Burton, Cayo and what happens if Sherod isn't hurt

[97spiderfan]

Got to wondering with Burton playing the way he is right now, which is a high end A-10 level starter, whom we want and need to get as many minutes as we can give him. What would be happening if Sherod had not gotten injured.

Probably Cayo and Sherod would be starting, Burton would be getting less minutes, showing flashes with fans wanting to see him more but Mooney being loyal to his seniors, both of whom also would be playing well.

I miss Sherod, his loss hurts us in multiple ways, particularly from a depth standpoint. However, Burton's development I don't think would be occurring without his increased role. And honestly, Burton has a unique skill set with his high flyer, high energy, I'm going to get every rebound mentality, that this team needs. He has the potential to be our best player even on this team this year.

He would deserve to be starting with or without Sherod on the team and that would have presented Mooney an interesting conundrum.

 

[SpiderER]

He would deserve to be starting with or without Sherod on the team and that would have presented Mooney an interesting conundrum.

It is one of those unfortunate for one, silver lining for the other, type situation. What would have happened if Drew Bledsoe didn't get injured when he did? What would have Tom Brady's career looked like? What would have happened if Drew Brees didn't injure his shoulder in San Diego and stayed there? Those are two situations I can think off the top of my head.

I truly miss Sherod. A wonderful representative of the University and a great player. But you are right, Burton would be playing 15 minutes a game if Sherod was still there. Now he will be 30 minutes plus for the rest of his career.

Hopefully some of the depth concerns can be filled by Crabtree.

 

[spiderman]

I think Cayo and Nick would be playing 30 mpg, and Burton 20.
Sal would be the odd man out, and that would be a shame because he's showing well.

 

[SpiderGuy]

My theory - Buton's game is what it is - really really good & our best athlete. I think he excels be it as starter or catalyst off of bench. He showed his skills last year & is continuing his presence this year. With NS this year (theoretically), I belive if Burton was our first of the bench he would have shown why he deserved more minutes, and Mooney would have had to find those minutes for him. A guy with his varied skill set can't be denied & be kept on the bench.

 

[VT4700]

I don't think Nick being healthy this year would have hurt Burton's development at all, and I think both still could have had plenty of minutes.

Let's give Grant, Grace, and Sal a combined 40, Jacob 37, and Blake 33. That would still leave 90 minutes for Nate, Nick, Tyler, and Andre. So, depending on match ups and how the game is going, any 2 of these players could easily get around 25 minutes a game, still leaving 20 a game for the other 2. And, If any of them are playing so well they need even more minutes, it would be easy to have them with 30 minute games. If Tyler is playing great, and we needed Nick's shooting, both could have 30 minute games, while still leaving good minutes for the others. Also, some games, Grace and Sal could play less, leaving even more minutes for the others.

Bottom line is we could use and would find minutes for Nick, who was 10th in the country last year in 3 point percentage, without dropping Burton's minutes that much.

 

[GKiller]

Mooney is on record as saying Sherod would have taken some minutes at the center spot offensively, to account for needing to get Burton more minutes. I think he would have been good at that high post spot too. So Grace & Sal would have lost that backup time. The issue is how we'd play it defensively, probably would have made Cayo more vulnerable on D, but we've done the small ball lineup periodically to success.

 

[VT4700]

Mooney is on record as saying Sherod would have taken some minutes at the center spot offensively, to account for needing to get Burton more minutes. I think he would have been good at that high post spot too. So Grace & Sal would have lost that backup time. The issue is how we'd play it defensively, probably would have made Cayo more vulnerable on D, but we've done the small ball lineup periodically to success.

Yep, if Grace and Sal lose around 7 minutes and each starter has just 1 less minute a game, that's already 12 more for Burton. It would not have been a problem to give Burton and Nick enough minutes.

 

[spiderman]

Mooney is on record as saying Sherod would have taken some minutes at the center spot offensively, to account for needing to get Burton more minutes.

huh? that's not where I'd want Nick. and who's defending the 5 then?

 

[VT4700]

Not a lot of teams have a true 5, or center. I think he was saying another way to get Burton minutes with a healthy Nick could have been to have Nick, Burton, and Nate on the floor when Grant got a rest. It would depend on match ups and how the game was going, but no reason why we could not have been successful this way.

 

[GKiller]

huh? that's not where I'd want Nick. and who's defending the 5 then?

Well he wouldn't be there exclusively. The rest of my quote that you cut off said defensively would be more of an unknown & Cayo or maybe Burton would logically have to take some defensive post responsibilities.

I think Sherod would have been good there, he can distribute from high post and would get 3 ball attempts from top of key. Keep in mind it may have been only 10 minutes I don't know. We have played a small ball lineup and I think it definitely works at times depending on matchups.

Anyway take it up with Mooney, he was pretty clear about it in a recent interview and said he talked to Nick this summer about it too.

 

[spiderman]

I missed that interview. we can press small but I don't like Cayo or Burton defending a 5 man to man in the half court. but yeah, if Nick was playing we'd need to find ways to get him, Tyler and Nathan the appropriate amount of time. but I don't think it would go well. part of the reason we're rebounding better is our size with Burton at the 3. we'd go back to being undersized again.

 

[VT4700]

Not a lot of teams have a 5.

 

[SpiderTrap]

The minutes and development of Burton is the only bright side to the Sherod injury. And trust me - this development and minutes will come into play a lot next year because based on what I have seen so far from the reserves - we will more than likely be in major rebuild mode next season and will rely on Burton a lot of for his experience and will need him to lead the team in a lot of categories to avoid slipping too far once everyone graduates (and assuming they don't return).

 

[GKiller]

I missed that interview.

sman if u r interested in listening I’m pretty sure it was from the postgame press conference after UNI game.

 

[SpiderRick]

I know (hope?) it's early in the season, but if Mooney doesn't get our new young guards some regular, meaningful minutes; then we are in a world of hurt next year. For Mooney, that means queue the billboard guys...

 

[spiderman]

sman if u r interested in listening I’m pretty sure it was from the postgame press conference after UNI game.

thanks

 

[spiderman]

Not a lot of teams have a 5.

I don't mean just calling a guy a 5 on the roster. our roster says we don't have a 5 either. but of course we do. so do most teams.