Theo

[source?]

When does the Fiserv start handing out the old timey maps with the lane labeled "Here there be monsters"?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I agree, but I said becoming.

I know. I don't ever see him becoming the best big man in the Big East. Not versatile enough on offense. I do see him becoming the best rim protector in the Big East.

[Its DJOver]

I don't know if it's a perfect comparison, but I've always seen Theo as a slightly better defensively, but slightly worse offensively Tyler Wideman.  A very important four year player with a ceiling at about 10 and 6, and that's all I think we need him to be.

[avid1010]

And a good defensive coach....

I continue to beat a dead horse and state that all we can do is judge wojo on wins/losses and how the team represents MU.  That said...you have no clue if Wojo can coach defense or if it was an addition to the staff...change in roster...down year for college bball...etc.  What we do know is Wojo is finding a way to lead this team to wins and everyone has to love that.

[jsglow]

Theo was only credited for one block last night.    Of course, it was the big one.    Only 6 rebounds in 30 minutes.    The Hausers had 8 each.    Passing out of the post is a non-issue because it doesn't happen.     HOWEVER, he is only a sophomore and has made great strides.   He almost single-handedly lays to rest the notion that Wojo and his staff can't develop players.        So give him credit for the strides he has made.    Be patient as he gets even better.    Because he is still going to have 16 minute, 4 point, 5 rebound, 4 foul games.   

Exactly right.  No player has made greater progress in the last 12 months.  I'm expecting Theo to continue to develop his game.  He's going to terrorize the Big East as an upperclassman.

[jesmu84]

I don't really mind Theo committing a few fouls and getting called for goaltending once or twice a game. If you're playing aggressive defense, you won't always get the call. If you can't get the block, sometimes a foul is the right play. I wasn't even worried when he got his fourth foul last night. It wasn't a reckless play; it was good, tough defense.

It seems like Theo is starting to recognize when is the right time to go all-out. When he was defending Seton Hall's Nzei (a senior 6-8 forward), he simply played good positional D: Stand your ground, don't let him get deeper into the paint, make him hit a tough shot with a hand in his face (which Nzei did twice). But when he sees a chance to help on a smaller guard or block a layup on a fast-break, he goes for it.

I agree with this. Theo generally plays pretty good straight up D when his man has the ball. But he is improving drastically at off-ball blocks.

[Not A Serious Person]

Rank Theo with the Following bigs HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR SOPHOMORE SEASON.

Here is a list of bigs back to 1980 (miss anyone?)
Outle
Gardner
Fisher
Heldt
Froling
Morrow
Taylor Jr.
Mbao
Grimm
Merritt
Kinsella
Mbakwe
Blackledge
Barro
Jackson
Mueller
Clausen
Lovette
Shaw
Polonowski
MacCaskill
Crawford
McIlvaine
Grosse
Copa
Muller
Downing
Davis
Lazzeratti
Moore
Marquardt
Nyenhuis

Who was better than Theo after 1 1/2 seasons?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Mac, Davante and Fish probably.

[GooooMarquette]

Mac, Davante and Fish probably.

I was gonna say Mac, Davante and RJax (the latter of course at Mississippi State).

[PBRme]

Damon Key

[GooooMarquette]

Damon Key

Agree, but - despite his size - Key usually played further from the basket than the others listed.

[BrewCity83]

Every time we watch Marquette, my husband says, wistfully, "Man, he would've looked good in a Gopher's uniform."  Great get for Wojo.

You know who looked good in a Gopher's uniform?  Trevor Mbakwe.  That cat made the uniform look better.   

[Not A Serious Person]

Damon Key

I was gonna say Mac, Davante and RJax (the latter of course at Mississippi State).

Mac, Davante and Fish probably.

How about Crawford and MacCaskill?

[#UnleashSean]

One word of caution, I would recommend keeping Theo expectations at realistic level. I remember vividly folks wanting Matt H to play over Luke Fischer. I get it, Theo is becoming a fan favorite, and that is fine. If MU is going to have a long run in March, Theo is going to need to play a role in that. IMO, there is going to need to be 7 guys covering for each other over the upcoming weeks.

After watching Fischer give a game away to DePaul, two years in a row. I was ready to have anyone from the student section play over him.

[GooooMarquette]

How about Crawford and MacCaskill?

Not midway through their Soph seasons. Both were still backups, and became key players their last two seasons. Amal only averaged 11 mpg as a Soph.

[Stretchdeltsig]

When I saw Theo last year, I thought of Maurice Lucas.  Well, after watching him play it was obvious that he wasn't Lucas.  But, watching his play improve this year, I think he can be a great Warrior.  I think whenever he gets his hands on the ball within 8' of the rim, he can and should score.  He can average 20 points per game if he controls the rim.

[MuMark]

When I saw Theo last year, I thought of Maurice Lucas.  Well, after watching him play it was obvious that he wasn't Lucas.  But, watching his play improve this year, I think he can be a great Warrior.  I think whenever he gets his hands on the ball within 8' of the rim, he can and should score.  He can average 20 points per game if he controls the rim.

He's never going to average 20 points a game........why do people do this?

[Galway Eagle]

When I saw Theo last year, I thought of Maurice Lucas.  Well, after watching him play it was obvious that he wasn't Lucas.  But, watching his play improve this year, I think he can be a great Warrior.  I think whenever he gets his hands on the ball within 8' of the rim, he can and should score.  He can average 20 points per game if he controls the rim.

In todays game a center without an outside shot averaging that much would be a death sentence. Wisconsin is one dimensional like that with an all american center and they're pretty average

[Dawson Rental]

How about Crawford and MacCaskill?

Crawford?  Wasn't he a swing forward?  Like Gardner,  Theo won't come close to the offensive production, but will do much more in rim protection.

[Dawson Rental]

In todays game a center without an outside shot averaging that much would be a death sentence. Wisconsin is one dimensional like that with an all american center and they're pretty average

Wisconsin pretty average?  What?  A center averaging 20 points a game in the paint is a huge advantage, not a death sentence.  It opens up the defense a lot for outside shooters when a team has to figure out how to stop that kind of an inside threat.

[Dawson Rental]

Rank Theo with the Following bigs HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR SOPHOMORE SEASON.

Here is a list of bigs back to 1980 (miss anyone?)
Outle
Gardner
Fisher
Heldt
Froling
Morrow
Taylor Jr.
Mbao
Grimm
Merritt
Kinsella
Mbakwe
Blackledge
Barro
Jackson
Mueller
Clausen
Lovette
Shaw
Polonowski
MacCaskill
Crawford
McIlvaine
Grosse
Copa
Muller
Downing
Davis
Lazzeratti
Moore
Marquardt
Nyenhuis

Who was better than Theo after 1 1/2 seasons?

IMHO, the three best seasons from a Marquette center during this time period (in no particular order) were McIlvaine's senior season, Jackson's senior season and Lovette as a junior.  Damon Key has Marquette's starting center his freshman year was better than Theo is now.  After that he moved to PF to make room for McIlvaine, otherwise he's be in the discussion for all four of his years.

[GooooMarquette]

IMHO, the three best seasons from a Marquette center during this time period (in no particular order) were McIlvaine's senior season, Jackson's senior season and Lovette as a junior.  Damon Key has Marquette's starting center his freshman year was better than Theo is now.  After that he moved to PF to make room for McIlvaine, otherwise he's be in the discussion for all four of his years.

Interesting you mentioned Jarrod Lovette. IMHO, his development might have been the most impressive accomplishment in Mike Deane's tenure. When Lovette first got to MU, he looked completely lost and physically overmatched, and I feared he'd be a wasted scholarship. But by his junior and senior seasons, he was poised, consistent and a great compliment to guys like Hutch and Wardle.

It's a shame his career ended as it did, but I was glad to hear that he turned his life around.

[avid1010]

What happened with Lovette?  I thought it was anxiety?

[GooooMarquette]

What happened with Lovette?  I thought it was anxiety?

Anxiety and depression, which he later revealed had caused him to attempt suicide early in his senior season. He later got into drugs and such, but eventually got back into hoops, became a personal trainer, and is now an assistant coach at Grace College in Indiana.

Here's his current bio and a story from the LaCrosse paper from a while back....

https://gclancers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=273

https://lacrossetribune.com/sports/jarrod-lovette-finds-peace-by-turning-life-over-to-god/article_8d81f93d-8d30-5200-844c-1e1d33e4d416.html

[Archies Bat]

Mac, Davante and Fish probably.

My distant memory is Mac was very stiff as a freshman. Missed a lot of easy shots.  He got much better later.  If my memory is correct, I would not put him ahead of Theo.