Next Season

[GoldenDieners32]

I can't remember which analyst said it, but, to paraphrase...he said if Howard had not reclassified and come out as a senior this year, there is no doubt he would be a 5 star top 25 prospect by about any recruiting source....with an actual year of D1 hoops under his young belt, I think he will be something very special next year.

I remember hearing that when he committed

[Dr. Blackheart]

Was I good enough to start on the 8th grade A-Team because I averaged double figures for 2 years on the B-Team?

Of course Duane started his freshman year. Derrick and Juan also started that year.

Duane was All Big East Freshman team and the leading scorer over Bluiett.  Derrick and Juan...were All Ners.

[GoldenDieners32]

Im surprised i made a useful topic

[wildbillsb]

If I'm not mistaken, next year's freshman class will be freshmen next year and will play like freshmen.

[BrewCity83]

If I'm not mistaken, next year's freshman class will be freshmen next year and will play like freshmen.

Yes, probably.  But this year's Freshmen will no longer be Freshmen and will hopefully play like men.

[dgies9156]

Guys, why are we giving up on this year? We haven't lost to Depaul yet (said at 845 eastern on the morning of the DePaul game) and we still have time to right the ship and get moving. We're a bubble team now and with five wins in our remaining eight conference games, we probably make the tournament.

We also don't know if Wojo finds a juco or a one-year-wonder to balance out the roster.

I'll debate this issue in June, when I'm back in Chicago and the 2017-2018 roster takes hold.

[bilsu]

I can't remember which analyst said it, but, to paraphrase...he said if Howard had not reclassified and come out as a senior this year, there is no doubt he would be a 5 star top 25 prospect by about any recruiting source....with an actual year of D1 hoops under his young belt, I think he will be something very special next year.

I hope so. Right now he is a good ball handler, but not a great ball handler. He is to easy to trap with his size, because he does not or cannot beat the press off the dribble. Rowsey is somewhat stronger with the ball against the press, but I see MU's big weakness is the lack of a true point guard who can just dribble though pressure. Maybe it is how Wojo wants to beat the press. The team tries to beat it by passing instead of dribbling through it. 

[franklinjerry]

Couldn't disagree more. Howard is much stronger against the press than Rowsey. While not a true point guard, Howard has a great feel for advancing the ball and finding an open option. Rowsey has been benched several times for his inability to handle the pressure.
Defensive liabilities aside, I do like seeing them play together. Forces one of them to be an off guard.

[79Warrior]

You guys are all forgetting about how good Howard will probably be next year.  Yeah, he's inconsistent now, but he's still a 17-year-old Freshman.  Did you know he's only 17?  The announcers rarely mention that.     I expect him to make a big step forward next year so he can be a factor every game.  I also expect Cheatham to get his mojo back and contribute like he did as a Freshman.

I actually hear his age mentioned all the time. Pretty sure everyone knows he is 17. BTW, who would have expected HC to regress so much after a stellar Freshman season?

[jsglow]

Guys, why are we giving up on this year? We haven't lost to Depaul yet (said at 845 eastern on the morning of the DePaul game) and we still have time to right the ship and get moving. We're a bubble team now and with five wins in our remaining eight conference games, we probably make the tournament.

We also don't know if Wojo finds a juco or a one-year-wonder to balance out the roster.

I'll debate this issue in June, when I'm back in Chicago and the 2017-2018 roster takes hold.

That's the mission.  We'll see. Today would be a good start.

[Newsdreams]

Guys, why are we giving up on this year? We haven't lost to Depaul yet (said at 845 eastern on the morning of the DePaul game) and we still have time to right the ship and get moving. We're a bubble team now and with five wins in our remaining eight conference games, we probably make the tournament.

We also don't know if Wojo finds a juco or a one-year-wonder to balance out the roster.

I'll debate this issue in June, when I'm back in Chicago and the 2017-2018 roster takes hold.

Actually as per most respected brackets we are in as an 8-10 seed so we are off the bubble per most "experts"

[BrewCity83]

I actually hear his age mentioned all the time. Pretty sure everyone knows he is 17. BTW, who would have expected HC to regress so much after a stellar Freshman season?

OMG, I guess some readers will always need teal   :/

[blikemike2]

To the poster "worrying" about this season



Then don't respond. This is a message board as a college basketball fan its always fun to look ahead and speculate. If we can get Joey (already have Bailey) I'm drooling for 2018 already 

People on here need to have a little more fun, we're only fans

[TSmith34, Inc.]

If I'm not mistaken, next year's freshman class will be freshmen next year and will play like freshmen.

I agree with this analysis.  But...there is playing like Freshman Matt Heldt and playing like Freshman Markus or Sam.

[Loose Cannon]

I agree with this analysis.  But...there is playing like Freshman Matt Heldt and playing like Freshman Markus or Sam.

Amen, be careful with that broad brush.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I am excited to see next year's Warriors army of bangers and bombers.

[Marcus92]

Im already thinking about next season. Once wojo gets his system guys in there and all of Buzz guys out we will be better i think

Don't overlook what's right in front of you: A very talented 2015-16 team that can beat anyone in the Big East tournament and looks to be in the NCAA tournament field.

The future looks bright for Marquette. But next season is a complete hypothetical right now. Think about everything that changed between this time last year and today — Sacar redshirts, Wally, Traci and Sandy transfer, Marcus Howard and Sam Hauser both crack the starting lineup in Year 1, the team threatens to smash every Marquette record for 3-point shooting, MU isn't nearly as bad at rebounding as everybody feared, we find a way to beat the #1 team in the country (not to mention the Big East), and, seemingly defying all logic, we're a better team after losing an NBA lottery pick.

My point is that whatever you think next season holds in store, it's likely going to change. Big time. Better to appreciate the pretty exciting team we have on the court at this moment.

[Marcus92]

I am still worried about how this gets better next year. Heldt, while improved, is still a bit foul prone - he'll need to take the next step. Froling is rated highly but has underwhelmed (albeit in a bad environment for him), and he's only available after the first semester. That leaves a freshman to come in and do yeoman's work. It could realistically be another year before we are truly balanced.

Many posters thought it impossible, ludicrous even, that Marquette could be better after Henry left for the NBA. Yet here we are on the cusp of a top-five finish in the conference and our first NCAA tournament berth of Wojo's tenure.

How do they get better? The same way this year's team did: raise the overall level of talent and athleticism, create intense competition at every position, gain invaluable experience as a team, work hard, and be willing to learn every day (from the losses as well as the wins).

[HoopsterBC]

Many posters thought it impossible, ludicrous even, that Marquette could be better after Henry left for the NBA. Yet here we are on the cusp of a top-five finish in the conference and our first NCAA tournament berth of Wojo's tenure.

How do they get better? The same way this year's team did: raise the overall level of talent and athleticism, create intense competition at every position, gain invaluable experience as a team, work hard, and be willing to learn every day (from the losses as well as the wins).

Still think he needs a scoring grad transfer.  The 2 and 3 are still questionable.

[Marcus92]

Still think he needs a scoring grad transfer.  The 2 and 3 are still questionable.

That's the point. Wojo might still get a scoring grad transfer. Duane could declare for the NBA. Marcus could blow out a knee. Sam could decide to leave school and follow Phish on tour. There are just way too many unknowns at this point to say anything definitive about next season. But I'm confident we will have the talent to be better.

[dgies9156]

Seemingly defying all logic, we're a better team after losing an NBA lottery pick.

We are a better team than we were last year, yes. But please understand two things. First, Henry wasn't a lottery pick. He went much further down in the first round than many thought.

Second, had Henry stayed, given what we have with Cheatham, Howard, Rowsey and Reinhardt.. and even JJJ, Big Fishy and Duane, we probably would have been a Top 10 or Top 15 team. Having Henry with a year's experience under his belt would have solved many of the weaknesses we have with rebounding and possibly defense. We're not better than that.

I suspect if truth be known, Coach Wojo expected Henry for two years. I don't doubt he knew there was a risk Henry was one-and-done, but you look at how the team was built, Henry would have been the missing link on this team. Nonetheless, like Jim Chones years ago, he's gone and I give Wojo all the credit in the world for adapting.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think wojo was trying to find replacements for HE man. Washington, Levin, Nichols, etc. But it's hard to recruit for a position when you have a five star freshman in the position. Wojo can tell them he's a one and done all he wants but many aren't willing to risk it.

[TheTulsaWarrior]

Next year's team has some question marks but some interesting parts.  Heldt, Froling and Johns should be able to set some killer picks to free up shooters and open a path to the basket.  Redshirt Amin may be a prime benefactor for drives to the lane.  Hasn't he been described as the most athletic member of the current team?  He has the size and muscle to drive and take a hit.  Duane Wilson is another player who should benefit.  I think we'll see a more diverse scoring game out of Marquette.  You will have at least three proven sharpshooters in Hauser, Rowsey and Howard.  Cheatham's shot should be improved.  All that means defenses cannot pack inside to defend the Quette.

Cain is a player but will his lack of bulk hurt his game as a freshman.  Ike will be a star some day but not next season.

My concern is defense.

[brewcity77]

Second, had Henry stayed, given what we have with Cheatham, Howard, Rowsey and Reinhardt.. and even JJJ, Big Fishy and Duane, we probably would have been a Top 10 or Top 15 team. Having Henry with a year's experience under his belt would have solved many of the weaknesses we have with rebounding and possibly defense. We're not better than that.

Well...had Henry stayed, Reinhardt almost certainly wouldn't be here, and Wally still would. It's an interesting question, as without Henry we are a better rebounding team this year without him than we were last year with him. Would JJ, Haani, and Sam be as effective on the boards if we still had Ellenson in the middle? Would Howard and Rowsey find themselves as many open shots if Ellenson had the ball in his hands?

It's hard to not believe we'd be better with Henry, and I am inclined to think we would be, but it would be a very different team with him still on the roster.

[jsglow]

Well...had Henry stayed, Reinhardt almost certainly wouldn't be here, and Wally still would. It's an interesting question, as without Henry we are a better rebounding team this year without him than we were last year with him. Would JJ, Haani, and Sam be as effective on the boards if we still had Ellenson in the middle? Would Howard and Rowsey find themselves as many open shots if Ellenson had the ball in his hands?

It's hard to not believe we'd be better with Henry, and I am inclined to think we would be, but it would be a very different team with him still on the roster.

Only in the very short term at best.  Howard's growth would have been slowed for sure.  Sam's too.