Next Year! 10 Wins or Bust!

Posted By: Senioritis
Date: 2012-02-03 13:47:15

I am aware that Utah still has nine contests remaining in the current season, but I don't know how much more time I can spend thinking about Javon Dawson's game before I end up in the corner curled into the fetal position, sucking my thumb and humming Tijuana Taxi. The current season, the longest in the history of organized sports at any level, will some day come to an end. I also believe that a loving, merciful God will help us all to forget it, at some point.

So, anyways, next year. The slate is as blank as Ray Giacoletti's stare. There's so much coming and going, who the crap knows what will happen? The coaches are still out recruiting, too, so there could be even more variables to be included in our equation of, uh, stuff.

Also, I have no contacts at all. I contribute to the CC, I go to a bunch of games, I post on this magnificent board like 8 times per year, how come I don't have any contacts? Even Mr. Crimson has contacts. I want some contacts! As it is, this is just a buttload of crap about stuff.

Anyway, here's where we are right now, I think. Depth chart:

G: Dean, Storey
G: Dotson, Hines, Seymour, AO
F: Leslie, Hearlihy
F: Loveridge, Washburn, Olsen
C: Foster, Bachynski

Guys most likely to redshirt, in order of likelihood:

AO
Hearlihy
Seymour

However, if Seymour can shoot like the recruiting goobers say he can, I think he's got a shot of playing. Same with Hearlihy, if he guard the 3 and shoot. Utah is desperate for shooters like Nick Nolte is desperate for Proactiv. AO needs a year, but he's a thing that is wick, he just needs time.

Guys most likely to be mercifully set free, in order of likelihood:

Dawson
Matthews
Martin
Farr
Washburn
AO
Hines

Of Martin, Dawson, Matthews, I think Martin is the most likely to hang around, because Utah is desperate for shooters like Kelly Clarkson is desperate for a salad. Matthews just doesn't get it, and I don't think K has the patience to wait until he gets it. If Matthews stays, he redshirts and spends the year with an assistant's foot in his hind parts, but I wouldn't bet on it. Disappointing.

Hines sticks around because he can shoot (at least for a Runnin' Ute), and Lisa Leslie sticks around because he's a great blender who would be a lot better on a team where some of his teammates can, I don't know, score.

Strange as it is, I wouldn't be totally shocked to see Washburn gone and Bachynski take the role of the loud clapping, inconsistent, pasty yet endearing lanky guy. That's crazy, isn't it, but it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility. Don't you sort of know what Wash is "good" for at this point? And he's got one year left. Bachynski has three, and I can't assume his ceiling could possibly be lower than Wash's. Utah will have Foster, Olsen, Bachynski, and Wash. How many 7' stiffs does one team need? And if it comes down to Foster for one year or Washburn for one year, DUH. If it's Washburn for one year or Matthews for three years, who cares? Washburn for one or unnamed JC Big Wing for two?

I'm not sure if Love is a 3 or a 4, but, based on talent alone, I expect him to get a ton of minutes. Evidently he can shoot it, he's got a big body, but he's not tall. I doubt he'll be effective in the post early on, but I think he'll learn to score pretty quickly. If there really is a merciful God who loves us, he will learn to score quickly.

Dean shot 42% from 3 at EWU. If he can match that at Utah, it would be massive. It would also greatly compliment Dotson, who can't shoot but can get to the rim. Storey will come off the bench, and I really like him as an energy guy who can push the tempo and pressure the ball.

The thing that pisses me off is George Matthews. If Love is a 4, then there's a big fat hole at the 3. George Matthews should be filling that hole like Goatnapper filling a cup at the fertility clinic, or something. But he just doesn't get it. Can Dotson play the 3? Not sure he's big enough. Lisa Leslie can play the 3, but that would be better for 15 minutes per night instead of 30. Hearlihy is a 3, but I just doubt he's ready to play next year. Maybe it's because he looks like a bona fide albino. We've had a ton of surprising disappointments over the past few years, so it seems like we're due for a surprising appointment. Maybe Hearlihy is that guy. But he's so white he's translucent.

Finally, I am looking forward to the day where it doesn't seem totally embarrassing to spend this much time thinking about Utah basketball. As it is, however, there's no controlling the tears of embarrassment welling up in both of my eyes.

There's a grief that can't be spoken.

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