Future Expectations

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Part of the expectations for next year are based upon (what I believe) is an under-performance by Wojo to this point.  I want him to succeed and the team to get better, but freely admit the price of my "wait until next year" is the expectation that next year really HAS to be better, and by a significant amount.

At some point the Wojo era needs a "wow" year.  So far it's been just enough to keep the advocates happy.  Unfortunately since he hasn't had one yet it is starting to all hang on one year — which as we all know anything can happen (team chemistry, injury, bad luck, etc).  But that's why he gets the big bucks. 

[Marcus92]

(Adding two top 75 recruits [Howard and Hauser] + a top grad transfer [Katin] + improvement from 7 returning players) > (Losing Henry Ellenson and Wally Ellenson)

Many didn't believe. The result was a 65 point increase in KenPom and an NCAA tournament berth.

I have similar feelings about next season

(A top 50 recruit [Joey] + a former top 100 recruit coming back from LDS mission [Bailey] + a traditional transfer who was top 30 [of all D1 players] in rebounding + a 3 star project coming off redshirt + improvement from 8 returning players) > (Losing Andrew Rowsey)

I couldn't have put it any better. A lot of posters seem to discount the impact of offseason development and an influx of new talent because they're unknowns.

Marquette returns 4 starters (Markus, Sacar, Sam and Matt), 8 players who averaged 10+ minutes a game and 75% of the offense. That's a strong core to build on. I expect Ed and Joey will be impact players from Day 1. Bailey and Eke have a better-than-average chance to contribute as newcomers, as well.

Plus, unlike Henry's team which played an incredibly weak schedule and missed the postseason altogether, this team survived the toughest slate in recent memory and will be facing at least one more quality opponent somewhere next week.

So while there are question marks (point guard and defense being the biggest ones), the potential for a significant step up is very real.

[WarriorFan]

Position by position:

PG - Let's face it, Howard must play point.  MU needs him to make the NBA, and he's only going to make it if he has PG skills, so he's going to develop more of these skills during the summer and be the PG.  No drop off in scoring or D at this position. (good scoring, no D) Elliot as secure back-up, and hopefully a good frosh to fill out the roster.
SG - Sacar is the man.  Slight drop in scoring at this position from this year but Sacar continues to improve and becomes a multi-dimensional threat and also defends the opposition's best player 1-4.  Cain/Elliot/Bailey as backups.  O drops off, D improves a LOT.
SF - Sam gets better.  Big plus in production at this position.  Cain as backup with similar capability in spurts... better D/Less O from Cain.  Overall the position gets better on O and D.
PF - Morrow is the stud we haven't had in a while at this position.  Huge plus at this position.  Joey/Harry as capable backups... Harry could remember how to shoot and get his confidence back and be an offensive minded "super sub" for a few minutes per game.  Better O and D and Rebounding.
C - Heldt continues to improve.  John is always challenging him and they split the minutes.  Definite improvement at this position.  Put in Harry when both guys have 3 fouls.

Possible Small Ball lineup:  Howard/Sacar/Cain or Elliot/Morrow/Sam
Full Court D lineup:  Elliot/Sacar/Cain/Morrow/Sam (or even Matt - for his hustle)... also not a bad 2-3 zone line-up. 

In conclusion, the only position we have a drop off is at the 2... with Howard's production from this year dropping to Sacar's production from next year, but that's more than made up by the increases at the 3 and 4 and a little bit from the 5. 

[Class71]

I just hope we do not need another thread like this next year. In watching Providence play 'Nova  it reminded me of  what  great teams look like.and what a pleasure it is to watch great game plans and coaching. If Providence had one of our shooters wowza.

.I truly hope we get to that level but is it a talent problem or teaching defense, demanding defense and finding a point guard that values the ball and distributes effectively?

[forgetful]

I just hope we do not need another thread like this next year. In watching Providence play 'Nova  it reminded me of  what  great teams look like.and what a pleasure it is to watch great game plans and coaching. If Providence had one of our shooters wowza.

.I truly hope we get to that level but is it a talent problem or teaching defense, demanding defense and finding a point guard that values the ball and distributes effectively?

Did you say the same thing when Providence lost at home to Depaul by 17?  Or lost at UMASS (RPI 238) this year? 

Or when we took Nova' to the wire this year (or beat them last year).

Selective memory/reactions of people on here is something special. 

[Stretchdeltsig]

I have been reading all the talk about next year's talent and how Wojo's butt is on the line if we don't dance in the round of 16. I hope i am wrong, but there seems to be overblown expectations for next year. Center will still not be a strength no matter who plays.No point guard that can measure up to Rowsey's play this year unless we get lucky from now till then !  If Howard plays the point, who is our BE quality 2 guard?  Sacar? has sure improved but no way has the shooting range of a star. Bailey, who knows? Morrow should be an upgrade at the 4 as far as defense and rebounding , yes.  The Hausers should provide offensive punch but if we play both at the same time what about footspeed and defense? Cain and Elliot both need to add strength  and greatly improve their ball handling skills to take the next step. We will have depth, but is it star quality depth? Not sure what to expect from Eke and Froling. In all ,I think a lot of  stars  have to align properly for us to be as good as most people think.

A lot of words from a negative Nellie.  We will have the most height and depth ever in our history next year.  Admittedly Wojo has to recruit the missing piece which is a dominant point guard.  I have faith that he will.  Either support the team or get out of their way, as 2018 will be a great year.

[tower912]

It is my recollection that there was a fairly in depth analysis of the difference in MU's defense when only one little guard was on the floor.   Everybody a year older, only one undersized guard.     I expect MU's defense to be hugely improved.   

[drbob]

Far from a negative nelly Stretchdeltsig, in fact I have been a diehard fan since 1968.  Yes, I was at MU for the "GLORY YEARS".  I just think in  terms of physicality and athleticism we still may be a ways off.  I sincerely  hope you are right !

[WarriorDad]

A lot of words from a negative Nellie.  We will have the most height and depth ever in our history next year.  Admittedly Wojo has to recruit the missing piece which is a dominant point guard.  I have faith that he will.  Either support the team or get out of their way, as 2018 will be a great year.

More height than in the 70's?  Four players 6'9" or taller on the '77 team. 

[AZMarqfan]

let's remember we had 1 senior in 17-18, and next year we have 1

[brewcity77]

More height than in the 70's?  Four players 6'9" or taller on the '77 team.

John, Eke, Heldt, and Froling are all 6'9" or taller. Sam, Joey, Cain, Brendan, and Morrow are all 6'7" or taller. Of the remaining 3 players, only Markus is under 6'3". I don't know how tall 1977 was top to bottom, but that's a lot of length.

[drbob]

Don't exactly put fear in you like Chones, Mc Neil,Lucas Toone,Whitehead,and Ellis !!!

[WarriorDad]

John, Eke, Heldt, and Froling are all 6'9" or taller. Sam, Joey, Cain, Brendan, and Morrow are all 6'7" or taller. Of the remaining 3 players, only Markus is under 6'3". I don't know how tall 1977 was top to bottom, but that's a lot of length.

Foling was dismissed from the team.