Markus shooting 25% down the stretch

[Cheeks]

Whether it is an injury, pressing, shot selection, being keyed on, we need him to hit a respectable 40%.  Stating the obvious, but hope he can find it as it should open up others.

Sacar is big X factor.

[NCMUFan]

Some would say he's earned the right to shoot 25%.

[MU82]

Some would say he's earned the right to shoot 25%.

Sure, but now he's earned the right to shoot 50% again!

[i71_dawg]

I don't care what Wojo says, he has to be hurt.  It's one thing to say he's wearing down late in games and can't hit threes due to his legs being dead or getting roughed up too much...but he's missing free throws at an alarming rate (for him) including earlier in the game when his legs should still be fresh.

He's hurt and Wojo's trying to hide it.

.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I mean that video of his wrist getting checked out in the MSG tunnel was pretty definitive. He's clearly playing through a lot of pain.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I don't care what Wojo says, he has to be hurt.  It's one thing to say he's wearing down late in games and can't hit threes due to his legs being dead or getting roughed up too much...but he's missing free throws at an alarming rate (for him) including earlier in the game when his legs should still be fresh.

He's hurt and Wojo's trying to hide it.

Well, Wojo has pretty straightforward in his postgame presser after the Hall debacle that Markus is very dinged up.  But there really is no positive for MU to come out and say Markus has a sprained wrist, or whatever the heck he has.  Clearly they've determined that he can play through it, and he will do just that.  i don't think anyone is trying to hide anything. It is obvious when watching Markus, and even looking at box scores, that he isn't right. 

I don't expect top shelf Markus this weekend, and neither should you.  We need Sam, Joey and Sacar to have big games.  And the rest of the supporting cast - Theo, Ed, Bailey - to play well.  Markus needs to understand that he's not going to drop 50, and use himself as decoy to get Sam and Joey open for 3s.  Drive and dish.  I think he can do it. 

[NCMUFan]

Fat chance to doubtful.  Wojo has said a number of times in post games and interviews what Markus needs to do.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Law of averages, just in time for the NCAA tourney 

[Stretchdeltsig]

I mean that video of his wrist getting checked out in the MSG tunnel was pretty definitive. He's clearly playing through a lot of pain.

Agreed.  It seems that Markus has played the last six games one handed.  Wish there was a miracle cure.  With a healthy Markus, we can win out.

[RJax55]

I don't expect top shelf Markus this weekend, and neither should you.  We need Sam, Joey and Sacar to have big games.  And the rest of the supporting cast - Theo, Ed, Bailey - to play well.  Markus needs to understand that he's not going to drop 50, and use himself as decoy to get Sam and Joey open for 3s.  Drive and dish.  I think he can do it.

To me, that's the issue. Will he? Didn't happen during the BET.

[Eldon]

Well, Wojo has pretty straightforward in his postgame presser after the Hall debacle that Markus is very dinged up.  But there really is no positive for MU to come out and say Markus has a sprained wrist, or whatever the heck he has.  Clearly they've determined that he can play through it, and he will do just that.  i don't think anyone is trying to hide anything. It is obvious when watching Markus, and even looking at box scores, that he isn't right. 

I don't expect top shelf Markus this weekend, and neither should you.  We need Sam, Joey and Sacar to have big games.  And the rest of the supporting cast - Theo, Ed, Bailey - to play well.  Markus needs to understand that he's not going to drop 50, and use himself as decoy to get Sam and Joey open for 3s.  Drive and dish.  I think he can do it.

In fact, it may be a liability.  Keep everyone thinking that Markus is A-okay.  That way, Wojo can keep him in as a decoy.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

To me, that's the issue. Will he? Didn't happen during the BET.

But he did. I'm both games he started as a facilitator. Against SJU, this lulled the defense to sleep and he took advantage with a big game.

Against Hall he also started out as a facilitator and it worked until Sacar and Theo were ejected along with Joey and Ed getting four fouls. Seton Hall overplayed Sam on defense because they didn't have to worry about anyone else. Who exactly did you want taking shots? Bailey? Cain? Joe? Markus did the smart thing and tried to get to the line

[warriorfred]

Bailey, Cain, or Joe will have to be the X factor in a deep run.  One of them will need to get 10-15 points at some point if Marquette advances in the tournament.

[Norm]

So in the games post Nova where Markus hurt his wrist, he was 30-87 from the field (.345), including 13-46 from 3 (.283) and 45-55 on free throws (.818). If you take out the last game where he definitely re-injured the wrist, he shot 29-72 from the floor (.402), going 12-37 from 3 (.324) and 27-31 from the charity stripe (.870). If you take out both the Seton Hall games, where he combined to shoot 3-26 from the floor (.115), 3-19 from 3 (.157) and 18-24 from the line (.750), in the other three games he went 27-61 from the field (.442), 10-27 from 3 (.370) and 27-31 on free throws (.870). So maybe there was something Seton Hall did to really limit his scoring. He didn't make a 2-point basket in both Seton Hall games.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

So in the games post Nova where Markus hurt his wrist, he was 30-87 from the field (.345), including 13-46 from 3 (.283) and 45-55 on free throws (.818). If you take out the last game where he definitely re-injured the wrist, he shot 29-72 from the floor (.402), going 12-37 from 3 (.324) and 27-31 from the charity stripe (.870). If you take out both the Seton Hall games, where he combined to shoot 3-26 from the floor (.115), 3-19 from 3 (.157) and 18-24 from the line (.750), in the other three games he went 27-61 from the field (.442), 10-27 from 3 (.370) and 27-31 on free throws (.870). So maybe there was something Seton Hall did to really limit his scoring. He didn't make a 2-point basket in both Seton Hall games.

Thanks for doing the math there and sharing.  Interesting stuff.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Bailey, Cain, or Joe will have to be the X factor in a deep run.  One of them will need to get 10-15 points at some point if Marquette advances in the tournament.

Given that between the three of them, they have combined for 5 games where one of them have scored 10+ points (3 for Joe, 1 for Bailey, and 1 where both Bailey and Joe scored 10+), and that we went 3-2 in those games, and that 2/3 of those wins were against cupcakes, and that we won 21 games without Bailey/Joe/Cain scoring double digits, I'm going to say that we don't need them to do that to win in the tournament. It sure would be nice, but relying on guys who average 3 points a game to score double digits is not a winning strategy.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Given that between the three of them, they have combined for 5 games where one of them have scored 10+ points (3 for Joe, 1 for Bailey, and 1 where both Bailey and Joe scored 10+), and that we went 3-2 in those games, and that 2/3 of those wins were against cupcakes, and that we won 21 games without Bailey/Joe/Cain scoring double digits, I'm going to say that we don't need them to do that to win in the tournament. It sure would be nice, but relying on guys who average 3 points a game to score double digits is not a winning strategy.

We also haven't won many games where our best offensive player was playing injured.  So there's that. 

[Silkk the Shaka]

So in the games post Nova where Markus hurt his wrist, he was 30-87 from the field (.345), including 13-46 from 3 (.283) and 45-55 on free throws (.818). If you take out the last game where he definitely re-injured the wrist, he shot 29-72 from the floor (.402), going 12-37 from 3 (.324) and 27-31 from the charity stripe (.870). If you take out both the Seton Hall games, where he combined to shoot 3-26 from the floor (.115), 3-19 from 3 (.157) and 18-24 from the line (.750), in the other three games he went 27-61 from the field (.442), 10-27 from 3 (.370) and 27-31 on free throws (.870). So maybe there was something Seton Hall did to really limit his scoring. He didn't make a 2-point basket in both Seton Hall games.

He short-armed several of the tear-drops in the Seton Hall games rather than following through, if he corrects that I think he'll have a big game on Thursday

[MU82]

So in the games post Nova where Markus hurt his wrist, he was 30-87 from the field (.345), including 13-46 from 3 (.283) and 45-55 on free throws (.818). If you take out the last game where he definitely re-injured the wrist, he shot 29-72 from the floor (.402), going 12-37 from 3 (.324) and 27-31 from the charity stripe (.870). If you take out both the Seton Hall games, where he combined to shoot 3-26 from the floor (.115), 3-19 from 3 (.157) and 18-24 from the line (.750), in the other three games he went 27-61 from the field (.442), 10-27 from 3 (.370) and 27-31 on free throws (.870). So maybe there was something Seton Hall did to really limit his scoring. He didn't make a 2-point basket in both Seton Hall games.

Very interesting stuff. Thanks for providing.

Obviously, Markus has been off. Still, I think even Injured Markus would have been top-5 in BEast FT%.

[We R Final Four]

Markus is one of the best collegiate players to ever play the game. One thing he is not is a decoy.

[avid1010]

Markus is one of the best collegiate players to ever play the game. One thing he is not is a decoy.

markus is not even close to being one of the best collegiate players to ever play the game. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

We also haven't won many games where our best offensive player was playing injured.  So there's that. 

Sam and/or Sacar is the key. Expecting Cain or Bailey to give you double digits is not a good formula for success.

[NCMUFan]

But he did. I'm both games he started as a facilitator. Against SJU, this lulled the defense to sleep and he took advantage with a big game.

Against Hall he also started out as a facilitator and it worked until Sacar and Theo were ejected along with Joey and Ed getting four fouls. Seton Hall overplayed Sam on defense because they didn't have to worry about anyone else. Who exactly did you want taking shots? Bailey? Cain? Joe? Markus did the smart thing and tried to get to the line

Regarding Seton Hall, Markus was 1 for 15 with the rest of the team being 20 of 44.  Is it safe to say that if the facilitator facilitated three additional times instead of firing misses MU would of won?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Regarding Seton Hall, Markus was 1 for 15 with the rest of the team being 20 of 44.  Is it safe to say that if the facilitator facilitated three additional times instead of firing misses MU would of won?

No.

[Its DJOver]

Regarding Seton Hall, Markus was 1 for 15 with the rest of the team being 20 of 44.  Is it safe to say that if the facilitator facilitated three additional times instead of firing misses MU would of won?

That's not really how basketball works.  I have neither the time nor inclination to re-watch that entire game, but my recollection is that Markus didn't take a lot of bad shots early in the shot clock.  Markus is the only one that can get his own shot, so when the shot clock is under 10 there's a pretty good chance that Markus has the ball, and won't be passing.  Even with all of this in mind, Markus only attempted 15 shots.  While that may seem like a lot, he averages over 17 per game and has 13 games where he has attempted more than 20 shots.  It's easy to say that he should have shot less, but with no Sacar, no Theo, Sam going cold down the stretch, and Joey playing limited minutes due to foul trouble, there weren't a whole lot of other options.  A Markus forced shot is better than no shot at all.

[LloydsLegs]

Markus clearly wasn't 100%.  Here's to hoping he is getting there now.

Only other thought I have on this is that in end game situations, Markus should take advantage of all the attention that he will draw and find his John Paxon or Steve Kerr.  There is at least one of those on this team.

[MU82]

markus is not even close to being one of the best collegiate players to ever play the game.

Correct.

Maybe what WRFF meant to say was that Markus is one of the best scorers in college basketball today.

[UticaBusBarn]

As a footnote to this discussion, I wonder what Howard's shooting percentage and turn overs
are in the last five minutes of close games? Forced shoots, turn-overs, and not passing to
open team members come to mind these last 10 games.

Asked in another way, we know Sam has scored under pressure to win. However, has
Marcus ever won one in the last minutes?

I don't ask this to be mean, or negative. I just cannot recall him being the "money" player
at the end of a game.

[jesmu84]

As a footnote to this discussion, I wonder what Howard's shooting percentage and turn overs
are in the last five minutes of close games? Forced shoots, turn-overs, and not passing to
open team members come to mind these last 10 games.

Asked in another way, we know Sam has scored under pressure to win. However, has
Marcus ever won one in the last minutes?

I don't ask this to be mean, or negative. I just cannot recall him being the "money" player
at the end of a game.

Did you miss the OT against Creighton?

[BM1090]

Did you miss the OT against Creighton?

Also against Louisville he scored an and 1 to cut it to 1. Made the free throw. He missed a runner that Joey followed up for a tap in.

In OT of that game he made two tough mid-range jumpers to give us the lead. One of those was when down by a point with under a minute left.

Providence last year he hit a 3 when down 6 with under a minute left, and then after a stop he got and and 1 layup to tie it.

He had some big baskets at Xavier this year to close that one out. Played well in the OT vs. Wisconsin too. Had a jumper to start OT then some big free throws.

[MU82]

Also against Louisville he scored an and 1 to cut it to 1. Made the free throw. He missed a runner that Joey followed up for a tap in.

In OT of that game he made two tough mid-range jumpers to give us the lead. One of those was when down by a point with under a minute left.

Providence last year he hit a 3 when down 6 with under a minute left, and then after a stop he got and and 1 layup to tie it.

He had some big baskets at Xavier this year to close that one out. Played well in the OT vs. Wisconsin too. Had a jumper to start OT then some big free throws.

Yes, this BS that Markus has not done anything good in the clutch for us is silly.

He also made the perfect pass vs Creighton to Sam, whose shot tied (but didn't win) the game.

[Stretchdeltsig]

markus is not even close to being one of the best collegiate players to ever play the game.

Wrong.  A healthy Markus is an incredible player.

[MU82]

Wrong.  A healthy Markus is an incredible player.

There is a pretty big gap between "incredible" and "one of the best ever," no?

I'm one of Markus' staunchest defenders on Scoop, and I wouldn't call him one of the best players in the history of college basketball.

[Stretchdeltsig]

There is a pretty big gap between "incredible" and "one of the best ever," no?

I'm one of Markus' staunchest defenders on Scoop, and I wouldn't call him one of the best players in the history of college basketball.

Why not?  How many players have score 50+ points in a game?

[79Warrior]

There is a pretty big gap between "incredible" and "one of the best ever," no?

I'm one of Markus' staunchest defenders on Scoop, and I wouldn't call him one of the best players in the history of college basketball.

I agree

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I feel like Markus' current career path is a lot like Scottie Reynolds.

Two tremendously talented players who were two of the most important players for their respective programs due to timing and circumstances, but just not up there in GOAT territory.

Markus probably projects a little better at the next level just because he's a short guard who is one of the best shooters on the planet while Reyonlds was more of a slasher, but both All-American talents who each had their weaknesses.