This Really Hurts!

[SaintLouBrave22]

We are less than 5 hrs away from the season opening tip and have already been dealt a season ending blow...

Maybe someone else can go through the yearly injuries again but I will just say, this is just a sick, awful feeling...EVERY SINGLE YEAR this happens!!

A hex on the program...

How do we get rid of this?!

A team picked for top half and now almost destined for destruction...

Can they rebound from this so early?

Or will this be another nail in the proverbial what ifs that we have every year post injury?

[BUFanatic]

While it is a lamentable loss, I think you are WAY overestimating TB's impact on the team. If we had lost, say, Warren for another year, or even Maniscalco, I may be more worried, however, because of TB's off-court activities, we already had to play quite a few games without him. Of course, I wish TB all the best, but I can't see why this is a "season ending blow".

[AE Braves Fan]

TB is our best player. Also the most difficult to replace.

[theBUer]

While it is a lamentable loss, I think you are WAY overestimating TB's impact on the team. If we had lost, say, Warren for another year, or even Maniscalco, I may be more worried, however, because of TB's off-court activities, we already had to play quite a few games without him. Of course, I wish TB all the best, but I can't see why this is a "season ending blow".

He was our top rebounder and second-leading returning scorer last season. This will definitely have an impact, in fact it's a moot point when he missed those games. In spite of that, he still put up those numbers.

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/news/x1270134419/Bradleys-Taylor-Brown-out-for-season

But as others have said, it's just a game. This is just a great opportunity for the others to really up the ante.

[bugregshu]

While it is a lamentable loss, I think you are WAY overestimating TB's impact on the team. If we had lost, say, Warren for another year, or even Maniscalco, I may be more worried, however, because of TB's off-court activities, we already had to play quite a few games without him. Of course, I wish TB all the best, but I can't see why this is a "season ending blow".

We have guard depth, we don't have post depth. Other than POSSIBLY Sam M, Taylor is the one player we couldn't afford to lose this season. We need AT, MK, or AD to step up right now, otherwise it's going to be a long season.

[unbekannt]

There are a few bright sides to this story.
#1 TB's health!
#2 more playing time for younger players that could step up/develop.
#3 It happened early. If this occurred during the tourney or right before, it would be devastating.

It could really kill this year, but I'm not high on the team for this year anyway. Hopefully TB can get a medical redshirt and play another year. We had SS for 6 years; I can't imagine why this wouldn't qualify for TB.

It's just college basketball. It doesn't really matter.

[tornado]

Also I am reminded of the season in 2004-05 when Brian Randle broke his hand early on and was out for the whole year and everyone said Illinois' season is doomed..
..they ended up in the Final Four........so let's keep pulling for the guys we have on the floor...

[shaunguth]

While it is a lamentable loss, I think you are WAY overestimating TB's impact on the team. If we had lost, say, Warren for another year, or even Maniscalco, I may be more worried, however, because of TB's off-court activities, we already had to play quite a few games without him. Of course, I wish TB all the best, but I can't see why this is a "season ending blow".

Really?

I don't believe MK or JE are adequate "replacements" for TB.....especially if SM is unable to play consistently. I hope those two prove me wrong, but I won't be holding my breath.

[Beninator]

TB is our best player. Also the most difficult to replace.

With all respect to TB, I could debate best player, but he is certainly the most difficult player to replace!

[thefish7]

This sucks. But given some time to reflect it's better we found it this way than what happened with our baseball player. Health in this case is the thing. I hope they figure out what it is and what to do about it. Otherwise it is what it is.. Other guys will pick up the slack or not. Either way, to tb: keep your head up through this. We're all behind you.

[BUBraves2006]

There are a few bright sides to this story.
#1 TB's health!
#2 more playing time for younger players that could step up/develop.
#3 It happened early. If this occurred during the tourney or right before, it would be devastating.

It could really kill this year, but I'm not high on the team for this year anyway. Hopefully TB can get a medical redshirt and play another year. We had SS for 6 years; I can't imagine why this wouldn't qualify for TB.

It's just college basketball. It doesn't really matter.

Really? If you can't have high hopes for a team that their best players are almost all seniors, when exactly do you have high hopes?

And the point about health is irrelevant. EVERYONE wants TB to be healthy now and lead a full life. This is just stating the obvious - nobody is going to take the opposite point of view.

You honestly think we'll be better next year without Warren, Maniscalco and Dodie?

Jeeze ... I'd rather have the perception that some have that everything is rosy and we're going to win the conference title every year than an attitude like that.

And the point about TB's health is irrelevant. EVERYONE wants TB to be healthy now and for the rest of his life. Don't tell me that's a "positive" here.

[Beninator]

Another aspect in which this hurts the team is that I do not think that we can redshirt AD. A lot of posters, myself included, were speculating about this for the program.

[BradleyJD]

Also I am reminded of the season in 2004-05 when Brian Randle broke his hand early on and was out for the whole year and everyone said Illinois' season is doomed..
..they ended up in the Final Four........so let's keep pulling for the guys we have on the floor...

Great point T....also, the coaching has known about this for awhile. They have been game-planning as such.

I am 100% confident that BU overcomes this.

GO BU

[real fan]

While it is a lamentable loss, I think you are WAY overestimating TB's impact on the team. If we had lost, say, Warren for another year, or even Maniscalco, I may be more worried, however, because of TB's off-court activities, we already had to play quite a few games without him. Of course, I wish TB all the best, but I can't see why this is a "season ending blow".

You have to be kidding me, he is our best rebounder and inside scorer, sorry but we have no one to replace him, a 5th place finish looks pretty good right now.

[Beninator]

You have to be kidding me, he is our best rebounder and inside scorer, sorry but we have no one to replace him, a 5th place finish looks pretty good right now.

I am not diminishing anything about TB when I say this as he brings a lot of intangibles to the game, but I think that JP can become our best rebounder.