I think Marquette could have a very good year next year, but here are things I think are most important before next November rolls around.
1. Make sure Dominic James comes back. Perhaps unfair for me to say that as it is obviously up to him, but he would be a massive loss that would drastically affect expectations/results.
2. NBA Draft/Graduation: Not talking about MU here, but rather the ability to say goodbye to such names as Padgett, Palacios, Hibbert, Ewing, Wallace, Thabeet, and perhaps even Young and Harangody. As lot of awfully big playesr that gave MU fits are likely on their way. Gonna help out tremendously.
3. Scott Christopherson: If he can shoot the ball, and by all accounts he can, MU will have to get the rest of his game to a level where he can play. We are going to need that 3-pt threat, and he is the likliest candidiate.
4. Burke and Mbakwe: This one is pretty obvious - continued overall development, and a bit more offense. Be able to score around the basket when opportunities arise, and 60+% FT shooting.
4. Lazar Hayward: He has obviously made tremendous strides, but in my opinion he needs some work on his quickness and footwork. He needs to be quicker on D to stay out of foul trouble, and mnay time on offense he looked just a tad slow. He is athletic and powerfull but it seems to take him just a bit too long to get moving. If he can improve his first step, he'll be a monster.
5. David Cubillan: At some point before the start of next season they need to get his shot figured out.
Given what MU has coming back, and the expected/possible losses others are going to suffer, I would expect UL, MU and Syracuse to be the favorites heading into next year.
G-Town will also be in the mix. they have a ton coming back, a healthy Chris Wright and a very good incoming recruiting class (including Hibbert's replacement in 6'11" Greg Monroe). WVU and "Novareturn virtually everyone as well as does ND. Pitt will be very good as well. cincy will be improved. Actually, the BEast will be very strong again. Not goping to be easy.
Quote from: Nukem2 on March 24, 2008, 04:50:29 PM
G-Town will also be in the mix. they have a ton coming back, a healthy Chris Wright and a very good incoming recruiting class (including Hibbert's replacement in 6'11" Greg Monroe). WVU and "Novareturn virtually everyone as well as does ND. Pitt will be very good as well. cincy will be improved. Actually, the BEast will be very strong again. Not goping to be easy.
...true...but our "The Difference" smells like french toast.
God love McNeal & Hayward, but they need to work on their decision making and taking care of the ball. Not sure if you can really do those type of "drills", but I think that they need to slow the game down in their heads and eliminate the chippy fouls and bad shots. I think that James decision making was his biggest improvement this year and has made him much more valuable to the team beyone stuff that shows up in the stat sheets. If they can do that, they will be unbelievable players.
That and the obvious hole down in the paint. Need bigs that can score w/ back to the basket. Imagine how good we'd be if we could dump it into the post and play a little inside/out game w/ our guards cutting to the hoop where the opponents' "D" would have to respect our post - free up guards & we'd have balance to our offense. Mmmmmmmmmm post play...Ahhhhhhhhhhh.
Syracuse will be loaded. Lose only one senior who hardly played.
Returning are Harris, Flynn, Oknaku, Greene, Deveandorf, Rautins and Jardine. They also picked up four stars recruit forwards 6-8 Kris Joseph and 6-7 Mookie Jones.
Quote from: nyg on March 24, 2008, 06:20:34 PM
Syracuse will be loaded. Lose only one senior who hardly played.
Returning are Harris, Flynn, Oknaku, Greene, Deveandorf, Rautins and Jardine. They also picked up four stars recruit forwards 6-8 Kris Joseph and 6-7 Mookie Jones.
They lose only one senior, but Greene is projected right now as a lottery pick and may not come back.
Get TTaylor a hamburger, put some weight on him, spend time lifting and working on his outside shot.
Joe Fulce needs serious time in the weight room, the rest of the package is there.
Chris O'Tule -- weight room and tough pick up games.
Make sure Mbakwe works on that knee.
A shot doctor for Cubillan.
I do not think it is that important if other players leave early for the NBA. The only thing that matters is if we qualify for the NCAA tournament. Assuming we get a bid, I will want our schedule to have been as tough as possible. Besides that I think the Big East's overall success in the NCAA tournamnet is very important to MU. We are still in Big 10 country. We need to have the people in the midwest consider the Big East superior to the Big 10 in basketball. I think Pitt losing to Mich St. hurts our status. The Big East winning 7 first round games was wonderful. Dropping to three after round 2 really sucks.
Quote from: bilsu on March 24, 2008, 10:17:25 PM
We need to have the people in the midwest consider the Big East superior to the Big 10 in basketball.
Who cares what stupid people think? Anyone with half a brain realizes that the Big East is in fact superior, whether they are willing to admit it or not.
Keep Buzz
Quote from: NYWarrior on March 25, 2008, 09:32:25 AM
Keep Buzz
Follow up the strong 2008 recruiting class with two more 2009 recruits to join Erik Williams.
The 2009 class will be the difference that is more different than others' difference.
I think the 3 amigos will graduate together.
Hayward needs a mean streak