[Cracked Sidewalks] Joplin Comes Home to Marquette

[Goose]

82

Well, then I hope he gets about 28.6 shots a game next season. I did not realize what three point threat he was, not just for MU, but also nationally. Seriously, if you want to say he is top level three pointer shooting threat, go for it. I have zero against the kid and hope he has a great final year at MU or elsewhere if he decides to leave.

[Shooter McGavin]

Besides three point shooting, I also like Greg's ability to finish a layup through contact.  He had a knack for using his long wing span and angling his body to get the "and one".  None of our other guards besides Carton had that ability.   

I'd keep him if I were Shaka.  Good leader as well.

[Hards Alumni]

Besides three point shooting, I also like Greg's ability to finish a layup through contact.  He had a knack for using his long wing span and angling his body to get the "and one".  None of our other guards besides Carton had that ability.   

I'd keep him if I were Shaka.  Good leader as well.

My only criticisms of Greg is that he plays a little out of control and tries to do the Rowsey "Thing".  If he can fix these two things, he is a solid player.

He has an absolute nose for the ball.

[tower912]

If he.actually has a healthy summer...

[muwarrior69]

tower

First, I do not think the roster is set and I am not certain all of the guys you noted will be returning. I 100% do not believe Greg is quick enough to play meaningful minutes on a Shaka and his minutes will be limited. That said, I would have no problem being proven wrong.

Do you think Garcia is quick enough?

[LAZER]

Greg and DJ are the only returnees I trust to shoot a 3.   The new guards all have reps as slashers, none as a long range sniper.   Joplin does, but he is a forward.  If Greg returns and is healthy, he starts at the 2.

DJ's 3pt shooting was pretty awful.  Hoping and expecting him to revert to the mean but 28% on 117 attempts is pretty rough.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Thank You for posting awesome article. Would want to add I was at that Championship Game in 2019 that was mentioned in the article. But it was not mentioned in the article that Brookfield Central Won that Championship Game and D1 Championship.

[Herman Cain]

We're struggling. Can't hit a shot. Trailing 16-6 midway through the first half. Shaka says, "Greg, you're in." Elliott goes 4-for-5 on 3s the rest of the half, helps Marquette take the lead. Second half, another slow start. Tied 32-32 at the first TV timeout. Shaka says, "Greg, I believe in you. Make some shots." Elliott hits another two 3s as we pull away.

You seriously can't see that kind of scenario happening a few times next season? And did you seriously not see the part where I also said he'd play 0-5 minutes in games? I actually said in another thread that one sign we are a much better team is if Elliott averages only 10-15 mpg.

He's a role player who happens to be darn good at his role, as well as a great kid.

Not sure if this describes you, but we have folks here who complain we can't get older, but they want to discard a useful 5th-year senior ... we have folks here who praised Matt Heldt every time he clapped, but they don't think Elliott could fill a role next season ... we have folks here who practically had orgasms when Jake Thomas made one shot, but they want to dump a guy who has proven he can do that regularly.

Yes, I love that Shaka is bringing in some potentially fine 18-year-olds, but let's not kid ourselves. This isn't one of Cal's or K's 1-and-done freshmen classes or the Fab Five.

Akanno and Perez are entirely different situations. They haven't proven themselves at this level.

I agree with this analysis.

[MU82]

82

Well, then I hope he gets about 28.6 shots a game next season. I did not realize what three point threat he was, not just for MU, but also nationally. Seriously, if you want to say he is top level three pointer shooting threat, go for it. I have zero against the kid and hope he has a great final year at MU or elsewhere if he decides to leave.

Goose

It's actually pretty funny that I am suddenly an Elliott cheerleader given that I have said this on several occasions: One sign that we're a better team next season will be if Elliott doesn't play very much.

I also have said the kid can shoot. You doubted that, so his stats were presented. You then said his stats probably were skewed by a few good games, so TAMU presented stats to prove that was wrong. You said "we found our shooter" in transfer Tyler Kolek, even though he shot a much lower 3-point percentage than Elliott while playing in a lesser league. And now, here, you decide to get all facetious and hyperbolic (something I've done a time or 3 over the years, too).

Look, I don't know if Elliott will even be on the team next season. He is not Steph Curry, and our program won't collapse without him. However, he IS a career .423 shooter from distance who DID just shoot .468 over the course of an entire Big East season, and shooting is at a premium.

If Elliott still is on our team next season, I disagree with tower about him likely being a starter. I certainly hope he doesn't start, because I hope we will have several better all-around players.

FWIW, I love what Shaka is doing, bringing in a lot of long, athletic kids. This program has needed that for years. I actually think we can be sneaky good next season. Ultimately, I trust Shaka's judgment regarding Elliott and the rest of the roster.

That's all I've got about Elliott. If you want the last word, you can have it. Have a nice night.

[WarriorFan]

I really like the idea of an MU team in which our 7-8-9 slots are Greg/Dex/Perez.  Greg could be an offense oriented 6th man at best but more likely a bit lower in the rotation. 

Back to the subject... who has seen Joplin play?  Is he an instant starter?  How would you compare him to Lewis?

[DoctorV]

Goose

It's actually pretty funny that I am suddenly an Elliott cheerleader given that I have said this on several occasions: One sign that we're a better team next season will be if Elliott doesn't play very much.

I also have said the kid can shoot. You doubted that, so his stats were presented. You then said his stats probably were skewed by a few good games, so TAMU presented stats to prove that was wrong. You said "we found our shooter" in transfer Tyler Kolek, even though he shot a much lower 3-point percentage than Elliott while playing in a lesser league. And now, here, you decide to get all facetious and hyperbolic (something I've done a time or 3 over the years, too).

Look, I don't know if Elliott will even be on the team next season. He is not Steph Curry, and our program won't collapse without him. However, he IS a career .423 shooter from distance who DID just shoot .468 over the course of an entire Big East season, and shooting is at a premium.

If Elliott still is on our team next season, I disagree with tower about him likely being a starter. I certainly hope he doesn't start, because I hope we will have several better all-around players.

FWIW, I love what Shaka is doing, bringing in a lot of long, athletic kids. This program has needed that for years. I actually think we can be sneaky good next season. Ultimately, I trust Shaka's judgment regarding Elliott and the rest of the roster.

That's all I've got about Elliott. If you want the last word, you can have it. Have a nice night.

Well said.

I'll add a point here-
Jamal entered the portal a few weeks ago and I thought to myself well that's strange that Jamal entered but Greg didn't...

We didn't hear a peep for weeks and then Shakashima drops on 4/14.

Something tells me Shaka knew who was joining him along the way and informed Jamal to be completely honest. If he knew that Joplin and Itejere were coming, along with Justin Lewis and Oso staying, that alone puts 4 guys battling with Jamal for minutes.
So you say well Shaka has like 100 guards coming how does that make any sense that Greg stuck around?
Well I'm not sure, but my guess is that he wasn't sure on Bates and Emarion, he didn't have the Tyler Kolek commit, and the others are Carton, a bonafide starter, and a few more freshmen guards. Without Bates, Ellis, and Kolek there is an obvious upperclassman leadership spot for Greg.

I think the guard commits came later in the game. However, MU82 is right here- if we are to call Kolek our "shooter" and ignore Greg, a shooter that's better and that we already have in house, that's kind of foolish. Greg isn't the better player and long term Kolek makes sense, and he would likely start over Greg this season, but Greg is the better shooter in a high end conference because he's proven it.

In the same token, if Shaka decides we need a big bodied big just roll out the carpet for Theo- but it seems that's not his vision.

One last random point- I know the math says someone gets Shakaen off the squad, but watching the practices and knowing these commits were coming I find it hard to believe kids like Perez, Dex, Greg are out there working they ass off in a 6 kid practice only to be shown the Shaka shake. We will see how it develops

[THRILLHO]

I think if Greg was a freshman that Shaka recruited we'd be drooling over him. Long, active hands on D, and a decent shooter! I think Greg is a lot better than Cain or Koby and was poorly used by/a bad fit for Wojo. Lots of uncertainty for sure, but I'm hoping for Shaka to unleash him this year! I think with the amount of variance in first year players, a senior rock could help even out the teams performances.

[MUCam]

I think if Greg was a freshman that Shaka recruited we'd be drooling over him. Long, active hands on D, and a decent shooter! I think Greg is a lot better than Cain or Koby and was poorly used by/a bad fit for Wojo. Lots of uncertainty for sure, but I'm hoping for Shaka to unleash him this year! I think with the amount of variance in first year players, a senior rock could help even out the teams performances.

Agreed. Never sleep on senior leadership either. Freshmen are freshmen. Seniors are seniors.

My money is on a healthy Greg surprising a few people next year.

[THRILLHO]

Agreed. Never sleep on senior leadership either. Freshmen are freshmen. Seniors are seniors.

My money is on a healthy Greg surprising a few people next year.

I think I'm probably higher on Greg than anyone on the board so odds are I'm wrong, but everyone gets to have a few quirky opinions, right?

[ducs]

I think Greg is a lot better than Cain or Koby and was poorly used by/a bad fit for Wojo.

I think injuries were a big factor for Greg's poor usage / bad fit.

[tower912]

I think if Greg had been healthy, the arc of a couple of seasons would have been different.   Alas.

[Lennys Tap]

Goose, among EE, Mitchell, Jones, perez, Akanno, which two do you think will start in front of him?

Let's start with Tyler Kolek. Will we play a three guard offense? Don't know.

I like Greg back - good attitude, good shooter, experienced. Can he play enough D to get more than 10-15 minutes? And stay healthy? I have my doubts but would love to be wrong - seems like a great kid.

[tower912]

Let's start with Tyler Kolek. Will we play a three guard offense? Don't know.

I like Greg back - good attitude, good shooter, experienced. Can he play enough D to get more than 10-15 minutes? And stay healthy? I have my doubts but would love to be wrong - seems like a great kid.

F it.   No idea what comes next.   Putting in an order for 10 lbs of popcorn.

[keefe]

Seeing where Koby and Cain ended up convinced me of the lack of talent on the team last year.

Weber State and Oakland epitomize the Wojo Reign of Shame

[79Warrior]

Weber State and Oakland epitomize the Wojo Reign of Shame

Fair point