. Buzz has done this before with Aaron Durley. Because he didn't think Durley would play until his senior year, he told him to go elsewhere.

I know you are championing Dawson. And I know you think I'm a Derrick flavored kool-aid guzzler. But I meant no disrespect to Dawson. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Derrick did trasnfer and Duane/Dawson were our PGs. I also think it's possible that Duane will be the bench warmer and Dawson will get minutes.

[Wojo'sMojo]

In conference play that is very true. I was talking for the whole season.

I am assuming Du Wilson will play over Dawson because of how highly touted he was compared to Dawson. The rankings could be wrong. This is completely speculation, no data.

I am also assuming only 2 PGs will make the rotation because Buzz usually rolls with 2 PGs 2 Cs, and a bunch of switchables.

I am assuming Derrick will get minutes because if the plan was to bench him, than Buzz would tell him to transfer somewhere else. I don't think Buzz would let a senior warm the bench and take up a scholie. It is not fair to Derrick and it's not smart for the program. Buzz has done this before with Aaron Durley. Because he didn't think Durley would play until his senior year, he told him to go elsewhere.

I know you are championing Dawson. And I know you think I'm a Derrick flavored kool-aid guzzler. But I meant no disrespect to Dawson. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Derrick did trasnfer and Duane/Dawson were our PGs. I also think it's possible that Duane will be the bench warmer and Dawson will get minutes.

Derrick is starting to lose his minutes to Dawson already and figures to only improve from here on out. Derrick seems like a pretty humble and gracious leader. I don't feel like it would be an issue with him being the 3rd pg on the roster. Players that seem to transfer out as seniors are usually players that want to go be the "man" somewhere at a smaller school. To his credit, Derrick doesn't strike me as that guy.

[77ncaachamps]

C:  Fischer, Pierce
F:  Taylor, Anderson, Burton, Shaylock
SG:  Mayo, JJJ, Cohen, Hill
PG: DeWilson, DuWilson, Dawson

This team really needs an overseas trip to learn how to play together.   The extra 20 or so practices could be a season changer.   Someone is going to have to emerge as a leader.   Taylor?   Fischer?   Other than Hill, someone has to emerge as a 3 pt shooter.  Buzz really isn't going to have a choice other than to play guys who haven't gotten a lot of PT before.    Because 120 mpg and 40 PPG are walking out that door.  I see all of the size, all of the versatility, all of the potential any team could ever want.   I just don't know if they are going to find it.   It is going to be a far different challenge than this year, as well as all of the other teams.   That much youth?    A complete lack of proven ability?    It is either cause Buzz to explode or it is going to free him from his OCD tendencies.   He will have no choice but to loosen the reins. 

That's why he needs to find minutes for his freshmen the whole season!

[jsglow]

Scheduling will be interesting.  tOSU, Bucky and a tough Orlando tourney will all occur before Luke suits up if history is any guide.

[jesmu84]

Derrick is starting to lose his minutes to Dawson already

One game makes a trend? Not saying it won't continue. But again, one instance doesn't prove anything.

[Sunbelt15]

I suspect that until Fischer is eligible, STjr, Juan, and Deonte will be starting up front. 

I doubt Juan starts next year. He will get minutes though.

[QPSS70]

Scheduling will be interesting.  tOSU, Bucky and a tough Orlando tourney will all occur before Luke suits up if history is any guide.

Does ASU owe us a return game too or was that part of the Anaheim Tournament?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I have no proof, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us get a waiver approved to allow Fischer to play right away. If Josh Smith can do it, so can Luke

[Markusquette]

I have no proof, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us get a waiver approved to allow Fischer to play right away. If Josh Smith can do it, so can Luke

Based on homesickness? 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I have no proof, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us get a waiver approved to allow Fischer to play right away. If Josh Smith can do it, so can Luke

Yea, correct me if im wrong but I believe Smith was granted that waiver because of a change in coach. Though I cant remember if Smith left midseason or after the year.