Freshman Class

[wadesworld]

This group of freshman is exactly the type of class that takes your program from having a couple exciting players but largely an underwhelming team that might get into the NCAA Tournament once in a while to a program that can consistently be in the top half of the BE and make the Tournament yearly.  I'm not sure any of them end up as All Conference players in their time at Marquette (though I think there is the potential for all of them to if they develop), but I think their floor is a very solid contributor that can each bring something unique to a team.

The challenge for Wojo will be, if none of them do turn into that All Conference type of player, convincing them that being "a piece" at Marquette is better than being "the man" at a mid-major or below.  Keeping those kinds of players is what Wojo has struggled to do and what would take Marquette from bubble to top 20.  If you can't convince your role players you are constantly reshuffling the lineup and even if you have 3 studs at the top, it makes it fairly easy for high level teams to game plan to slow down 2 of them, let 1 of them go off, and nobody else can really help out.  Once those guys are juniors and seniors, if teams are just going to worry about the top 3 guys, the role guys have the talent to step up and make them pay.  To his credit, Cain did that Tuesday.  As a junior and senior he should be able to do that night in and night out if teams are focusing on others.  As a freshman he might do it once and we might not see it again this season.  We'll see.

Wojo saw the need for size and athleticism and addressed it, and while he couldn't draw the elite athletes that are also elite basketball talents away from the blue bloods, as juniors and seniors these 3 (plus Eke) will all have huge roles on the team, even if it's not as a double digit scorer.

Let's hope Wojo addresses the point guard position heading into next season and can keep these guys and develop them.  I'm loving what I'm seeing from them, even if they don't light up the box score like Cain did Tuesday.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I mentioned this in another thread, but a critique against Wojo and staff has been the results of their respective player development.  Guys like Cheatham, Cohen and Carter had really nice flashes of being four-year contributors, but - as sophomores - they took a step back and eventually transferred out. Now Hauser definitely looks better than he did last year, but Howard has been up-and-down in some games this year.  If we continue to have regressions from players as sophomores, which lead them to transferring out, it will be very hard to build a consistent tournament-bound program (like Nova/Xavier have become).  To me, it is absolutely pivotal that this class (Cain, Elliot, John, Eke) continue to improve and develop, becoming the backbone of our program for the next four years.  They cannot take a step back next year. 

[GGGG]

Well put wades.  Some people were down on this class because it wasn't ranked high, but it seemed obvious that after a couple years in the BE, Wojo realized where the "holes" were on this roster.  So he addressed them by recruiting more length and athleticism, but also high ceiling type players.

Regarding transfers, Wojo has had two guys he recruited from the beginning transfer - Carter and Cheatham.  Both were a long way from home.  I think the chances of transfer are minimized, however they are clearly not eliminated. 

I also think Wojo knows PG is a problem.  That's why they went after Grimes so hard and why Big Daddy mentioned grad transfer PGs as an option. 

[GGGG]

I mentioned this in another thread, but a critique against Wojo and staff has been the results of their respective player development.  Guys like Cheatham, Cohen and Carter had really nice flashes of being four-year contributors, but - as sophomores - they took a step back and eventually transferred out. Now Hauser definitely looks better than he did last year, but Howard has been up-and-down in some games this year.  If we continue to have regressions from players as sophomores, which lead them to transferring out, it will be very hard to build a consistent tournament-bound program (like Nova/Xavier have become).  To me, it is absolutely pivotal that this class (Cain, Elliot, John, Eke) continue to improve and develop, becoming the backbone of our program for the next four years.  They cannot take a step back next year. 

Pinning this on Wojo and the staff is not necessarily fair.  There are such players on every roster.  My UW friends lament their entire junior class "regressing."  What happens with a lot of these players is that they have to play a larger role, and they just aren't ready for it.  (IMO that's what happened with Cheatham.)  Or they get recruited over and see a more limited role for themselves (IMO that's what happened with Carter.)

I mean it's hard for me to say that Carter regressed.  He only played a few games as a sophomore, mostly buy games.

[wadesworld]

Well put wades.  Some people were down on this class because it wasn't ranked high, but it seemed obvious that after a couple years in the BE, Wojo realized where the "holes" were on this roster.  So he addressed them by recruiting more length and athleticism, but also high ceiling type players.

Regarding transfers, Wojo has had two guys he recruited from the beginning transfer - Carter and Cheatham.  Both were a long way from home.  I think the chances of transfer are minimized, however they are clearly not eliminated. 

I also think Wojo knows PG is a problem.  That's why they went after Grimes so hard and why Big Daddy mentioned grad transfer PGs as an option.

To add to that (and you addressed it below), Carter and Cheatham both came into a situation where they had clear playing time and were starting as freshman.  Coming to Marquette, they saw a clear path to being "the guy" (or one of "the guys") and within a year there was clear talent added to the roster that made that path a little less clear.

Wojo should be recruiting kids who understand that, for the most part, there is talent already on the roster at each position and they might have to battle for that playing time going forward, which I think Cain and Elliott had to have seen coming into MU.

[LloydsLegs]

The challenge for Wojo will be, if none of them do turn into that All Conference type of player, convincing them that being "a piece" at Marquette is better than being "the man" at a mid-major or below. 

Love this.  So right.

[brewcity77]

I understand he's had some frustrating games, but Markus is absolutely, unquestionably, and significantly better this year. The addition of the floater that has made him a threat to drive, the improvement in turnovers, and maintaining his efficiency with a higher usage are all clear indicators.

As noted repeatedly, his three point percentage was unsustainable but he's overcome that drop by being a better offensive player in every sense.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

This is definitely a great building block class.  This team has the potential to be an absolute monster in 19-20 when this freshman class are juniors. 

I think we could be top 10-15 good next year, but the year after, legit top 5 team if every hangs around (always a big if these days).

[MUEng92]

Markus is currently number two in Big East scoring by 0.4 pts/game. Second only to his teammate.  I hope he regresses in this fashion each of the next two seasons as well.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Well put wades.  Some people were down on this class because it wasn't ranked high, but it seemed obvious that after a couple years in the BE, Wojo realized where the "holes" were on this roster.  So he addressed them by recruiting more length and athleticism, but also high ceiling type players.

Regarding transfers, Wojo has had two guys he recruited from the beginning transfer - Carter and Cheatham.  Both were a long way from home.  I think the chances of transfer are minimized, however they are clearly not eliminated. 

I also think Wojo knows PG is a problem.  That's why they went after Grimes so hard and why Big Daddy mentioned grad transfer PGs as an option.

He also recruited Cohen from "the beginning" as he resigned with Wojo.  All three are mid-major players, more on the finesse side, which is why I included Sandy. I don't think any of these three regressed. I think it took Wojo a while to understand what it takes to compete in the BE, and it took a while to get the roster composition right with Buzz's recruits who he tried to hold on to.

As I have stated back in time, it would have been better in my mind to have Pole Axed Buzz's recruits from the get go. The three Wojo "beginners" came here for PT in the holes Wojo needed to fill back in the Land of Misfit toys days, and they were eventually recruited over. In any regard, we are in Year 2 of the Wojo rebuild in Year 4. This year is about next year, and these four have more upside than the three above. All three eligible freshmen have already improved considerably. Great energy and athleticism...all three a little raw skill-wise but that is all teachable. All four are BE players in an urban basketball conference that stresses athleticism and every game competiveness. None of these three freshmen look scared to compete.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Markus is currently number two in Big East scoring by 0.4 pts/game. Second only to his teammate.  I hope he regresses in this fashion each of the next two seasons as well.

Xactly

[Silkk the Shaka]

I mentioned this in another thread, but a critique against Wojo and staff has been the results of their respective player development.  Guys like Cheatham, Cohen and Carter had really nice flashes of being four-year contributors, but - as sophomores - they took a step back and eventually transferred out. Now Hauser definitely looks better than he did last year, but Howard has been up-and-down in some games this year. If we continue to have regressions from players as sophomores, which lead them to transferring out, it will be very hard to build a consistent tournament-bound program (like Nova/Xavier have become).  To me, it is absolutely pivotal that this class (Cain, Elliot, John, Eke) continue to improve and develop, becoming the backbone of our program for the next four years.  They cannot take a step back next year.

Markus has had a few off games from deep, but the floater he adeed over the off season and the ability to finish at the rim much better makes him a far more dangerous all-around offensive threat than he was last year. Markus has definitely improved from his freshman year.