Another Thing

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm seeing a lot of posts that we are now NIT bound, or next season is meaningless....etc.

The Hausers are very good. Huge blow for sure. But they are not good enough to drop a team from top 10 to out of the tournament.

I haven't run the math yet, but my gut tells me that we will be about as good next season as we were this season, possibly a little better depending on how the new pieces fit in. And this is without Symir reclassifying or a grad transfer being added.

[Windyplayer]

Correct.

[CountryRoads]

IMO it's much deeper than math and players on the roster. This program has major issues.

[TallTitan34]

We improved on defense today.

[StillAWarrior]

IMO it's much deeper than math and players on the roster. This program has major issues.

That's what worries me.  In essence, I think that Sam and Joey leaving is their way of saying, "Yeah, you all think that this is a Top 10 team next year...but you don't know what's going on behind closed doors...we're not stupid, we wouldn't walk away from a top 10 team...we're walking away because we know there are issues here that will prevent this from being a top 10 team."

If that's the case, then who knows what the floor might be for the team.

[NorthernDancerColt]

That's what worries me.  In essence, I think that Sam and Joey leaving is their way of saying, "Yeah, you all think that this is a Top 10 team next year...but you don't know what's going on behind closed doors...we're not stupid, we wouldn't walk away from a top 10 team...we're walking away because we know there are issues here that will prevent this from being a top 10 team."

If that's the case, then who knows what the floor might be for the team.

Or, the issues are now gone...or, at the very least, the only players who had issues with the star player are now gone.

If you can't work things out, you're not the winner that you or even your coach thought you were. Look up the locker room antics of most championship teams...there are often gigantic flame ups and discord. Al himself admitted how prevalent in-team fighting was on his top10 teams.

Goodbye. #Slow

[Jockey]

I'm seeing a lot of posts that we are now NIT bound, or next season is meaningless....etc.

The Hausers are very good. Huge blow for sure. But they are not good enough to drop a team from top 10 to out of the tournament.

I haven't run the math yet, but my gut tells me that we will be about as good next season as we were this season, possibly a little better depending on how the new pieces fit in. And this is without Symir reclassifying or a grad transfer being added.

I agree. I think the big hit will be to our depth next year.

The Hausers averaged 24.6/12.5 together with terrible defense (Sam was excellent team defense-wise, but too slow to match up 1-on-1).

I think our two starting forwards next year will be close to that - probably 20+/10 - and play way better defense.

We will also play faster next year as Bailey, Cain, and Elliot can get up and down the court much quicker.

[MU82]

Sam is a better defender than many give him credit for, both team-defense wise and individual D. Just my observation.

I want to be as optimistic as TAMU, and I am an optimistic kind of guy in "real life," but today I'm having trouble seeing things that way.

[Marcus92]

When a player who was just named co-MVP decides to leave the program before his senior season, that's a huge blow. Over the past two seasons, Sam has played more minutes than any other player on the roster right now -- which should tell you just how important he's been to the team. Wojo wanted him on the court as much as possible. Marquette will miss him tremendously.

It's hard to view this as a positive development. I don't like it one bit. But it could be an opportunity. Two more scholarships open up right now, and more than 60 mpg of playing time, just when recruiting season is heating up -- with the opportunity to play alongside a returning All-American. Who can Wojo bring in? We'll have to wait and see.