The program we want to be

[mug644]

Three thoughts:

1. Villanova is the program that MU should aspire to be.

2. Villanova has become the program that MU used to be.

3. MU can get there again.

Go Nova. Go MU.

[Shark]

Respect the process, ayynahh!?

[HoopsterBC]

One common denominator, you need an outstanding point guard, has to control the game, does not turn it over, and can score.  Not sure MU has there guy right
now, maybe Howard.  But in Carter you need senior leadership, he might get there in a few years.

[Tugg Speedman]

One common denominator, you need an outstanding point guard, has to control the game, does not turn it over, and can score.  Not sure MU has there guy right
now, maybe Howard.  But in Carter you need senior leadership, he might get there in a few years.

Agree

Take MU's team and add Archie, we are S16 good.

All about PGs.

[dgies9156]

Remember, a couple of years back Villanova was 13-18. Wright retooled and worked with senior leadership.

Good teams get good talent and good coaches stick around at good programs. Know Wojo can do the same if we're patient. Problem is we want it to happen overnight.

We'll get there!

[rocket surgeon]

2 guards that can both handle the ball and drain the three.  I mean drain 'em!  If ya noticed throughout so far.  Good teams have really good outside shooters.  It stretches the floor. 

[Tugg Speedman]

2 guards that can both handle the ball and drain the three.  I mean drain 'em!  If ya noticed throughout so far.  Good teams have really good outside shooters.  It stretches the floor.

Rowsey and JJJ of the last 10 games of the season.

[brewcity77]

Remember, a couple of years back Villanova was 13-18. Wright retooled and worked with senior leadership.

Good teams get good talent and good coaches stick around at good programs. Know Wojo can do the same if we're patient. Problem is we want it to happen overnight.

We'll get there!

Well...if we're on the Villanova trail...

Villanova 2012: 13-19
Marquette 2015: 13-19

Villanova 2013: 20-14
Marquette 2016: 20-13

Villanova 2014: 29-5
Marquette 2017: ?-?

I'll take that

[GooooMarquette]

Well...if we're on the Villanova trail...

Villanova 2012: 13-19
Marquette 2015: 13-19

Villanova 2013: 20-14
Marquette 2016: 20-13

Villanova 2014: 29-5
Marquette 2017: ?-?

I'll take that

We got this.

[forgetful]

Well...if we're on the Villanova trail...

Villanova 2012: 13-19
Marquette 2015: 13-19

Villanova 2013: 20-14
Marquette 2016: 20-13

Villanova 2014: 29-5
Marquette 2017: ?-?

I'll take that

Honestly, if HE comes back I think that would be about right.

[brewcity77]

Honestly, if HE comes back I think that would be about right.

Yeah...it really wouldn't surprise me. All the more reason I'm not thinking about that as a possibility. I can't bear to be that overoptimistic.

[MU82]

Honestly, if HE comes back I think that would be about right.

Who is Nova's Henry Ellenson?

Answer: They don't have the equivalent.

How have they gotten to the Final Four essentially without a 4?

Answer: They have great guards and wings, and don't need a classic 4.

Can our guards and wings be good enough next year to work with Fischer (a reasonable Ochefu facsimile?) to form a Nova-like unit?

I guess we'll see!

[Marcus92]

Patience and continuity help, too.

Wright is in his 15th season at Nova. Didn't make the NCAAs until Year 4. Since then, he's made the dance 11 of 12 seasons — including 4 Sweet Sixteen appearances and two Final Fours.

Four big factors will go a long way toward determining Marquette's basketball success in the next 5-10 years: Recruiting (impressive so far), player development (I'd say encouraging, your results may vary), in-game coaching (difficult to evaluate, but likely a work in progress), and Wojo's comfort level and/or aspirations.

It would be nice to see what he could do here over the next 13 years.

[ChicosBailBonds]

One common denominator, you need an outstanding point guard, has to control the game, does not turn it over, and can score.  Not sure MU has there guy right
now, maybe Howard.  But in Carter you need senior leadership, he might get there in a few years.

Bingo


Must must must have an excellent point guard in college ball

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Who is Nova's Henry Ellenson?

Answer: They don't have the equivalent.

How have they gotten to the Final Four essentially without a 4?

Answer: They have great guards and wings, and don't need a classic 4.

Can our guards and wings be good enough next year to work with Fischer (a reasonable Ochefu facsimile?) to form a Nova-like unit?

I guess we'll see!

This. You don't need a PF to be good in the BEast. It certainly helps, but strong wings and guards in a 4 guard offense can do a lot of damage.

That's why if HE goes pro, I think we are still ok. I think we will be great if we can grab a quality grad transfer. Personally, I like this guy: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14974380/canyon-barry-transfer-charleston-cougars

[MUsoxfan]

Remember, a couple of years back Villanova was 13-18. Wright retooled and worked with senior leadership.

Good teams get good talent and good coaches stick around at good programs. Know Wojo can do the same if we're patient. Problem is we want it to happen overnight.

We'll get there!

Yes x100

[brewcity77]

Who is Nova's Henry Ellenson?

Answer: They don't have the equivalent.

How have they gotten to the Final Four essentially without a 4?

Answer: They have great guards and wings, and don't need a classic 4.

Can our guards and wings be good enough next year to work with Fischer (a reasonable Ochefu facsimile?) to form a Nova-like unit?

I guess we'll see!

Luke's body would need to undergo a transformation. Ochefu has done that, especially this year. He has gone from being one of those kids that you wondered if could ever bang in this league to a legitimately built powerful big. Ochefu is a beast. I think Luke would need to add about 20 pounds of muscle. This will be his first healthy offseason since arriving. Hopefully he can make the most of it.

[keefe]

Take MU's team and add Archie, we are S16 good.

Archie Miller reverses 9 losses?

[SuddenSam]

But not until Wojo steps up his game like Wright did in his first year.

[4everwarriors]

Cinderella and that whole slipper thang at midnight lookin' to happen on Saturday, hey?

[NickelDimer]

Who is Nova's Henry Ellenson?

Answer: They don't have the equivalent.

How have they gotten to the Final Four essentially without a 4?

Answer: They have great guards and wings, and don't need a classic 4.

Can our guards and wings be good enough next year to work with Fischer (a reasonable Ochefu facsimile?) to form a Nova-like unit?

I guess we'll see!

Ochefu was perhaps as big a reason as any as to why they beat KU. And we don't have anyone who resembles that inside toughness

[wildbillsb]

You got that right, N/D.......#23- you bet!

[MU82]

Ochefu was perhaps as big a reason as any as to why they beat KU. And we don't have anyone who resembles that inside toughness

Again ... we'll see!

[MerrittsMustache]

This. You don't need a PF to be good in the BEast. It certainly helps, but strong wings and guards in a 4 guard offense can do a lot of damage.

That's why if HE goes pro, I think we are still ok. I think we will be great if we can grab a quality grad transfer. Personally, I like this guy: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14974380/canyon-barry-transfer-charleston-cougars

A volume scorer from a low mid-major is the answer to MU's troubles?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A volume scorer from a low mid-major is the answer to MU's troubles?

I don't know if he's the answer to all of our "troubles" but he is a far and away the best grad transfer available right now. Last year we were gaga over Damion Lee, a volume scorer from a worse team from the same "low mid-major" conference.

[MerrittsMustache]

I don't know if he's the answer to all of our "troubles" but he is a far and away the best grad transfer available right now. Last year we were gaga over Damion Lee, a volume scorer from a worse team from the same "low mid-major" conference.

Because Damion Lee is a much, much better player than Barry and wasn't coming off a season-ending injury.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Because Damion Lee is a much, much better player than Barry and wasn't coming off a season-ending injury.

Yes, Lee is better than Barry, but not by the vast amount you seem to be insinuating. Barry would have been a starter for us this season.

And again he's the best grad transfer currently on the market. If someone better comes along than well talk about that guy.

[brewcity77]

Yes, Lee is better than Barry, but not by the vast amount you seem to be insinuating. Barry would have been a starter for us this season.

And again he's the best grad transfer currently on the market. If someone better comes along than well talk about that guy.

For me, it comes down to fit. Barry may be the best player, but does he fit? On paper I'd say no. We have shooters with the addition of Rowsey and Hauser, as well as returning Cheatham, Duane, JJ, and Traci. We have wings and volume scorers. What we don't have a plethora of is rebounding and inside scoring. I don't think Barry fixes that. Last year, the qualities Lee and Miller brought were things we knew were deficiencies. Just don't see that in Barry, even though I like him generally as a player.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

For me, it comes down to fit. Barry may be the best player, but does he fit? On paper I'd say no. We have shooters with the addition of Rowsey and Hauser, as well as returning Cheatham, Duane, JJ, and Traci. We have wings and volume scorers. What we don't have a plethora of is rebounding and inside scoring. I don't think Barry fixes that. Last year, the qualities Lee and Miller brought were things we knew were deficiencies. Just don't see that in Barry, even though I like him generally as a player.

That's absolutely fair and I agree. But I think you can never have enough wings who can score. I'm not as scared of running a 4 guard offense as everyone else is. I think it could be very successful.

But if we could get a Savon Goodman or even a Darion Clark, I think that might fit our needs better.

[NotAnAlum]

Our team's big problem last year was Defense, not Offense.  I'd say Defense was even a bigger problem than rebounding.  From an offensive standpoint playing JJJ or Hani at the 4 is fine.  The problem is how do we defend a team that has a powerful 6-9 #4.  We are going to need someone who can GUARD a big #4 even if our new guy doesn't score a point.  That's what we need to look for.
As much as Wojo hates it we'll likely have to play a match up zone of some kind much of the time to avoid getting Fish dragged out on the perimeter where he is a foul magnet.

[real chili 83]

Well...if we're on the Villanova trail...

Villanova 2012: 13-19
Marquette 2015: 13-19

Villanova 2013: 20-14
Marquette 2016: 20-13

Villanova 2014: 29-5
Marquette 2017: ?-?

I'll take that

I remember the years that Nova sucked with mostly freshman.....which happens to be this team.  Looks like our path too.  Our future is bright!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Our team's big problem last year was Defense, not Offense.  I'd say Defense was even a bigger problem than rebounding.  From an offensive standpoint playing JJJ or Hani at the 4 is fine.  The problem is how do we defend a team that has a powerful 6-9 #4.  We are going to need someone who can GUARD a big #4 even if our new guy doesn't score a point.  That's what we need to look for.
As much as Wojo hates it we'll likely have to play a match up zone of some kind much of the time to avoid getting Fish dragged out on the perimeter where he is a foul magnet.

Recency bias. We had trouble with defense in the last four games. Prior to that were ranked in the top 50 defenses per kenpom.

[NotAnAlum]

Recency bias. We had trouble with defense in the last four games. Prior to that were ranked in the top 50 defenses per kenpom.

The entire BE season we gave up way to many inside points and we couldn't get stops when we needed to.  Remember the early Seton Hall and G-Town games.  Our defense rating was probably skewed by all the cupcakes.  By the end of the year our offense was beginning to look pretty darn good (mostly like due to maturation at the PG position and JJ coming of age) but the defense never did improve.

[BM1090]

The entire BE season we gave up way to many inside points and we couldn't get stops when we needed to.  Remember the early Seton Hall and G-Town games.  Our defense rating was probably skewed by all the cupcakes.  By the end of the year our offense was beginning to look pretty darn good (mostly like due to maturation at the PG position and JJ coming of age) but the defense never did improve.

Agree on the offense but TAMU is right. Our defense the first 12-13 games of the Big East season was top half of the league and our offense was ranked near the bottom. That said, it definitely started to shift at the end and the last 5 games or so were awful defensively.

[MerrittsMustache]

Agree on the offense but TAMU is right. Our defense the first 12-13 games of the Big East season was top half of the league and our offense was ranked near the bottom. That said, it definitely started to shift at the end and the last 5 games or so were awful defensively.

The metrics were skewed because MU created a lot of TOs. In terms of traditional statistics, such as Opp FG%, points allowed, rebounding, etc, MU was near the bottom across the board.

Bottom line: The team defense was bad.

[21Jumpstreet]

Well...if we're on the Villanova trail...

Villanova 2012: 13-19
Marquette 2015: 13-19

Villanova 2013: 20-14
Marquette 2016: 20-13

Villanova 2014: 29-5
Marquette 2017: ?-?

I'll take that

Yes!

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

This. You don't need a PF to be good in the BEast. It certainly helps, but strong wings and guards in a 4 guard offense can do a lot of damage.

That's why if HE goes pro, I think we are still ok. I think we will be great if we can grab a quality grad transfer. Personally, I like this guy: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14974380/canyon-barry-transfer-charleston-cougars

He's a nice player. Watching his granny free throws would kill me tho.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

He's a nice player. Watching his granny free throws would kill me tho.

Hey, when he makes his FTs 84.5% of the time, he can shoot it however he wants to. His dad, HOFer Rick Barry shot it the same way.

[brewcity77]

That's absolutely fair and I agree. But I think you can never have enough wings who can score. I'm not as scared of running a 4 guard offense as everyone else is. I think it could be very successful.

But if we could get a Savon Goodman or even a Darion Clark, I think that might fit our needs better.

I'm fine with a 4-guard offense, but you still need guys that can rebound the basketball. Maybe Luke and Matt can be Ochefu and Reynolds (I'm skeptical) but can the rest of the team rebound like Hart, Jenkins, and Bridges? We don't need a traditional four in this league, but you do need guys that get after loose balls. I feel like Barry would be just another wing that doesn't rebound much, similar to Jajuan, Duane, and Cheatham. We need some meat on our wings. Doesn't have to be a Henry clone, but if it's a 6'5" or 6'6" guy, they better be able to mix it up a bit.