Kolek Update

[HutchwasClutch]

Agreed TAMU, if he is fully healthy he should play.  A Big East title is big and would be remembered, especially back to back.  But if there is even a twinge or pull in that area, even without pain, he should rest till the first round of the NCAA tournament. I think that is universally accepted by the fan base.

That’s it exactly.  A BET championship is very much a big deal, but NCAA tournament deep runs, Final Fours, etc trumps everything in college basketball.  That’s what puts teams and coaches on the map and easily what you’re most remembered and known for. 

It’s all about making sure TK is as healthy and effective and close to 100%  as possible starting next week.  We all remember how great last year’s championship was, only for a major letdown in the tournament.  That feeling stuck for most more than the high of the conference championship I think.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

If Tyler wasn't ready to play yesterday, I can't imagine he's ready today. 

With 3 games in 3 days, plus traveling back tonight after the game, I imagine tomorrow will be a pretty light day.  Get in the gym, get some shots up, but not a full practice.

My hope is Tyler is cleared to practice by Monday.  That gives him 4 days of practice to get up to speed.  He can shake off the game rust in round 1 against an inferior opponent.  By round 2, hopefully he's back in the groove.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Again, Jesus people. A BET Championship is not nothing. I'm also not certain a 1 seed is off the table (it probably is but I'd rather win and test that theory).

If he is good to go, he will play. No idea if he's good to go.

This. 

[Uncle Rico]

What's our plan of attack tomorrow?

Outscore them

[wadesworld]

Wasn’t cleared yesterday. Coming off an injury that has sidelined him for over 2 weeks, that is rare in basketball. Game being played under 24 hours later. Won the thing last year. Locked into a 2 seed (and I was one of the few who thought a 2 seed was possible all along when most thought 3 seed lock and conference tourney no matta last year).

Yeah. Nothing to gain. Heck even if he went from unable to play yesterday to the strongest oblique ever seen to man in the span of mere hours, still nothing to gain and everything to lose today. It all starts next Thursday or Friday.

[Elonsmusk]

Wasn’t cleared yesterday. Coming off an injury that has sidelined him for over 2 weeks, that is rare in basketball. Game being played under 24 hours later. Won the thing last year. Locked into a 2 seed (and I was one of the few who thought a 2 seed was possible all along when most thought 3 seed lock and conference tourney no matta last year).

Yeah. Nothing to gain. Heck even if he went from unable to play yesterday to the strongest oblique ever seen to man in the span of mere hours, still nothing to gain and everything to lose today. It all starts next Thursday or Friday.

100% agree.

That’s it exactly.  A BET championship is very much a big deal, but NCAA tournament deep runs, Final Fours, etc trumps everything in college basketball.  That’s what puts teams and coaches on the map and easily what you’re most remembered and known for. 

It’s all about making sure TK is as healthy and effective and close to 100%  as possible starting next week.  We all remember how great last year’s championship was, only for a major letdown in the tournament.  That feeling stuck for most more than the high of the conference championship I think.

And I think the bolded sums it up perfectly.  And, particularly given we won Big East tournament last year, which was great, but the high won't be as high winning it this year (given we did last year), and we need to make a run in the NCAA to get that monkey off the back of our program and Shaka.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If Tyler wasn't ready to play yesterday, I can't imagine he's ready today. 

With 3 games in 3 days, plus traveling back tonight after the game, I imagine tomorrow will be a pretty light day.  Get in the gym, get some shots up, but not a full practice.

My hope is Tyler is cleared to practice by Monday.  That gives him 4 days of practice to get up to speed.  He can shake off the game rust in round 1 against an inferior opponent.  By round 2, hopefully he's back in the groove.

I could see a situation where Tyler was ready Thursday but they didn't want to bring him back and play back to back to games. No idea if that's what's happening.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wasn’t cleared yesterday. Coming off an injury that has sidelined him for over 2 weeks, that is rare in basketball. Game being played under 24 hours later. Won the thing last year. Locked into a 2 seed (and I was one of the few who thought a 2 seed was possible all along when most thought 3 seed lock and conference tourney no matta last year).

Yeah. Nothing to gain. Heck even if he went from unable to play yesterday to the strongest oblique ever seen to man in the span of mere hours, still nothing to gain and everything to lose today. It all starts next Thursday or Friday.

You are factually wrong. The have a BET championship to gain (and maybe a shot at a 1 seed). That is not nothing. Yes,  if there is significant risk of reinjury TKo should absolutely not play. But I'm glad the team doesn't have the same attitude as some of our fans

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

TAMU all people are saying is that in their opinion, the potential upside isn’t worth the potential downside.

[MU82]

I can't remember what I've said and am not gonna look back, but if I said these games mean "nothing," I misspoke. A Big East championship isn't nothing. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it last year, and I'm already making my plans for tonight, so it's clearly not "nothing" to me ... and I'm guessing the same is true for most others here.

We're in the game, might as well win the effen thing!

But as is the case with a whole bunch of things, risk/reward matters. This team has been focused on winning the national title - not the BET - since before the season. That was the gist of Ben Steele's article this morning. We need Tyler Kolek 100% healthy going into the NCAA tournament, and for me, anyway, playing him tonight simply does not offer enough reward for the risk that would be presented. I understand, and respect, those who think otherwise.

We've now won 3 straight pressure-packed games without TK. The game before that streak started, we were down 5 to UConn, with the ball, with 30 seconds to play - despite no TK, despite UConn shooting the lights out, despite Oso and Ross still feeling some effects from their illnesses.

Not playing Kolek isn't saying, "We give up." It's keeping things in perspective and focusing on the big picture while giving the rest of the guys one more challenge.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU all people are saying is that in their opinion, the potential upside isn’t worth the potential downside.

No they are saying "they have nothing to gain".

Everyone agrees that Tyler shouldn't play if theres significant risk of reinjury. That can be said without invalidating a BET championship

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

If people felt they truly had nothing to gain, nobody would care about tonight even if Tyler were healthy. It’s all relative to the risk of reinjury.

[4everwarriors]

Outscore them

Reako, Fook 'em ain't playin', aina?

[Uncle Rico]

Reako, Fook 'em ain't playin', aina?

So?

[mileskishnish72]

Not ready yesterday, ready today is illogical.

[Dr. Blackheart]

No they are saying "they have nothing to gain".

Everyone agrees that Tyler shouldn't play if theres significant risk of reinjury. That can be said without invalidating a BET championship

I wonder if UConn fans are saying there is nothing to gain by winning the BET tonight? They won the national championship last year and it still burns them that MU won the BE and BET.

[Scoop Snoop]

Not playing Kolek isn't saying, "We give up." It's keeping things in perspective and focusing on the big picture while giving the rest of the guys one more challenge.

Yep.

[PGsHeroes32]

I could see a situation where Tyler was ready Thursday but they didn't want to bring him back and play back to back to games. No idea if that's what's happening.

Correct.

Im in the camp dont play him today

But idk why people think its a "he wasnt cleared last night, how will he be cleared today" scenario. Thats not fully how it works

[lawdog77]

If people felt they truly had nothing to gain, nobody would care about tonight even if Tyler were healthy. It’s all relative to the risk of reinjury.

Thats what some are saying
wades-"Yeah. Nothing to gain. Heck even if he went from unable to play yesterday to the strongest oblique ever seen to man in the span of mere hours, still nothing to gain and everything to lose today. It all starts next Thursday or Friday."

Vander- House money tomorrow.

Zero reason for Tyler to play - nothing to be gained.

Ramp it up in practice next well and let’s roll.

Others have said similar things-like the team experienced it last year. (Well Tre and Zaide haven't)

[Vander Blue Man Group]

No they are saying "they have nothing to gain".

Everyone agrees that Tyler shouldn't play if theres significant risk of reinjury. That can be said without invalidating a BET championship

And when I say there is nothing to gain I mean the upside of winning the BET is not worth the risk of reinjury.

[4everwarriors]

So?
[/quote




Dreck, hey?

[Uncle Rico]

So?
[/quote




Dreck, hey?

We know you’d prefer they lose and chances are, they will.  But your track record on these things is pretty terrible, so fingers crossed

[BallBoy]

If we are talking risk/reward not being high enough why not play the walk ons the whole game? Stevie has been laid out 3 times in two games and looked in pain. Oso almost had his arm torn off. Ross was down in pain as Oduro stuck his knee out. Kam is taking a lot of hits to his body in the way to the basket. Kolek hurt his oblique on a relatively routine and mundane play.

At the end of the day, Kolek is either healthy to play or he isn’t.  5 more days of rest isn’t going to greatly reduce the risk of reinjury. 

If he is healthy, play him. If not then don’t. Same is true for the NCAAT.  Same is true for all of the players.

If Kolek is healthy and plays he reduces the risk and workload for all of the other players.

You play to win the game. 40 minutes for a ship.

[dgies9156]

It’s very simple:

1) Coach Shaka is our head coach.

2) Coach Shaka wants to win probably more than any of us.

3) Coach Shaka is a decent human being who cares about his players.

4) Marquette has good medical and training support.

5) In Coach Shaka I trust!

[Scoop Snoop]

I have given this a lot of thought and have finally decided that I am going to leave the decision up to Shaka.