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2016-17 College Basketball All-Injured Team

By Charlie Maikis

Jan 29, 2017; Queens, NY, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Edmond Sumner (4) drives past St. John's Red Storm forward Tariq Owens (11) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; Queens, NY, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Edmond Sumner (4) drives past St. John's Red Storm forward Tariq Owens (11) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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What if we were to construct a college basketball team simply with players on the shelf this year?

Injuries, especially those of the season-ending variety, have been playing a huge role in this season. Countless contenders have seen one of their key players go down at a terrible time. It’s seemingly happening more this season than it has in years gone by. Whether an injury kills a team’s postseason hopes or simply stunts a challenger’s ceiling, various programs have had to adjust midseason to the worst of hands being dealt. So which teams have been hit the hardest? Who are the best players that have gone down? How would a team made up solely of injured players fare throughout the season?

Those questions have gotten me thinking. We have All-American teams and All-Conference teams, but why not give recognition to those who unfortunately have had their season cut short? Too often are injured players forgotten soon after they leave the public eye rather than lauded for what they did accomplish for their teams. That said, here are the best of the best that America was robbed of watching for a full season, our 2016-17 All-Injured Team.

Point Guard: Jordan Woodard

Team: Oklahoma

Stats: 14.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.1 APG

Jordan Woodard was the senior point guard responsible for carrying Oklahoma into the post-Buddy Hield era. The season hasn’t gone as planned, but Woodard is having a career year. The Sooners are a very young team and Woodard is doing a good job leading the way and showing them the ropes. He has taken over 28 percent of the team’s shots while on the floor, taking on a scoring load like he’s never had to before. That’s led to him having the highest scoring average in his career and on his team. On top of that, he leads the team with a 22.2 assist percentage. While he doesn’t get to the line often, he is fantastic at icing games. He shoots free throws at 85.7 percent, in the top 100 nationally. Overall, he has led the offense in a way many hoped he could.

He is a cunning, veteran presence on the other end of the floor as well. He uses great positioning to jump passing lanes, and has produced a 3.6 steal percentage (65th in the country). Oklahoma’s defense is significantly better than it’s offense, ranking 75 spots higher in Kenpom‘s adjusted efficiency margin. Woodard has gotten more help on that end, but it still hasn’t been enough. The team is just 9-18 and won’t make postseason play.

Losing Woodard for the year after just 20 games hurts the team in that he won’t be around for the stretch run to help teach his young teammates. Freshman Jordan Shepherd has been getting most of the minutes in his stead and is surely in for a steep learning curve.