What Ifs . . . Next Year's Pieces?

[ATL MU Warrior]

Sorry I didn't pick that up, Clam, but a couple of weeks ago when I suggested we might sneak into the preseason top 10 next year some here thought I was nuts and wanted to bet me big $. I waiting to hear from them.

No way we are pre-season top 10.  what's your wager?

[BCHoopster]

Why not?  The higher ranked teams normally lose there best players to the draft.  MU has 7-8 coming back with 5 new players all highly ranked.  Out of those 5, 4 will see time over
some of the players on the team, which will make them improved.  Maybe Kansas losing all 5 starters, or Maybe Indiana losing 4 out of 5 starters, or Duke losing there top 3 players.
There might be a small group of new freshman coming in, but did you see Kentucky this year with all there High School A-A's, NIT.  I can not wait to see how Calipari plays all 10 of his
stars next year, it might be a mess there.  Syracuse, loses there top 3 players, Louey will probably be #1, NC, will be better, but I see no reason why not Top 10, your 3 top scorers are
back next year, how many teams can say that?

[MU72491]

Even though a loss today crushes me I just feel great about Marquette basketball right now. What a year, hell of a year.  All season I thought we were tough and really competitive but didn't have a true great basketball player on the team.  By the end of the year I thought vander and Gardner were unbelievable. Although it sucks we lost today I'm so excited for next year Duane Wilson and Jamal McKay along with hopefully outlet stickin around will make us better next year.  Great time to be a Marquette basketball fan

[🏀]

Yeah, MU is not respected to be top 10 preseason. Top 20 likely.

Ill do a beer wager on that for anyone that offers.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Why not?  The higher ranked teams normally lose there best players to the draft.  MU has 7-8 coming back with 5 new players all highly ranked.  Out of those 5, 4 will see time over
some of the players on the team, which will make them improved.  Maybe Kansas losing all 5 starters, or Maybe Indiana losing 4 out of 5 starters, or Duke losing there top 3 players.
There might be a small group of new freshman coming in, but did you see Kentucky this year with all there High School A-A's, NIT.  I can not wait to see how Calipari plays all 10 of his
stars next year, it might be a mess there.  Syracuse, loses there top 3 players, Louey will probably be #1, NC, will be better, but I see no reason why not Top 10, your 3 top scorers are
back next year, how many teams can say that?

Did you pay any attention AT ALL to the media pundits before and during the tournament?  That's why.

[muwarrior87]

Yeah, MU is not respected to be top 10 preseason. Top 20 likely.

Ill do a beer wager on that for anyone that offers.

I wish I could take that bet but unfortunately I ha e the same thoughts about the media as you. We were the 16th best team left, then 8th. Can't see any respect suddenly coming our way next fall.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Did you pay any attention AT ALL to the media pundits before and during the tournament?  That's why.

I actually think next year is the year that media types start overvaluing Buzz in a classic overcorrection. Not that I'll disagree with them...

[DCWarriors04]

The best is yet to come...the returning players will be hungry and the incoming recruits will be great compliments.

[Silkk the Shaka]

The best is yet to come...the returning players will be hungry and the incoming recruits will be great compliments.

We're gonna roll the new Big East. I wouldn't be shocked if we were a 1 seed next March. Gonna be so entertaining.

[The Equalizer]

We're gonna roll the new Big East. I wouldn't be shocked if we were a 1 seed next March. Gonna be so entertaining.

I agree. Nobody is going to improve their team as much as we will.  We start out ahead of everyone execpt Georgetown.  And if Porter moves on to the NBA we will have the talent to put together an 18-0 conference record. 

Georgetown is the only team I see with the talent that could challenge us--and thats only if Porter stays.

On recruting, we have the 4 best incoming players in the entire league.   Using ESPN's HS rankings:

26 JaJuan Johnson
49 Deonte Burton
55 Duane Wilson
--
56 Brandon Austin - Providence
59 Kris Jenkins - Villanova
63 Reggie Cameron - Georgetown
89 Brandon Rudolph - Xavier
90 Billy Garret Jur. - DePaul
91 Josh Hart - Villanova

From JUCOrecruiting.com:
3 - McKay
--
92 Greg Dequele - DePaul

[DCWarriors04]

I think it's safe to say...Porter is going to the NBA.

[KenoshaWarrior]

We will be unranked and Buzz will use that all year.

Even if we are ranked from 20-25 he can use that all year.

[Earl Tatum]

I hope Jamil's light stays on and will be brighter. He got some key rebounds, shooting wasn't bad either in our tourney stretch.
Thought Taylor should have played more. You learn playing the game. D-Wil kept the boat steady. Surprised. Wish he had offense.
Come on back Chris. Burton should be a horse next year. Listed at 6-5, 230. Adjusts his talent to the game being played. Dawson
is the ?-mark. Don't know about Juan and Fergy.

[wildbill sb]

After reading all of the above, I'm thinking we should be ready to start next year's March Madness around the end of November.  Obviously, we've got all the pieces, why wait?

[avid1010]

my dream:
-otule back
-overall team improvement from the 3pt line
-duane wilson had a dj type freshmen year at the point 

all of that would lead to a team that could play with anyone. 

[KenoshaWarrior]

my dream:
-otule back
-overall team improvement from the 3pt line
-duane wilson had a dj type freshmen year at the point 

all of that would lead to a team that could play with anyone. 

Yes that would be awesome!!

[brewcity77]

Obviously we need outside shooting. But I do think the answers may mostly be on the team already. If Vander stays, there's no reason he can't become a 35% shooter from three next year. His form is much improved and if he takes another step like he did this year we're talking about a legitimate first-team All-American player. Jamil has already shown he can shoot the three and it looks like the light has gone on. Shooting 40% is entirely possible. Juan and Steve have both shown the ability to shoot the three as well. With Lockett leaving, they will likely have extended roles and may not be lights out, but I could see either or both hitting around 33%. If just one of the newcomers (Jajuan comes to mind) can be a bit of a sharpshooter off the bench we should be able to shoot around 33% as a team, which would make us roughly an average three-point shooting team. With all our talent inside, that would be enough.

[Lennys Tap]

Yeah, MU is not respected to be top 10 preseason. Top 20 likely.

Ill do a beer wager on that for anyone that offers.

If Vander stays, you're on.

[Goose]

If Vander is back I am leaning Lenny's direction. Preseason polls mean little and good end of season ranking, key guys back and great incoming class could squeeze us in.

[Sunbelt15]

Hopefully Juan will improve greatly from behind the arc. With his height and leaping ability, he will be able to elevate over defenders to get off good shots. That would be beautiful.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

It's crazy to think of how good this team has he potential to be. October/November can't get here soon enough.

[Stretchdeltsig]

The big question is how do we fit 18 people on the roster????

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

After yesterday's game, it certainly feels like MU needs a specific "shooter".

However, I think that most/all of the guys could see some improvement in the off season, and as a team, they should be average from 3pt next season (compared to being pretty bad this season).

Obviously having a Novak-type player makes a huge difference, but from a macro perspective, they just have to be 5% better (as a team), and that will significantly change how they can score.

Vander should be better, Todd should be better, Jamil could be a little better, ST2 should be better, Derrick can't be worse, Juan should be better.

If the fosh. can provide some shooting (33%+), then I think as a team, they have enough outside shooting to be REALLY good.

[🏀]

If Vander stays, you're on.

Deal.

[brandx]

4ever has said a dozen players we need better players to compete on regular basis against top teams. Need better play at PG in big time way and guys that can shoot. It does not take basketball expert to realize the top ten teams have better players in key positions than we do. Hopefully incoming kids prove to be better than departing players.

I agree - I think PG is the biggest thing - we were outmanned at the position against most of the good teams.