FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Northern Arizona coach Jack Murphy was excited to put the 2015-16 season behind him, ready to get the Lumberjacks back on an upward trajectory after a series of injuries stalled the program’s progress.
Instead, more injuries hit, leaving Murphy no choice but to shift returning players into unfamiliar roles and rely on inexperienced players for a second consecutive season.
The result left Northern Arizona near the bottom of the Big Sky Conference standings and still stuck in neutral since a deep postseason run two years ago.
“Injuries on any level are difficult, but on this level they’re debilitating,” Murphy said.