Mussini is not Hooper. Mussini can do far more than Hooper could. Yes, Mussini is a weak defender, but he can handle the ball, get his shot off the dribble (though not regularly against quicker/bigger comp, at this point), and operate within the flow of an offense.
Lavin didn't know how to use Hooper and I don't think most major conference teams could find a role for Hooper. He fared better against mid major comp and playing with a PG who was a really good college player and could control the game at that level so that Hooper was able to get/make open looks, which outweighed the fact that he was a liability on defense and didn't bring anything else to the table.
There is a role for Mussini. He is a streak shooter, like most, and when he's making shots off the bat he could be in the game and the team should find ways to get him looks. When he comes out misfiring, he should head back to the bench until the team needs a burst or the opponent plays zone.