Sucks so bad seeing him minimized.

Not sure what we were trying with him and Caleb on the floor together last night...still trying new things maybe??

I have no idea how CSD uses EJ. Seems pretty random. I am just glad the guy is able to play again.

And some small part of me hopes that EJ is in better condition than we think, and CSD is just waiting to get through one rotation of B12 play and then start playing EJ more in order to give everyone a different look in the last half of B12 play and the tournament.

Ya, I know. Very unlikely.

He immediately got off the bench and followed Love into the tunnel as he hopped off the court late. Came back about a minute later.

He is for sure a valuable leader.

The athleticism is completely gone, sadly. And I don't think it's ever coming back. I've noticed him huddling up with assistant coaches recently, so I'm pretty sure they are grooming him for coaching.

Either way, I'm happy to see him on the floor even for a few minutes. His energy and constant communication on defense has to rub off at least a little bit on our rag tag group of defenders.

Hotsauce said:

---

The athleticism is completely gone, sadly. And I don't think it's ever coming back. I've noticed him huddling up with assistant coaches recently, so I'm pretty sure they are grooming him for coaching.

---

I thought I either heard or read somewhere that he's already essentially functioning like a "player coach" this season.

GoodOleBaylorLine said:

---

I have no idea how CSD uses EJ. Seems pretty random. I am just glad the guy is able to play again.

And some small part of me hopes that EJ is in better condition than we think, and CSD is just waiting to get through one rotation of B12 play and then start playing EJ more in order to give everyone a different look in the last half of B12 play and the tournament.

Ya, I know. Very unlikely.

---

I think a lot of us dream about that happening but also realize it's a pipe dream.

Hotsauce said:

---

The athleticism is completely gone, sadly. And I don't think it's ever coming back. I've noticed him huddling up with assistant coaches recently, so I'm pretty sure they are grooming him for coaching.

Either way, I'm happy to see him on the floor even for a few minutes. His energy and constant communication on defense has to rub off at least a little bit on our rag tag group of defenders.

---

I've been thinking for awhile that he might make a really good coach. I hope you are correct here and that is something he would want to do.

I think I've read something like that a few times.

The only strange thing to me is that he played almost 3 times as many minutes last year when he was less than a year off the injury and possibly even worse physically than he is playing now, two years post injury -- 19 minutes vs. 7 minutes.

I realize some of that has to do with Missi coming out even better than anticipated at the start of the season and Josh O progressively improving during the season, but it still seems odd to me that he's not as able to play this year as he was last year (as described to me by a media guy who covers the team). Sure seems like he would be able to help us physically inside against some matchups more than he's playing, but I have faith Drew and staff are doing what's best for the team and Jonathan.

Maybe they overused EJ last year out of necessity and realized belatedly that he needed a lighter load. I'm speculating.

Probably so. I guess this is kind of a bonus year with Jonathan anyway. Had he not torn up the knee, he was on a pace to have an incredible year last year and probably would have declared for the draft. Such a shame that happened to such a talented (and nice) guy.

My thinking is that God has other plans for him. Maybe his faith is being tested but he seems to be the kind of man that can be strengthened by that test. All of this might make help him a great coach some day.

Heck, he might even replace Coach Drew in another 10-15 years! Yes, my imagination does run wild some time. Seriously, I just hope and pray that he rises to his potential and fulfills God's purpose whatever that might be.