How I See It...

I think losing Whiteside to injury (I've heard he's out for the year...I think I saw somewhere that it is his ACL) right before the season has hurt.  He brings a more driving attack that isn't really available on the roster otherwise (other than Anumba at times, but he just doesn't look to do it often...and Russ is about the only other one that does it, but obviously his size creates some issues).  I've heard Lane could be redshirting...I don't think he got cleared for full contact from his injury last season until right before the season began, so I'm assuming that he was limited in the offseason which may be why they're being careful with him.

And while Prosser coached under Kelsey, he isn't the same coach and the team isn't doing the same things, so I think having the returning experience is helpful, but there's still a new coach learning curve and also incorporating some new guys who are playing big roles, so I'm still expecting that the team should definitely look better as the season goes along.

-Buggs vs. Russ?  I'm also wondering why Russ doesn't get more minutes sometimes (I don't really care about whether he starts or not).  But then in a game like Coastal, he did foul out, so he played as much as he could...and his size does create some problems in some matchups.  He got posted up against Coastal against anyone other than Rudi Williams, and Rudi was just torching everyone that day, so even Russ struggled to stay on him at times.  But I do think Russ helps the defense with his on-ball pressure by disrupting what the other team is trying to get into in their sets, even if he does get beat off the perimeter sometimes when guarding in the half-court (though Buggs hasn't exactly looked like a good defender, so it isn't like the team is losing anything there anyway).  

-Prosser's in a tough spot with Corbin.  He's had chances to shoot out of the slump but he's just missing everything and he isn't giving the team much else when he isn't hitting threes right now.  He's really struggled finishing on fast break chances too.

-Jamal King?  If he can bring something, I wouldn't mind seeing him a little more either..but whose minutes should he be taking?

-I was sitting right behind the bench at the Coastal game and it is obvious that Cory's thumb/hand is really bothering him.  I do think even before the injury that he sometimes tries to do a little too much sometimes, but I also think he's one of the few shot-creators on the team so I think he has to do it sometimes.  But especially now with the injury, I think he really struggles with his handle, and it is affecting his shot some even though it is his non-shooting hand.  Hopefully he can be full strength as conference play rolls around because he is definitely going to be needed (and he's one of the better rebounders on a team that just doesn't rebound that well).

-McMahon's minutes have steadily declined so far this year.  His outside shot has struggled almost as much as Josh's (he shot over 40% last season), and if he's not hitting threes, I do think his role is limited.  I think he can do some of the same on-ball pressure that Russ can do (he did that some against Mercer with success), but I'd prefer Russ over him at any point right now, so I really don't know what his role is right now other than deep depth if needed or hopefully to hit some threes off the bench.