The All-Injury Team for College Basketball in 2014-15

Few things in sports are as disheartening as injuries, especially at the college level. Nobody wants to see a student-athlete’s season or even career cut short because of health problems, regardless of what team he or she is on.

Unfortunately, there have been some notable injuries during this college basketball season that have impacted the way the campaign has unfolded for a number of teams.

With that in mind, here is a look at an all-injury team for the 2014-15 season. Only serious long-term injuries were considered, so a player such as Jahlil Okafor with a short-term ankle injury did not make the cut.

Let me know who you think belongs on this list in the comments below.

Briante Weber, Guard, VCU

Zach Gibson/Associated Press

VCU’s success comes from the havoc it creates on the defensive side of the ball, and that havoc is missing its leading act in Briante Weber. Weber will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus.

Weber is the rare college player who made his impact felt on the defensive end more than the offensive one. He averaged an astounding 3.9 steals per game this season before getting hurt, which was a slight improvement from his ridiculous 3.5 steals per game in 2013-14.

He was a constant source of energy and stifled opposing ball-handlers the moment they took the inbounds pass after a made basket. If there is any silver lining to the injury, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports believes that the Rams are better offensively with JeQuan Lewis running the point instead of Weber.

Still, that is not enough to make up for the loss of Weber’s defense.

Caris LeVert, Guard, Michigan

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

It has been a season to forget for Michigan, and one reason why it has struggled with a 14-13 record is the loss of Caris LeVert, who was widely considered the team’s best returning player. LeVert required foot surgery after an injury earlier this year.

Head coach John Beilein commented on the setback in a press conference, via Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com:

"

Caris has been working so hard this season and for this to happen is very unfortunate. If we know anything about Caris, he will do everything it takes to not only get better, but to help his teammates during this time. He is a tremendous young man who I will really miss coaching the remainder of the season. However, I am optimistic he will have a complete recovery.

"

LeVert was a budding offensive weapon who could drill three-pointers and attack the basket off the dribble. His presence on the floor helps the Wolverines’ spacing and overall offensive efficiency, especially when Spike Albrecht and Zak Irvin attack the rim.

LeVert’s loss was only amplified when Derrick Walton went down with an injury as well. If there is a Big Ten team due for better luck in the injury department next season, it is Michigan.

Justin Anderson, Guard, Virginia

Ryan M. Kelly/Associated Press

Virginia is one of the primary contenders for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and could very well challenge anyone in the country because of its dominant defense.

However, the Cavaliers are much less potent without guard Justin Anderson after he fractured his finger. The 6’6” guard, who is versatile enough to play a number of different positions, is averaging 13.4 points per game and is absolutely lethal from behind the three-point line. In fact, he is hitting 48.4 percent of his shots from long range.

Virginia’s defense is good enough to carry it deep into the NCAA tournament, but it needs a healthy Anderson (who is second on the team in scoring) if it wants to win a national title or even reach the Final Four. Cavaliers fans better hope he comes back before the madness begins.

Alex Poythress, Forward, Kentucky

Chris Steppig/Associated Press

Nobody is going to suggest that Kentucky’s national title hopes were derailed when Alex Poythress tore his ACL. After all, the Wildcats are still undefeated and look like an unstoppable locomotive on the way to a national title.

Still, Poythress’ absence is felt in other ways beyond just the wins and losses.

He brings veteran leadership to a team that freshmen and sophomores largely dominate. He is a tremendous defender because of his length at 6’8” and enough athleticism to guard anyone from shooting guards to power forwards. He also helps in the rebounding department.

If Poythress were still a cog in the Kentucky machine, John Calipari’s squad would be even more dangerous. That just doesn’t seem fair at all.

Larry Nance Jr., Forward, Wyoming

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

Larry Nance Jr. is dealing with a case of mononucleosis, and it remains to be seen when he will return to the floor. Wyoming is a much more formidable threat for some of the top seeds when March Madness rolls around if Nance is on the floor.

He is averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game and a team-high 7.2 rebounds a night and is a double-double threat every time he takes the court. He is an absolute skywalker who electrifies the crowd with his ability to dunk, but he does much more that that for this team.

Nance can stretch the defense with a mid-range shot, attack the rim off the dribble and post up smaller defenders. He is the most dynamic player on the roster and makes Wyoming a potent foe come tournament time.

He has to get healthy first.

Bench: Cullen Neal, Traevon Jackson and Rashad Vaughn

Mel Evans/Associated Press

Any good team needs a bench, and the all-injury squad for the 2014-15 season certainly has enough members to boast one as well.

Wisconsin’s Traevon Jackson fractured his foot and still has not returned to the court for the dominant Badgers. New Mexico’s Cullen Neal is out for the year with an ankle injury, and UNLV’s Rashad Vaughn is out indefinitely with a meniscus tear.

This threesome brings a little bit of everything in terms of backcourt players.

Jackson is a cerebral leader who sets the tone and the pace with his ball-handling and passing skills from the point guard spot. Neal is a deadeye three-point shooter who can stretch the defense. Vaughn is an elite scorer who can both shoot from the outside and attack the rim off the dribble.

On paper, this team is small and athletic because of the sheer number of impact guards who have been hurt this season. Here’s to a healthy 2015-16 campaign.

All statistics are current as of Tuesday, Feb. 24.