Carton is #1 on my wish list

[keefe]

As the head coach, its hard to comprehend how utterly incompetent Woj was in so many facets of the game. Who was responsible for many the hire on this dude, hey?

Wojo's inadequacies as a head coach are hateful. Hateful, I tell you.

I cannot see him being handed the tiller at any program hoping for genuine success in Div I. May he flourish in the smaller ponds and lower rungs of college basketball. He would be an ideal fit at a, say, for instance, DePaul.

[#UnleashSean]

Sigh... no one is better off staying in college rather then go to the NBA. If you have a very good chance of being drafted, go.

The NBA has better coaching, facilities, programs, and non of the bs ncaa rules limiting practice.

[hairy worthen]

Top 25 talent? I don't think so.  NCAA tourney talent?  Absolutely

There are top 25 teams with much lower rated talent.

I have said this is a top 10 team next year given everyone returns and recruits all come. I was chastised by muatl or whatever the hell his name is. I dont think I was far off.

[CAGASS24]

I’ve said it before, but I think the talent already on the team is easily Top 25 talent. The problem is, last year, they played with no semblance of congelation.

If the Big 3 stay, the team is toughened up on defense, and the team actually plays as a team on offense (i.e. balanced scoring, decreased turnovers, solid set plays), I predict that next year we will achieve better results than any year during the Wojo era.

Double time the post - talent was not the problem - roles and coaching seemed to be

[willie warrior]

I’ve said it before, but I think the talent already on the team is easily Top 25 talent. The problem is, last year, they played with no semblance of congelation.

If the Big 3 stay, the team is toughened up on defense, and the team actually plays as a team on offense (i.e. balanced scoring, decreased turnovers, solid set plays), I predict that next year we will achieve better results than any year during the Wojo era.

Just wondering...have not heard it before..is congelation a word?

[Rascal2018]

DJ now follows Shaka on twitter, retweeted the @MarquetteMBB tweet welcoming Shaka, and Instagram "Story'd" the Welcome to MU Shaka posts.  So the feeling is he was a big fan of the hire.

Shaka  was the first coach to offer Garcia so there is some history between the two

[5DollarPitcher]

Just wondering...have not heard it before..is congelation a word?

Congelation (noun)

(1) the process or result of congealing

Congeal (verb)

(1) to change from a fluid to a solid state by or as if by cold

(2) to become congealed : SOLIDIFY

[wadesworld]

We had a solid, promising top 30 freshman, a solid, promising top 100 freshman, and an inconsistent top 40 sophomore.  The rest of our players could be, at best, solid guys off the bench on quality high major teams.  I don't know where all this talent is that we think is on Marquette's roster.

[5DollarPitcher]

We had a solid, promising top 30 freshman, a solid, promising top 100 freshman, and an inconsistent top 40 sophomore.  The rest of our players could be, at best, solid guys off the bench on quality high major teams.  I don't know where all this talent is that we think is on Marquette's roster.

Funny... before Wojo was fired weren’t you fear mongering their departure? Now you “don’t know where all this talent is that we think is on Marquette’s roster.”

Hard to have both those takes but OK.

[hairy worthen]

We had a solid, promising top 30 freshman, a solid, promising top 100 freshman, and an inconsistent top 40 sophomore.  The rest of our players could be, at best, solid guys off the bench on quality high major teams.  I don't know where all this talent is that we think is on Marquette's roster.

Promising freshmen become solid sophomores and inconsistent sophomores become consistent juniors. Plus a top 25 recruiting class coming in if they all still come. That's a pretty good core and better than some top 25 teams.

[wadesworld]

Funny... before Wojo was fired weren’t you fear mongering their departure? Now you “don’t know where all this talent is that we think is on Marquette’s roster.”

Hard to have both those takes but OK.

No, I wasn't.  And I've said the same thing about the "talent" on this team the entire season.  But you have no rebuttal because in reality it's the truth, so you'll make something up that isn't there.

[ATL MU Warrior]

There are top 25 teams with much lower rated talent.

I have said this is a top 10 team next year given everyone returns and recruits all come. I was chastised by muatl or whatever the hell his name is. I dont think I was far off.

That was me. I still think you’re crazy.

[hairy worthen]

That was me. I still think you’re crazy.

Hahahaha,  we shall see I guess.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

There are top 25 teams with much lower rated talent.

I have said this is a top 10 team next year given everyone returns and recruits all come. I was chastised by muatl or whatever the hell his name is. I dont think I was far off.

How can you be a top 10 team when you don't have any ball handlers, the 3 point shooting is suspect, and you turnover the ball consistently?   Ohhh, and you don't have anyone that can create their own shot?

[MU82]

There are top 25 teams with much lower rated talent.

I have said this is a top 10 team next year given everyone returns and recruits all come. I was chastised by muatl or whatever the hell his name is. I dont think I was far off.

I didn't say top 10 for sure, but I thought we had a chance to be an NCAA team next season even if Wojo came back. Talented freshman (and DJ wasn't much more than a frosh) often become outstanding sophomores. You have three outstanding players on the court at the same time, surround them with solid, hard-working role players, and you have a team that can do something -- though I had become doubtful Wojo could get it out of them. Hopefully Shaka is a guy who can (after he gets 'em all to stay).

[Autoengineer]

I’ve said it before, but I think the talent already on the team is easily Top 25 talent. The problem is, last year, they played with no semblance of congelation.

If the Big 3 stay, the team is toughened up on defense, and the team actually plays as a team on offense (i.e. balanced scoring, decreased turnovers, solid set plays), I predict that next year we will achieve better results than any year during the Wojo era.

They were a Karim Mane at the 2 guard away from top 25 talent.  It was and is still a huge hole in my opinion. 

[Stretchdeltsig]

I hope Carton comes back as he could become a really good player for us.

As far as NBA? I don't see it yet. The one thing he has is elite athleticism. But I see a lot of ???? in his game if he wants to get to the NBA.

He has a very loose handle. Not a great passer or playmaker and is turnover prone. His shot is not NBA ready - he has a low release point which will make shooting tough over 6'4" guys who know how to play 'D'. Not a good defender.

He can improve in all these areas, but he has work to do. His game is more like a combo guard, but he doesn't have the size to play the '2' in the NBA.


I invite replies to tell me where i am wrong.

Agree that Carton is s very talented athlete but plays too sloppy and without passion at times, especially in the first half of games. He's a weak passer and must work on his passing. He should improve greatly with Shaka. He's not ready for the pro game yet but will be in a couple years.

[Skip Intro]

They were a Karim Mane at the 2 guard away from top 25 talent.  It was and is still a huge hole in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity, I checked on Mane's stats in the G League this year.  4 for 41 from three thus far.  His 2pt% is decent, especially by comparison, but man, less than 10% from three is rough for a 2 guard. 

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Just out of curiosity, I checked on Mane's stats in the G League this year.  4 for 41 from three thus far.  His 2pt% is decent, especially by comparison, but man, less than 10% from three is rough for a 2 guard.

The ultimate green light? He would have fit right in.

[oldwarrior81]

Just out of curiosity, I checked on Mane's stats in the G League this year.  4 for 41 from three thus far.  His 2pt% is decent, especially by comparison, but man, less than 10% from three is rough for a 2 guard.

The G League season is over and Karim Mane is back in the NBA playing with Orlando.  Getting about 10 minutes a game.

[skianth16]

DJ reminds me a little bit of Vander in the sense that we've all seen moments that feel like NBA-caliber ability, but the total package is still a little rough around the edges. I agree with most of the others who think DJ isn't quite ready for the league yet, so I'd love to see him stay at MU a little longer to continue improving in some areas.

If Shaka can find a way to keep him in high gear more often, DJ could definitely make a big impact next year. Pair that with an assumed step forward from Lewis and Garcia, and MU could be pretty competitive in the Big East. I'd even feel pretty confident saying we'd be in the tournament too with all 3 getting a little bit better. Add in a big name transfer or two, and we could make some real noise in year 1 of the Shaka era. Should be a fun next few weeks keeping up with the roster moves.

[GOO]

It could just be my perception or bias as I don't have stats to back it up, but it appeared to me that DJ got better at looking to kick it out to a shooter or pass it when driving.  Not as much as I'd have liked for a point guard, and granted we were not hating threes much in the second half of the season.

My impression was that early on, DJ simply put up shots and basically never looked to kick it out.  I thought he was willing or looked for the pass more in the second half of the season.

in that respect DJ reminded me a bit of Dwight Buycks.  Dwight could get a decent shot or get a shot off at anytime due to his ability to contort and physically get a half way decent shot at anytime.  But Dwight didn't seem to get that getting a shot off, doesn't make it a good shot or was willing to take too many contested shots for my preference. 

But DJ seemed to get better, in my non-statistical eye test as the season went on.
 

[oldwarrior81]

so he needs more of that Downtown Freddie Brown game.  In that it was a good shot for no other reason then it was taken by him.

[Jockey]

It could just be my perception or bias as I don't have stats to back it up, but it appeared to me that DJ got better at looking to kick it out to a shooter or pass it when driving.  Not as much as I'd have liked for a point guard, and granted we were not hating threes much in the second half of the season.

My impression was that early on, DJ simply put up shots and basically never looked to kick it out.  I thought he was willing or looked for the pass more in the second half of the season.

in that respect DJ reminded me a bit of Dwight Buycks.  Dwight could get a decent shot or get a shot off at anytime due to his ability to contort and physically get a half way decent shot at anytime.  But Dwight didn't seem to get that getting a shot off, doesn't make it a good shot or was willing to take too many contested shots for my preference. 

But DJ seemed to get better, in my non-statistical eye test as the season went on.

I think the Buycks comparison is spot on. Dwight was a baller - not a pure PG or a '2' guard. I see Carton as the same kind of player.

Buycks couldn't do what was necessary to stay in the NBA - be a pure PG. Hopefully, Shaka can help Carton become that.

[MU82]

While Carton can do quite a few things Buycks did at Marquette, I don't recall ever seeing Buycks make the kind of super-athletic plays DJ did this past season, especially those amazing dunks after the fake DHOs. Wow!

I do get the comparison, though. Here's hoping that DJ realizes his potential while still at Marquette.