I know that CTB is not built this way so this is really more of a plea than an expectation.

Following yesterday's crushing defeat, it's time to start cycling up minutes for our freshmen. If there was any sort of silver lining to yesterday afternoon it is that we are starting to see more meaningful contribution from our young guys. Capers played a healthy 29 minutes and Klay was on the floor for virtually the entire game. Casto got 16 minutes and he was very productive when he was on the floor.

I hate to say it because I love our Seniors but.....

.....it's clear that they are good players but not clutch players. Not capable of hitting THAT shot consistently. The one that stops a crushing run or the late game runner or jumper that puts us over the top. That is a skill and a mindset. One that the Low's and Weaver's of the world learned by missing them when they were freshmen and sophomores. The Seniors are learning to be the primetime guys....the ones responsible for that shot a year too late. Next year those missed runners would go in but by then Baynes and Taylor will be looking to make a mark in a foreign league and Forrest and Harmeling will be looking for work as a graduate assistant or in the real world. I really thought that Baynes and Taylor would be clutch this year. If anything was clear yesterday it was that the guy who should have the ball in his hand at the end of the game is a guy by the name of Klay. Hit or miss, at least he'll be applying that experience in games the next three years.

On that note, was Klay different this weekend because his Dad was in the house? He seemed more aggressive and willing to "hunt" his shot. It's not translating to free throws yet because Klay is satisfied to play mid-range or behind the arc. Once he adds finishing at the hoop we will be looking at a Conference Player of the Year candidate. Let's hope it happens next season because we are going to need scoring in a big way. It was great to see Capers get the minutes that he did. Clearly, the guy needs to take about 6,000 jumpers over the summer but you can see that he's going to be a huge defensive asset next year and hopefully we figure out how to involve his slashing in the offense since he can take people off the dribble. It would be good to see more of Harthun and Lodwick. They have looked pretty sketchy but it's time to find out what we can get out of them and how to best utilize them in the future.

It should be an intersting offseason. We have to figure that Witherill at the very minimum transfers out to get more minutes. Is there anyone else? That would leave one more scholarship to fill. Does Tony look at a JC point guard to help with ballhandling? I know he hates JC's but if you can get a highly touted point guard or an athletic power forward center do you pull the trigger? I think yes.

Hopefully we can watch the next five games with youth in mind and hopefully we'll pull an upset over the Dogs to close things out. Then it's the dream of maybe making an improbable run in the Pac-10 Tournament. But for all intents and purposes, our hopes for the NCAA or NIT died yesterday when that Taylor runner pocorned out of the bucket.

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