Athletic* article

[Galway Eagle]

Everyone always talks about how high use Markus was.

Has any team ever won a championship with anyone near that use rate, or reached the final four?

I would imagine most FF and NC teans are much more balanced.  Markus was fun to watch but as many have mentioned we have little to show for that all-time leading scorer (2 (Probably 3 if the season finished) NCAA's, 1 NIT, 0 NCAA wins)

I'd imagine Kemba Walker during the tournament was roughly his usage.

[Eye]

Howard last year according to Ken Pom - 40.3 of MU's shots, 1st in country

Walker in '11 - 32.9 percent of shots, 26th in country

Howard 6th most since Ken Pom began tracking in 2004, 1st among players on top 6 leagues teams

[Galway Eagle]

Howard last year according to Ken Pom - 40.3 of MU's shots, 1st in country

Walker in '11 - 32.9 percent of shots, 26th in country

Howard 6th most since Ken Pom began tracking in 2004, 1st among players on top 6 leagues teams

I just said during Kemba's run. Is there a game by game analysis where you can see usage for the NCAA tournament and Big East tournament games?

[brewcity77]

Everyone always talks about how high use Markus was.

Has any team ever won a championship with anyone near that use rate, or reached the final four?

Highest usage rates per Pomeroy on a Final Four team by year, with their national ranking in parentheses (bolded won championship):

• 2019: Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech 32.0% (25th)
  
• 2018: Aundre Jackson, Loyola-Chicago 28.2% (114th)
  
• 2017: Dillon Brooks, Oregon 30.1% (54th)
  
• 2016: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma 28.4% (81st)
  
• 2015: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin 28.1% (113th)
  
• 2014: Shabazz Napier, UConn 28.0% (126th)
  
• 2013: Russ Smith, Louisville 32.0% (11th)
  
• 2012: Russ Smith, Louisville, 33.0% (8th)
  
• 2011: Kemba Walker, UConn 31.4% (20th)
  
• 2010: Kalin Lucas, Michigan State 25.4% (300th)
  
• 2009: Tyler Hansbrough, UNC 26.7% (194th)
  
• 2008: Kevin Love, UCLA 27.7% (144th)
  
• 2007: Greg Oden, Ohio State 26.3% (203rd)
  
• 2006: Jordan Farmar, UCLA 30.2% (42nd)
  
• 2005: Sean May, UNC 28.0% (87th)
  
• 2004: Tony Allen, Oklahoma State 27.6% (116th)
  
• 2003: Dwyane Wade, Marquette 34.1% (6th)
  
• 2002: Drew Gooden, Kansas 28.2% (70th)

The short answer is no, no one has made a Final Four or won a title with Markus' (37.1%) usage rate. But there is precedent for top-20 usage guys like Wade, Russ, and Kemba getting to the Final Four and even winning the title. Maybe worth noting that if we use Wade as the benchmark, Howard was the only high major player with a usage rate higher than Wade's 2003 mark (Myles Powell was next closest at 33.8%).

Looking back at all those teams, it looks like most of the successful teams had multiple players in the 22-28 range, though when you had a truly game-changing talent they could carry you to the final weekend. Maybe Markus would've done just that. More likely not. When you have a guy like that, I get riding him, but I do think that for long-term success, more balance is better.

[Warrior of Law]

The 2019-20 team lost 6 of their last 7 games, and was likely to finish with 2 more consecutive losses (BET & post-season tournament).  Koby was a big part of the team's disastrous finish.  In the last four games, he had 13 turnovers and 14 points.  It's possible the team will be better without Markus, but it won't be due to Koby McEwan.

[MUCam]

The 2019-20 team lost 6 of their last 7 games, and was likely to finish with 2 more consecutive losses (BET & post-season tournament).  Koby was a big part of the team's disastrous finish.  In the last four games, he had 13 turnovers and 14 points.  It's possible the team will be better without Markus, but it won't be due to the Koby McEwan of last year.

FIFY.

I'm always the optimist. Plus, I would assume we cannot see into the future, though admittedly we can make predictions based on past performance (such as 13 turnovers to 14 points...). But, then again, see point #1.

[Eldon]

I feel bad for Markus.

It's not his fault that his coach didn't know when to switch the light from green to yellow and never to red.

Wojo was waving Markus around the bases with every contact. When Markus was on third, Wojo was telling others to bunt him home.

[Lennys Tap]

I feel bad for Markus.

It's not his fault that his coach didn't know when to switch the light from green to yellow and never to red.

Wojo was waving Markus around the bases with every contact. When Markus was on third, Wojo was telling others to bunt him home.

Agree Eldon.

If 40+ usage (and the dissension it is bound to cause) was really the team's only way to win it's an indictment on Wojo for not recruiting any other decent players.

And if it wasn't, it'd an indictment of the strategy itself.

Either way, not good.