AP Top 25 Is Out

[MarquetteMike1977]

MI. 18. Marquette Golden Eagles
2023-24 record: 27-10 lost to 11-seed
NC State in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Stony Brook, 8:30 p.m.,
FS1
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 19 vs. Purdue, 9 p.m., FSI
Projected starting lineup
Kam Jones (17.2 PPG)
Stevie Mitchell (8.8 PPG)
Chase Ross (6.1 PPG)
David Joplin (10.8 PPG)
Ben Gold (5.0 PPG)

[MarquetteMike1977]

https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll

[Johnny B]

Is Iowa st really "top 5" good this year? Woah. Gonna be tough

[MuggsyB]

#18 seems fair. 

[#UnleashJosh]

#18 seems fair.

Yeah, 18 is a pretty solid spot for a team who lost 2 of their big 3. Respect

[#UnleashJosh]

#18 seems fair.

[DienerTime34]

Yeah, 18 is a pretty solid spot for a team who lost 2 of their big 3. Respect

I was surprised as well. Great backcourt but we have no proven frontcourt players. Gold does almost all of his damage from the outside.

[GoldenEagles03]

I was surprised as well. Great backcourt but we have no proven frontcourt players. Gold does almost all of his damage from the outside.

Joplin is a proven front court player.

[MU82]

I was surprised as well. Great backcourt but we have no proven frontcourt players. Gold does almost all of his damage from the outside.

An MU buddy of mine is worried that this could be like the reverse of 2013-14, when Marquette went in ranked pretty high because of our returning frontcourt players but were undermined by poor backcourt play.

I don't think our relatively undersized and inexperienced frontcourt will hurt us significantly this season, but I do get the reason for the concern.

[DoctorV]

An MU buddy of mine is worried that this could be like the reverse of 2013-14, when Marquette went in ranked pretty high because of our returning frontcourt players but were undermined by poor backcourt play.

I don't think our relatively undersized and inexperienced frontcourt will hurt us significantly this season, but I do get the reason for the concern.

Yea this concern is understandable.

One thing that gives me confidence is the overall height, length, and athleticism of many of the guards/wings.
Guys like Chase, Zaide, Owens seem pretty able to play bigger than their expected guard/wing spots and could fill in at the 4 as needed in a pinch.

Granted, Shaka would have to go "small" but I think a small lineup could carry weight if needed.
Ex: A lineup of Tre, Kam, Stevie, Owens (Chase/Zaide), Gold (Caedin/Parham/even Jop here) could work just fine if needed.
That's technically a "small" lineup, but it's not really that small.

I guess my main point is that the overall length and athleticism of the squad mitigates the danger for complete disaster down low imo.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Small ball lineup

Kam
Stevie
Chase
Owens
Jop

[Goose]

82

Length, height and athleticism are very low on my list of concerns going into the season. To me, watching how the offense clicks this year is my biggest concern. Feel quite confident that we will see more transition baskets via the defense but will be watching the half court offense the most.

[MU82]

82

Length, height and athleticism are very low on my list of concerns going into the season. To me, watching how the offense clicks this year is my biggest concern. Feel quite confident that we will see more transition baskets via the defense but will be watching the half court offense the most.

You might be right, Goose. I'm looking forward to seeing our team!