More Food for Thought on a Dreary Thursday

[IGNORE2]

Here is another thought after re-reading the Law Injury thread: what if Law's career is over due to medical issues? Besides being a big blow, that now means we have 2 schollies to fill. And if RI follows that same route, then you have three! It seems that Law is having some pretty serious surgery and I don't think it unreasonable to contemplate the notion he won't play next year. Maybe one of our resident doctors, hopefully a thoracic surgeon, can speak to the timetable and risks associated with surgeries involving the middle of the body...

And even if RI doesn't get forced to medically retire, he couldn't break the lineup while 'healthy' this year and is yet another year removed from actual experience. As we sit, I think the no Law scenario looks like this:

LG - Lathon then Ash
SG - Gaines or Turner
SF - Turner or Kopp
PF (or S4) - Nance then Falzon
C - Pardon then Benson

Things we know: Falzon did not have it last season. Many theories why, but no one knows for sure. I would argue it is more likely that he does not meaningfully contribute next year than he does. We also know somebody(s) get hurt every year. No idea who - but that bench is really thin.

Speculation - Are any of the main three frosh B1G ready? If Falzon is not rotation worthy, then.... There are only 7 true rotation players in my depth chart. That is thinner than Paris Hilton's hopes of returning to relevance.

CCC has increased the quality of recruiting but he hasn't fielded a full schollie squad since Vassar's first year. So his misses loom larger. We need a guard. Real bad. Then we/he/us need to determine what is left in the cupboard. Is RI returning and able to contribute meaningfully? Same for Falzon? Same for Law? If the answer is no, then I think a medical version of Creaning needs to happen (strongly encourage medical retirement - I suspect all three could make a case) and get something better than warm bodies in here for next year.

As it sits, even with a healthy Law, we are an injury or a not ready frosh away from another season like this last one.

 

[NJCat]

Here is another thought after re-reading the Law Injury thread: what if Law's career is over due to medical issues? Besides being a big blow, that now means we have 2 schollies to fill. And if RI follows that same route, then you have three! It seems that Law is having some pretty serious surgery and I don't think it unreasonable to contemplate the notion he won't play next year. Maybe one of our resident doctors, hopefully a thoracic surgeon, can speak to the timetable and risks associated with surgeries involving the middle of the body...

And even if RI doesn't get forced to medically retire, he couldn't break the lineup while 'healthy' this year and is yet another year removed from actual experience. As we sit, I think the no Law scenario looks like this:

LG - Lathon then Ash
SG - Gaines or Turner
SF - Turner or Kopp
PF (or S4) - Nance then Falzon
C - Pardon then Benson

Things we know: Falzon did not have it last season. Many theories why, but no one knows for sure. I would argue it is more likely that he does not meaningfully contribute next year than he does. We also know somebody(s) get hurt every year. No idea who - but that bench is really thin.

Speculation - Are any of the main three frosh B1G ready? If Falzon is not rotation worthy, then.... There are only 7 true rotation players in my depth chart. That is thinner than Paris Hilton's hopes of returning to relevance.

CCC has increased the quality of recruiting but he hasn't fielded a full schollie squad since Vassar's first year. So his misses loom larger. We need a guard. Real bad. Then we/he/us need to determine what is left in the cupboard. Is RI returning and able to contribute meaningfully? Same for Falzon? Same for Law? If the answer is no, then I think a medical version of Creaning needs to happen (strongly encourage medical retirement - I suspect all three could make a case) and get something better than warm bodies in here for next year.

As it sits, even with a healthy Law, we are an injury or a not ready frosh away from another season like this last one.

Well, thankfully it is sunny and warm down here in NC. I prefer not to think pessimistically about Vic, he seems like a stand-up guy and I hope he will be OK.

I'm pretty sure medical retirements are determined by the Doc's, not the head coach, so nature will take her course in determining Rap's future with the team.

 

[IGNORE2]

Well, thankfully it is sunny and warm down here in NC. I prefer not to think pessimistically about Vic, he seems like a stand-up guy and I hope he will be OK.

I'm pretty sure medical retirements are determined by the Doc's, not the head coach, so nature will take her course in determining Rap's future with the team.

I think you are right in part. I think (I actually know having been operated on twice while a student/athlete at NU) that the Doc is looped in with the coaches. I can see a conversation along the lines of:

Doc to Coach: X will be sidelined for a good T months, then slowly get back into the swing of things. I can't say he will ever be like he was, I can't say the problem won't recur - if he works really, really hard, he might be able to get back where he was when this happened
Coach to himself - Not enough time left or X has never really worked hard and I don't see it
Coach to Asst Coach or Senior Player - talk to X, see where his head is at (maybe even shares Doc info), see if he wants to retire
Liason to X - How are you feeling? Doc is says it is going to take a lot of hard work and pain to get back where you started. Nobody would blame you if you felt you couldn't undertake all this PT, endure the related pain especially knowing you might end up hurt again, maybe worse...I'm sure the staff would make sure you kept your ride if you decided to retire...
X (gets it) to Doc - I don't think I can do it. I hurt now (true or not), I don't want to risk further injury - would you think retiring due to injury is medically supprted?
Doc - Sure son, let me help you with the paperwork...

I can see this scenario for any of the three guys - and I thinking the time is controllable.

 

[NJCat]

I think you are right in part. I think (I actually know having been operated on twice while a student/athlete at NU) that the Doc is looped in with the coaches. I can see a conversation along the lines of:

Doc to Coach: X will be sidelined for a good T months, then slowly get back into the swing of things. I can't say he will ever be like he was, I can't say the problem won't recur - if he works really, really hard, he might be able to get back where he was when this happened
Coach to himself - Not enough time left or X has never really worked hard and I don't see it
Coach to Asst Coach or Senior Player - talk to X, see where his head is at (maybe even shares Doc info), see if he wants to retire
Liason to X - How are you feeling? Doc is says it is going to take a lot of hard work and pain to get back where you started. Nobody would blame you if you felt you couldn't undertake all this PT, endure the related pain especially knowing you might end up hurt again, maybe worse...I'm sure the staff would make sure you kept your ride if you decided to retire...
X (gets it) to Doc - I don't think I can do it. I hurt now (true or not), I don't want to risk further injury - would you think retiring due to injury is medically supprted?
Doc - Sure son, let me help you with the paperwork...

I can see this scenario for any of the three guys - and I thinking the time is controllable.

I don't doubt that there is wink-wink-nod-nod between the docs and the coaches. But I also think Collins will be very careful, given that the Vassar lawsuit still hangs over the University and another embarrassing situation could get him fired.

 

[IGNORE2]

I don't doubt that there is wink-wink-nod-nod between the docs and the coaches. But I also think Collins will be very careful, given that the Vassar lawsuit still hangs over the University and another embarrassing situation could get him fired.

Very possible thought about the current environment, but I think the medical wink wink is definitely out there. I can't imagine a scenario where a schollie player remains on the schollie roster when no longer wanted unless it is contested (Vassar). I think players that are on good terms either transfer or find a route to retirement - probably to secure coaching positions and references down the road. Vassar will clearly not get any positive references from NU Athletics and is probably out of sports for life now. Seeing that he didn't stick with any particular HS or AAU program, I cannot imagine he has any positive BB references.

On the flip side, I seem to recall an NU football player that took a medical retirement and then went on to WWF wrestling. I don't think he was lined up to be useful to the FB program and found a mutually beneficial exit strategy. He was healthy enough to join the craze of WWF staged but physical wrestling.

 

[DaCat]

It seems Vic has already been struck more than once by the NUBBHG. He deserves a reprieve from the jinx for his senior year. Hope he gets back to 100% by no later than the start of the B1G schedule.

 

[salukicat]

If Law and Ash are healthy, next year's team will be long, lean and mean. Four 6'10 players (with Rap), five 6'7 or taller wings. Aggressive, athletic guards and role players. Should be a fun team to watch, especially when shots are falling. When there not, these guys should be able to take it to the rim.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Go cats! We need Vic