by Sports Xchange

Updated: October 9, 2008, 12:00 AM EST

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When Justin Nabors landed awkwardly in a pickup game in September, his dislocated elbow and fractured leg reverberated through the Lamar basketball program. Nabors hurt physically, and the team will be hurt without him.

While the Cardinals lost two of the better players of the past two seasons -- including team leader Lamar Sanders and 3-point marksman Darren Hopkins -- along with a host of experienced, talented players, Nabors was one of the cornerstones for this season's team, one that was optimistic that it could win the wide-open West Division of the Southland Conference and make a move toward the conference championship.

Nabors is expected to be out until at least January, and that will make it likely he will redshirt. If the team opts to bring Nabors back at midseason, if he can make it back, there are the obvious concerns of his game shape and the ability to be in sync with the rest of the team.

At least there still is talent, though Nabors' loss -- which includes 11.2 points and 6.4 rebounds a game -- thins the ranks considerably.

Guard Kenny Dawkins emerged as the sparkplug last season, a transfer who immediately blended in with his teammates; leading Lamar with 14.6 points and 4.5 assists a game. Guard Brandon McThay showed a 3-point touch, hitting just shy of 43 percent from long range.

Tristan Worrell and Jay Brown were up and down as complements to Nabors and Sanders. Their play early in the season will be an indicator of whether the Cardinals can compete without Nabors, or whether they will be crossing the days off the calendar awaiting his return or even writing off this season as a lost cause.

At least one of the newcomers will have to emerge, as coach Steve Roccaforte likes to have a deep bench. Freshman guard Charlie Harper was a San Antonio high school standout, averaging a double-double and showing a lot of potential.