Rowsey - Best MU offensive PG season ever?

[Knight Commission]

Based on eye check I say yes...

[tower912]

Tony Smith might dispute that.    And Tony had fewer teammates who could score. 

[DCHoopster]

I am starting to think that this team might be better than next year, unless they find a point somewhere.  Do not like Howard as a point.  Rowsey can do so much with
the ball and creates many openings.  Next year not sure how they are going to score,  Howard will have to grow up.  Sure they will be stronger inside but it college is
a guard game right now.

[WarriorFan]

22.5 per game could be historic not for an MU Point Guard but for MU overall.  As far as I can tell, the only higher PPG was George Thompson's Junior year with 22.9 and Tony Smith's senior year with 23.8.

[forgetful]

Tony Smith and Diener have matched or exceeded Rowsey's performance so far.  They did it for an entire season.  I hope Rowsey keeps up his performance and tops both of them.

But a bit premature to consider it the best MU PG season.

[mug644]

I am starting to think that this team might be better than next year, unless they find a point somewhere.  Do not like Howard as a point.  Rowsey can do so much with
the ball and creates many openings.  Next year not sure how they are going to score,  Howard will have to grow up.  Sure they will be stronger inside but it college is
a guard game right now.

I agree, but I also feel that Rowsey doesn't do a great job of finding Howard. I'd love to know how many of Rowsey's assists are on Howard baskets, and how that compares with distribution to others. Not sure why it is, but it strikes me many games.

[4everwarriors]

Eye define #1 guards bye far more dan just scorin', ai n?

[tower912]

Eye define #1 guards bye far more dan just scorin', ai n?

Yes?   I think?

[brewcity77]

I am starting to think that this team might be better than next year, unless they find a point somewhere.

Let's hold off on those thoughts until May. Way too early to know what the roster will look like.

[Goose]

Probably several other guys that might come to mind, but the little guy can shoot.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Most dominant PG performance I remember was Diener's senior year.  He was a one man show and it's too bad his season ended early due to punching a tackling dummy.  I seriously believe we would have made the tourney had he stayed healthy and the W. Michigan home loss NIT debacle would've never happened. 

Rowsey has been great but he has a lot of talent around him.  Diener put up huge numbers despite no supporting cast

[WarriorFan]

Diener's senior year was 19.7ppg.  Yes he was more assist oriented and was a better overall player than Rowsey, but we have Rowsey now and he's coming through in the important moments, just like Diener did - and Rowsey's supporting cast is much better than what Diener had in his last year.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

I am starting to think that this team might be better than next year, unless they find a point somewhere.  Do not like Howard as a point.  Rowsey can do so much with
the ball and creates many openings.  Next year not sure how they are going to score,  Howard will have to grow up.  Sure they will be stronger inside but it college is
a guard game right now.

Cain was helping break the press and Howard was up court with Heldt, if that doesnt give u confidence

[bilsu]

Diener's senior year was 19.7ppg.  Yes he was more assist oriented and was a better overall player than Rowsey, but we have Rowsey now and he's coming through in the important moments, just like Diener did - and Rowsey's supporting cast is much better than what Diener had in his last year.

Diener was hurt before he broke his hand. I think it was foot injury. I think he was averaging 24 points a game before he injured his foot.

[Dawson Rental]

Eye define #1 guards bye far more dan just scorin', ai n?

[Newsdreams]

I agree, but I also feel that Rowsey doesn't do a great job of finding Howard. I'd love to know how many of Rowsey's assists are on Howard baskets, and how that compares with distribution to others. Not sure why it is, but it strikes me many games.

Think sometimes teams pick their poison and deny / face guard Markus makes it hard to get the ball to him

[Herman Cain]

I am comfortable saying if Andrew Rowsey continues somewhere near his current pace he will have an overall season that ranks among the top 15 performances at MU.  We have had some great players at MU.  As far as PGs, the individual performances of guys like Dean Meminger , Dr. Lloyd Walton, and Butch Lee ( National player of the Year) are at a much different level . 

[madtown AL]

So agree with Herman Cain. Rowsey is without a doubt a heck of a shooter but not close to the same PG class of Meminger, Walton and Lee. You youngins find some film and you'll easily see what we talkin about.

[MU82]

Diener put up huge numbers despite no supporting cast

Novak, future NBA player, 13.5 ppg.

Mason, pretty good college player, 11.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg.

Chapman and Townsend, solid role players who were on FF team, 8.1 and 5.9 ppg.

Amaroso, promising (albeit frustrating) freshman, 6 ppg.

No talent?

[Milkshakes]

I am starting to think that this team might be better than next year, unless they find a point somewhere.  Do not like Howard as a point.  Rowsey can do so much with
the ball and creates many openings.  Next year not sure how they are going to score,  Howard will have to grow up.  Sure they will be stronger inside but it college is
a guard game right now.

I think this is such an interesting question. On one hand I completely agree take Rowsey away and we loose to Georgetown. It feels like we take a step back next year without him.

On the other hand, and I think highly relevant to the question of best PG ever, Rowsey does look to score first, second and third and only after that does he consider getting his teammates involved.  Hey the dude can score so I get it. However, there are times were I think that we are underperforming because the rest of the team isn't in the flow of the offense and if we had a PG who got everybody involved we might be even more of an offensive power than we have been so far this year.

[DCHoopster]

I am comfortable saying if Andrew Rowsey continues somewhere near his current pace he will have an overall season that ranks among the top 15 performances at MU.  We have had some great players at MU.  As far as PGs, the individual performances of guys like Dean Meminger , Dr. Lloyd Walton, and Butch Lee ( National player of the Year) are at a much different level .

Herman, none of those 3 players have the shooting ability of Rowsey.  Dean had a horrible looking shot and scored most of his points inside, definitely a playmaker.
Lloyd as well.  Butch was a 2 guard with Boylan being the point, Butch played 15 feet and in.  The only player close to Rowsey in playing ability, was Travis Diener.  Both
small guards that could shoot it.  Rowsey maybe the best shooting guard behind the 3 point line ever, with Howard 2nd right now.  Markus has 2 more years so he has
a chance to be as good.  Right now he is forcing shoots a tad, last year he was so good as the team had more players who could score., if Cain keeps improving it will
help the whole team, which will give Markus some better looks.

[jsglow]

Herman, none of those 3 players have the shooting ability of Rowsey.  Dean had a horrible looking shot and scored most of his points inside, definitely a playmaker.
Lloyd as well.  Butch was a 2 guard with Boylan being the point, Butch played 15 feet and in.  The only player close to Rowsey in playing ability, was Travis Diener.  Both
small guards that could shoot it.  Rowsey maybe the best shooting guard behind the 3 point line ever, with Howard 2nd right now.  Markus has 2 more years so he has
a chance to be as good.  Right now he is forcing shoots a tad, last year he was so good as the team had more players who could score., if Cain keeps improving it will
help the whole team, which will give Markus some better looks.

O------M------G.  Now I will acknowledge that AR may be the best pure shooting PG we've had off the top of my head.  But please, please don't compare him to the great guards that have flourished with Marquette.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I think this is such an interesting question. On one hand I completely agree take Rowsey away and we loose to Georgetown. It feels like we take a step back next year without him.

On the other hand, and I think highly relevant to the question of best PG ever, Rowsey does look to score first, second and third and only after that does he consider getting his teammates involved.  Hey the dude can score so I get it. However, there are times were I think that we are underperforming because the rest of the team isn't in the flow of the offense and if we had a PG who got everybody involved we might be even more of an offensive power than we have been so far this year.

I agree with this analysis

[MU82]

The OP post asked if AR is having the "best MU offensive PG season ever."

Few have answered that question as, in typical Scoop fashion, we have gone off in other directions (myself included).

So far, his season certainly is among the top few offensive performances ever for a Marquette PG, I think most of us would agree to that. If he stays at this pace, he will have the second-highest scoring average ever for an MU point guard (behind Tony Smith's 23.8), so that alone has to rank him high in this discussion.

A lot will depend upon how folks value shooting and/or scoring from the position vs. being a team's facilitator (making teammates better).

Rowsey is averaging 22.4 ppg, 4.1 A (vs 3.1 TO) and shooting .466-.450-.891.

In 1989-90, Smith averaged 23.8 ppg, 5.8 A (vs 3.9 TO) and shot  .494-.414-.856.

In his injury-shortened (23 games) 2004-05 season, Diener averaged 19.7 ppg, 7.0 A (vs 2.5 TO) and shot .420-.405-.838.

For our 28-1 team in 1970-71, Dean averaged 21.2 ppg, 3.6A and shot .509-.736 (no 3s obviously).

Those seasons by Smith, Diener and Dean were the only ones in which the PG scored anywhere near Rowsey's 22.4 ppg. So one would really have to highly value Walton's floor game to say he was in the same offensive discussion.

Right now, gun at my head, I'd have to go Smith, Diener, Rowsey, Dean as the answer to the question.

I was surprised by Dean's relatively low assist total, and I wonder if official scorers were stingier with assists back then.

I don't remember seeing him play for Marquette (I was only 10 when he was a senior, but I was a big Knicks fan and I loved him). So I can't speak to how he directed the MU offense overall. I do know he was a hell of a defender and leader, so I very well might take a "Dean in his MU prime" over any of the others.

[Jay Bee]

Rowsey is averaging 22.4 ppg, 4.1 A (vs 3.1 TO) and shooting .466-.450-.891.

In 1989-90, Smith averaged 23.8 ppg, 5.8 A (vs 3.9 TO) and shot  .494-.414-.856.

In his injury-shortened (23 games) 2004-05 season, Diener averaged 19.7 ppg, 7.0 A (vs 2.5 TO) and shot .420-.405-.838.

For our 28-1 team in 1970-71, Dean averaged 21.2 ppg, 3.6A and shot .509-.736 (no 3s obviously).

Good that you included 3FG% for Rowsey, Smith and Diener, but important to remember that they had significantly different splits (2FGA vs. 3FGA)... Rowsey the highest 3FGA/FGA.. Diener in the middle, and Smith wasn't a frequent deep threat...

So, when you get to what matters, eFG%... you're talking:
Rowsey 60.7%
Smith 53.2%
Diener 52.9%

Big difference, a1na? (Should note D-I eFG% is ~1.5% better today than it was in 2004-05)