Theo climbing the ladder

[Marcus92]

Theo's 6 blocks tonight against DePaul put him at 59 for the season -- good for 8th place on the list of all-time season leaders at Marquette:

142 - Jim McIlvaine (1993-94)
92 - Jim McIlvaine (1990-91)
86 - Jim Mcilvaine (1991-92)
84 - Faisal Abraham (1996-97)
79 - Jim McIlvaine (1992-93)
76 - Amal McCaskill (1994-95)
63 - Walter Downing (1984-85)
59 - Theo John (2018-19)
58 - Faisal Abraham (1995-96)
55 - Amal McCaskill (1995-96)

If Theo maintains his current average and Marquette plays 37 games (appearing in the Big East championship game and Sweet 16), he'll finish the season with 87 blocks -- 3rd most all-time.

[MULaw14]

Some will inevitably point to Rowsey's graduation or Sacar's perimeter defense, but Theo's transformation protecting the paint should be the least contested Scoop conversation identifying the catalyst for our (much) improved defense this year.

I can't even imagine his place on the ladder with some more PT without the foul trouble. Ironic he's evolved as an underclassman into what most, including myself, fantasized what Ed could be before the season began.

[Heisenberg]

If Theo maintains his current average and Marquette plays 37 games (appearing in the Big East championship game and Sweet 16), he'll finish the season with 87 blocks -- 3rd most all-time.

The best one can hope for here is to be the greatest in MU history not named Jim McIlvaine.

[mu_hilltopper]

Needs to figure out how to "protect the paint" without the fouls, though. 

Those 2.4 average blocks comes at a price ..  in 30 games, he's only managed 11 playing over 20 minutes, and 11 under 15 mins.  (Yes, I get it, sometimes there are other reasons for him not getting above 20 minutes .. usually it's foul trouble.)

[NorthernDancerColt]

The best one can hope for here is to be the greatest in MU history not named Jim McIlvaine.

I had a buddy at U of Illinois law school who attended Indiana for undergrad, great guy...he loved Jimmy Mac's game, and said that if he played for North Carolina, Dickie V would be touting him all day. So, one of us (I'm pretty sure it was him) dubbed him "McIltross" after 1990s UNC giant Eric Montross.

[TheGym]

Some will inevitably point to Rowsey's graduation or Sacar's perimeter defense, but Theo's transformation protecting the paint should be the least contested Scoop conversation identifying the catalyst for our (much) improved defense this year.

I can't even imagine his place on the ladder with some more PT without the foul trouble. Ironic he's evolved as an underclassman into what most, including myself, fantasized what Ed could be before the season began.

I love what Theo is doing this year, but the purge of Rowsey is by far the biggest reason for our improvement on defense.

[MU82]

I love what Theo is doing this year, but the purge of Rowsey is by far the biggest reason for our improvement on defense.

"The purge of Rowsey" sounds like we got rid of him because he was embezzling athletic dept. funds or something ... but yes, trading out Rowsey for Sacar at guard was huge. As was Theo/Ed for Heldt and getting Joey/Bailey at the wing. Plus, Markus is definitely a better defender -- partly because it's easier to find a matchup for him without Rowsey being in the same backcourt and partly because Markus simply has gotten better; for example, he did a great job keeping Gillespie from having open 3s.

None of us should underrate the power of having a rim-protector like Theo, though. He is only going to get better.

[RushmoreAcademy]

142 blocks??? Now that's rim protection.

[GooooMarquette]

The best one can hope for here is to be the greatest in MU history not named Jim McIlvaine.

Yup. I know the old adage is "records are made to be broken," but this is one that will be standing for a long, long time.

Interesting comparative number:

George's scoring record stood for 40 years (1969-2009) before Jerel broke it. People were rightfully amazed at the how long GT's record lasted...a testament to his dominance.

Mac's block record will be standing for 25 years (1994-2019) as of the end of this season, and nobody has come remotely close. Theo is closing in on halfway through his MU career, and he has yet to reach the 25% mark in Mac's block record.

That said - Theo is amazing to watch, and he has a very solid chance of ending at #2.

[Galway Eagle]

Unless mutumbo is walking through the door nobody is touching mac's record

[MU82]

Unless mutumbo is walking through the door nobody is touching mac's record

Darn Wojo. willie is right about him being a lousy recruiter if he can't even get Mutombo to walk through that door!

[GooooMarquette]

Unless mutumbo is walking through the door nobody is touching mac's record

Could this kid be the answer?

https://247sports.com/Player/Bretner-Mutombo-46054289/

[damuts222]

[ultimate]

Darn Wojo. willie is right about him being a lousy recruiter if he can't even get Mutombo to walk through that door!

Yeah, but is this really Wojo's fault? I'd bet Mutombo has trouble walking through lots of doors!

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Yup. I know the old adage is "records are made to be broken," but this is one that will be standing for a long, long time.

Until they invent the 2 block line

[GooooMarquette]

Until they invent the 2 block line

Well played, TSmith34. Well played.

[Jockey]

Theo's 6 blocks tonight against DePaul put him at 59 for the season -- good for 8th place on the list of all-time season leaders at Marquette:

142 - Jim McIlvaine (1993-94)
92 - Jim McIlvaine (1990-91)
86 - Jim Mcilvaine (1991-92)
84 - Faisal Abraham (1996-97)
79 - Jim McIlvaine (1992-93)
76 - Amal McCaskill (1994-95)
63 - Walter Downing (1984-85)
59 - Theo John (2018-19)
58 - Faisal Abraham (1995-96)
55 - Amal McCaskill (1995-96)

If Theo maintains his current average and Marquette plays 37 games (appearing in the Big East championship game and Sweet 16), he'll finish the season with 87 blocks -- 3rd most all-time.

My guess is that this list is not even close to being accurate.

[rocky_warrior]

My guess is that this list is not even close to being accurate.

I believe it is.  It's matched in our wiki, which I believe was pulled from a media guide. Last updated in 2016, but I don't think MU has had any single season records since then.
https://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/single_season_blocks
What would make you believe otherwise?

edit: wrong link

[warriorchick]

I believe it is.  It's matched in our wiki, which I believe was pulled from a media guide. Last updated in 2016, but I don't think MU has had any single season records since then.
https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?action=post;quote=1092406;topic=57878.0

What would make you believe otherwise?

Because half of his blocks were called fouls.

[rocky_warrior]

Because half of his blocks were called fouls.

Right, but then we'd have to judge the EBF% (Effective Block to Foul % ) of all others on the list to see if their records are accurate too.

[Marcus92]

It's worth noting that blocks weren't an official NCAA statistic until the 1985-86 season. So the list doesn't include past MU greats such as Jerome Whitehead, Bo Ellis, Maurice Lucas or Jim Chones.

Still, being one of the best shot-blockers since the Kevin O'Neill era is no small accomplishment.

[Marcus92]

BTW, Navy's David Robinson holds the all-time Division I college basketball record for blocks in a season. He rejected 207 shots (5.9 bpg) during the 1985-86 season.

Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning is the all-time record-holder in the Big East. He blocked 169 shots (5.0 bpg) during the 1988-89 season.

[lawdog77]

since it a slow week. How long does everyone think the career assist total of Tony Miller will stand? Will that last longer than McIlvaine's block record, or Howard's points total after next year?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

since it a slow week. How long does everyone think the career assist total of Tony Miller will stand? Will that last longer than McIlvaine's block record, or Howard's points total after next year?

Good question. My gut would say Jimmy Mac's. I think the way rules are heading give a lot of advantages to offensive players and make it more difficult for shot blockers. That being said, Tony Miller is top 10 all time in assists. Jimmy Mac is "only" top 25 all time in blocks.

[bilsu]

Good question. My gut would say Jimmy Mac's. I think the way rules are heading give a lot of advantages to offensive players and make it more difficult for shot blockers. That being said, Tony Miller is top 10 all time in assists. Jimmy Mac is "only" top 25 all time in blocks.

I think Miller's record for assists will be broken before Mac's block shot record. I think it is much easier to have a point guard play for four years, then to find an athletic shot blocker who will stay four years. In today's world I do not think McIllvanie would stay all four years.