Markus > Zion

[MU82]

Brando and Raf compared Markus to Chris Jackson when he was at LSU (later Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf).

I heard that one before but forgot it until Brando/Raf reminded me. A pretty good comparison IMHO. I like Kemba as a comparison, too.

[TheGym]

Zion has the hype machine.  Theo won't play in the league without a jump shot.

I wonder when Marquette ratchets up the PR machine for Marcus' All-American and POY candidacy.  Schools do this really hard for the Heisman.  Wonder why Marquette has not done so yet.

[Goose]

MU82

The Chris Jackson comparison is a good one. I told my boys that last season, but they had no idea who I was talking about. In all my years of watching MU play, I have never seen anything like his ability to score points. He is a great shooter, but better scorer.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

What aspect? That he can't play center in the nba or that he can't play PF in the NBA or that you need to stretch the floor as a PF in the nba now?

I am just saying I believe he has a shot at the NBA. He's a tremendous defensive player.

[skianth16]

Markus has two things that will keep him from the NPOY.

ESPN and Duke.

Those are impossible things to overcome.  Zion had the hype back in November and Markus has just started getting some pub the last month.  Markus is on FS1 and Duke is on ESPN all the time.

If NCAA BB had an awards show for the NPOY like the Heisman, I think Markus would be invited to the Downtown Athletic Club, but Zion wrapped up the award with his 360 breakaway dunk a couple weeks back.

I think the biggest thing going against Markus is the down year for the Big East. I have a feeling that for many people, the non-conference wins are all but forgotten now that we're in the middle of conference play. And with just 2 more games against ranked opponents for the rest of the year, it can be easier to discount his success from here on out.

[muwarrior69]

Markus is great, prolific scorer and glad we have him, but I remember this guy who was the greatest scoring machine ever. Watched him play all 4 games in the 1970 NIT.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Maravich

[Goose]

Warrior69
Major, major Pistol Pete fan here, but Howard is the greatest, efficient scorer I have seen in a long time. He can score a ton without hoisting up 30-40 shots a game.

On a sidebar, my Grandma had Pistol at youth camp in Libertyville, IL when was a boy. My Aunt will randomly send me Pistol videos and interviews to remind me of his greatness. Us Serbs stick together.

[JWags85]

I wonder when Marquette ratchets up the PR machine for Marcus' All-American and POY candidacy.  Schools do this really hard for the Heisman.  Wonder why Marquette has not done so yet.

Cause Happ, Zion, RJ Barrett, Hachimura, Culver, and others will be gone next year.

Markus has a REALLY good chance to be the preseason pick for POY. Throw your weight and resources behind him next year when it won't be wasted behind the Zion Hype Locamotive

[mug644]

Cause Happ, Zion, RJ Barrett, Hachimura, Culver, and others will be gone next year.

Markus has a REALLY good chance to be the preseason pick for POY. Throw your weight and resources behind him next year when it won't be wasted behind the Zion Hype Locamotive

No doubt there will be one or more freshman coming in use gets the Zion hype machine from pre-season on.

[Galway Eagle]

No doubt there will be one or more freshman coming in use gets the Zion hype machine from pre-season on.

They're really waiting to start it then because Zion had stuff going for at least a year prior, I haven't heard of any of the top 5 recruits for 2019. It's possible I just live in a different country

[Heisenberg]

Top 25 players in college basketball

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/25888810/the-top-25-players-college-basketball

1 Zion
2 Ja Morant
3 Happ
4 Grant Williams
5 Markus
6 Winston - MSU
7 Culver
8 Clarke - Gongaza
9 Lawson - KU
10 Martin - Nevada

[MU82]

Top 25 players in college basketball

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/25888810/the-top-25-players-college-basketball

1 Zion
2 Ja Morant
3 Happ
4 Grant Williams
5 Markus
6 Winston - MSU
7 Culver
8 Clarke - Clarke
9 Lawson - KU
10 Martin - Nevada

I acknowledge that Happ has had a more accomplished college career than Sam. But I would be willing to put money on Sam having a longer NBA career than Happ.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Top 25 players in college basketball

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/25888810/the-top-25-players-college-basketball

1 Zion
2 Ja Morant
3 Happ
4 Grant Williams
5 Markus
6 Winston - MSU
7 Culver
8 Clarke - Clarke
9 Lawson - KU
10 Martin - Nevada

Clarke plays for Clarke? I didn't know Clarke college had gone D1!

[rocket surgeon]

Markus has two things that will keep him from the NPOY.

ESPN and Duke.

Those are impossible things to overcome.  Zion had the hype back in November and Markus has just started getting some pub the last month.  Markus is on FS1 and Duke is on ESPN all the time.

If NCAA BB had an awards show for the NPOY like the Heisman, I think Markus would be invited to the Downtown Athletic Club, but Zion wrapped up the award with his 360 breakaway dunk a couple weeks back.

Excellent post-you hit it on the head with your first 11 words.  Even Ethan happ gets mentioned in this article while placing Markus at the bottom of their list.  With the exception of Zion, none of the rest of these guys standout like Markus but...

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/woodenwatch013119/watch-ethan-happ

[HowardsWorld]

The fact that Carson Edwards is not in the top 10 means I can't take this list seriously. Easily top 5 if not the best.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The fact that Carson Edwards is not in the top 10 means I can't take this list seriously. Easily top 5 if not the best.

FWIW, he's not alone. Our own Auburnmufan's (can't remember his exact handle) value add system ranks him 16th.

http://www.valueaddbasketball.com/

[Johnny B]

Some of the posts in this thread are hilarious. The idea that theo Could magically develop an adequate three point nba jumper Is just laughably silly. Guys like him shaq dwight howard and Derrick Wilson can throw up 500 threes a day and it ain't ever gonna happen. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Jockey]

Back to the premise of the article.

Zion is better and will be POY and the #1 pick in the draft. I would put Howard, Morant, and Happ, and Williams in a photo finish for 2nd.


ESPN has nothing to do with my opinion and they would lose all credibility if they DIDN'T have Zion as the leader.

[MuMark]

Back to the premise of the article.

Zion is better and will be POY and the #1 pick in the draft. I would put Howard, Morant, and Happ, and Williams in a photo finish for 2nd.


ESPN has nothing to do with my opinion and they would lose all credibility if they DIDN'T have Zion as the leader.

Yep

[forgetful]

Back to the premise of the article.

Zion is better and will be POY and the #1 pick in the draft. I would put Howard, Morant, and Happ, and Williams in a photo finish for 2nd.


ESPN has nothing to do with my opinion and they would lose all credibility if they DIDN'T have Zion as the leader.

What Zion is doing this year, is what Lebron would have looked like if he had played a year in college. That is why he is going to be the #1 pick, and why he is POY.

[wadesworld]

Some of the posts in this thread are hilarious. The idea that theo Could magically develop an adequate three point nba jumper Is just laughably silly. Guys like him shaq dwight howard and Derrick Wilson can throw up 500 threes a day and it ain't ever gonna happen. Absolutely ridiculous.

Did you watch John Henson try to shoot a jumper outside of 15 feet prior to this year?  How about Brook Lopez having 3 total made 3 pointers in his first 8 years in the NBA and then made 134 in his 9th year and will have more than that by the All Star break in his 11th year now?  What about Marc Gasol, who averaged 1.2 makes per season his first 8 years in the NBA and then made 104 in his 9th season?

I don't think Theo will ever be a 3 point shooter, but to pretend that it's impossible for a center who's never shown the ability to develop a 3 point shot is just wrong.

[MattyWarrior]

It's espn, what did u expect! We know how special Marcus is, hands down one of the best players in college today!

[Galway Eagle]

Did you watch John Henson try to shoot a jumper outside of 15 feet prior to this year?  How about Brook Lopez having 3 total made 3 pointers in his first 8 years in the NBA and then made 134 in his 9th year and will have more than that by the All Star break in his 11th year now?  What about Marc Gasol, who averaged 1.2 makes per season his first 8 years in the NBA and then made 104 in his 9th season?

I don't think Theo will ever be a 3 point shooter, but to pretend that it's impossible for a center who's never shown the ability to develop a 3 point shot is just wrong.

He's still 6-9, meaning he'd have to hit at a clip expected of Powerforwards and Smallforwards not expected by a center developing an outside crap suddenly. It's simply not happening. It's like the people that thought Davante or Rowsey had a shot in the NBA, was never going to happen

[JWags85]

I acknowledge that Happ has had a more accomplished college career than Sam. But I would be willing to put money on Sam having a longer NBA career than Happ.

Sam can have a better NBA career than Happ by getting drafted or signing for a season with anyone. Happ is a collegiate juggernaut but today's NBA has not place for 6'10 PF with no offensive range outside of 5 feet, who are slow of foot, and not a defensive game changer. His post fundamentals are great. But he has no NBA future whatsoever.

Top 25 players in college basketball

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/25888810/the-top-25-players-college-basketball

1 Zion
2 Ja Morant
3 Happ
4 Grant Williams
5 Markus
6 Winston - MSU
7 Culver
8 Clarke - Gongaza
9 Lawson - KU
10 Martin - Nevada

This can't be right. The SJU fans assured me Markus was an overrated bum and Ponds was the clear best player in the BE, a better scorer and he plays defense (unlike Markus which is why he didn't go to Zona...defense  )

[rocky_warrior]

What Zion is doing this year, is what Lebron would have looked like if he had played a year in college. That is why he is going to be the #1 pick, and why he is POY.

Zion < LeBron