Last night before the game, the broadcasters showed a graphic with Adarius Avery listed as day to day on his availability. With Richardson sidelined until late December at least, and Satterwhite getting put in the doghouse, we only had eight players in the game. As a result, Townes, Custer, Ingram, and Krutwig (!) each played more than 32 minutes. Jackson and Negron had foul problems. Skokna and Williamson played 23 minutes each.

I know these guys are young and in the prime shape of their lives, but in my opinion, having players go more than 32 minutes game after game after game catches up with you at the end of the season. It's like letting a starting pitcher make 120 pitches a game for five starts in a row.

If you look at the game logs for some of the players last year, like Custer and Ingram especially, they played super-heavy minutes through the middle of the season, and their performance dropped off on the last third of the conference season. Most games last year, there were four players playing 33, 35, 37 minutes or more. Ingram, who missed the first half of December with an injury, lasted a little longer than the others until he ran out of gas. But in his last four games, he had only one game where he shot more than 42% from the field after averaging over 53% in his first 25 games.

It didn't help that there was a double overtime game right in the middle of the season-- at UNI-- where Ingram played 45 minutes and Doyle, Custer, and Richardson played 44. Then two weeks later, another crucial OT road game, also a loss, at Missouri State. Ingram, Custer and Doyle each played 40 or more minutes in that one, while only Alize Johnson played more than 37 minutes for the Bears. That Missouri State game was the beginning of the stretch to end the season where we lost 7 of the last 9 games, with four of those losses by two points or less.

If you take a look at the three games last year where Donte Ingram was injured and did not play, the main beneficiaries of that time were Vlatko Granic and Tyson Smith. But after the conference season started, those two were rarely seen. Loyola played eight to ten players in those three games, but some of the players (like Cameron Woodyard) played less than a full minute. Maurice Kirby got a DNP against Wright State. So we were limited by strategy, circumstances, injury AND disciplinary measures.

I'm afraid that the Mississippi Valley State game shows us going down a similar path that caught up to us last season. We only had eight players see any time in the game last night. We had a 17-point lead with 1:09 left. Custer was subbed back into the game on an offensive/defensive sub when we had the ball with :34 left and us up by 13. I would have thought Williamson, Negron, Skokna, DiNardi, and Baughman could have handled it for the final minute against a team that wasn't pressing and stayed in the game longer than expected mostly on the basis of offensive rebounding. And if the issue is worry about the outcome of the game, that could be handled by building a bigger cushion earlier-- a method that me and my blood pressure prefer.

I hope we will get to see Avery play, and I hope it's before Ben Richardson comes back. And I hope that Cam Satterwhite can get back on the court soon, because we're currently thinner than we were last year at this time if he's going to be in the doghouse.

While I completely agree that minutes are something to be watched in the future (especially Claytons) I do have to really disagree that we’re thinner than last year. Every player is on the recovery end of injury. Assuming Avery can play (I think he can) this team will have 11 players who can contribute.

Last season most of our bench didn’t look ready to me, to the point where it me nervous when they were out there. This season Williamson, Skokna and Satterwhite all look trustworthy and can do nice things for us at guard. Plus when Ben returns Krutwig returns to the bench (or maybe Jackson?). Last season I think we were genuinely 5/6 players deep in terms of people you could count on. The high minutes last night seemed to be a case of making the starters clean up their mess based on post game comments.

That all said I agree; they can’t ride these guys 30+ game in game out. But I think there’s reason to have faith in the bench this year. Last night we were shorthanded with whatever’s going on with satterwhite; but I’d rather not make it a big deal after one game. On the bright side. Ben will have low mileage for conference play, and I don’t think Aundre’s foul troubles will continue (hes had a few real questionable calls go against him). In an ideal world by the conference season Aundre will be closer to a consistent 26 mpg, Ben will be be around 28 and Avery around 15 or so.

I said it pnce/ I shall say it again---Coach can [lay hid team as he wishes because he can !! This tear's team has more talent up and down the line than ever in his LUC tenure. AND it will only increase as his bunch wins more. THIS is what happens as we WIN. More and better recruits Bleery has it right

e.g. During Milton years, when he got hurt, there was no onr to assume his strengths---this year Ben is hurt---We still win --Why? Because our talent is even across the board !! To be trite--One through eight , we are great When Avery and Ben return. WOW

I am truly POSITIVE about this gang !!

Completely agree with the depth and Porter not using it to the fullest extent. The trust problem he has really holds him back as a coach. At the beginning of his tenure it was "these aren't his players." Now, he's recruited his own players at what is probably the best skill level Loyola has seen in decades, and yet the quick hook and over-reliance on the favorites really cost us a few conference games last year. Custer and Richardson's play in February left a lot to be desired, but I do think it had a lot to do with the minutes finally catching up to them. Hopefully, we get healthy enough and we don't cut the rotation down to 6 guys like last year. There's too much talent that will be wasted if we don't use them as at least credible backups who can get 15 minutes a game.