Center is problem #1

[Marcus92]

One thing I definitely came to appreciate about Ed is his Rock of Gibraltar-like quality on defense. I remember several instances where 230-pound big guys tried to back him down in the post -- and Ed didn't seem to give an inch. Very strong rebounder too; he finished 1st on the team in offensive rebounding percentage with an impressive 15.5% and 2nd in defensive rebounding percentage to Sam.

[CTWarrior]

One thing I definitely came to appreciate about Ed is his Rock of Gibraltar-like quality on defense. I remember several instances where 230-pound big guys tried to back him down in the post -- and Ed didn't seem to give an inch. Very strong rebounder too; he finished 1st on the team in offensive rebounding percentage with an impressive 15.5% and 2nd in defensive rebounding percentage to Sam.

That guy is a true warrior.  I didn't like him at first but I liked him more and more with each passing game.  It is too bad that he biffed that dunk and had a couple of other shots blocked against MSU, because that is what most non-MU fans will remember about him.  He made many tough plays in that game that are easily forgotten.  He makes the most of what he has.  (He's not a 4, though)

[MU82]

That guy is a true warrior.  I didn't like him at first but I liked him more and more with each passing game.  It is too bad that he biffed that dunk and had a couple of other shots blocked against MSU, because that is what most non-MU fans will remember about him.  He made many tough plays in that game that are easily forgotten.  He makes the most of what he has.  (He's not a 4, though)

He had a strong first half against Murray State. He and Markus were the only Warriors who arrived ready to play like warriors.

He was huge for us against Wisconsin -- we don't win that game without his major contributions. And he played solid almost every game the second half of the season.

If you tell me today that I can get the exact same production from our 5s next season, I will take it today, right now. If you tell me that I can get that AND a couple fewer silly fouls per game from them next season, I'll be ecstatic.

[tower912]

How many games did MU lose because they were dominated in the post?   How many because of being crushed by attacking guards?

[MU82]

How many games did MU lose because they were dominated in the post?   How many because of being crushed by attacking guards?

Excellent point. I remember us being dominated in the post twice this season - Happ and Watson. And we won both games.

[tower912]

I would argue that the there is no #1 problem, but instead a number of intertwined problems.
Guard depth
Need more players who can create their own shot.
Ability to contain the dribbler without help.
More transition
Better ball movement and motion in the offense.

[burger]

Given his size and strength.....

He should get 2 or 3 baskets a game with "moves".....or isolation.....

He should also get 2 or 3 baskets from rebounds.....Always off balance and not low.....or routing people out.....

He does neither......

He should also not "fumble" the ball 5 times a game on both the offensive or defensive side......And these are not counted as "turnovers" .....because he never actually "possesses" the ball.....But in reality.....They really really are.....(and it pisses me off that he raises his hands and stares at them......every time)

Having a passing game.....I don't even want to get into that.....Hopefully he can just set "stationary" picks......

He does have 'big muscles" though......

[Marcus92]

Related to all of the above, I'd add less dependence on one player for our offense. When so much of our offense runs through Markus -- he ranked 5th in the country in usage -- teams can focus all their attention on finding ways to disrupt him. For this team to take the next step, we need everyone else to step up.

[Jockey]

Sacar played big minutes next to Rowsey.     Having Joey, and for that matter Bailey, at forward allowed Sacar to play SG instead of SF.   Having adequate size at 4 out of 5 positions was a factor.    Markus worked harder on defense but was by no means great.   But he was still better than Rowsey and MU only had to try to cover for one tiny guard, not two.

Sacar did play big minutes next to Rowsey, but the difference is that Sacar guarded the opposing team's best guard rather Rowsey guarding him this year. I think that was the biggest improvement on defense.

[Jockey]

I seriously like the Theo/Ed combo and I thought Wojo used it well.

brand and I agree on much, but we disagree on the 5 position being the #1 problem. I don't think it's close. Heck, I think it's a defensive strength.

It is, but we go into every game where it is likely we get outscored at the position. And the extra points given up by all the FTs - both on the fouls themselves and putting the other teams in the 1-and-1 so early in halves - hurt us in every close game.

Maybe you are right that it is not the #1 problem, but it certainly is one of the three things that were.

1) little offense at the '5'.
2) lack of athleticism,
3) no PG

There is a legitimate argument that can be made for each.

[MU82]

It is, but we go into every game where it is likely we get outscored at the position. And the extra points given up by all the FTs - both on the fouls themselves and putting the other teams in the 1-and-1 so early in halves - hurt us in every close game.

Maybe you are right that it is not the #1 problem, but it certainly is one of the three things that were.

1) little offense at the '5'.
2) lack of athleticism,
3) no PG

There is a legitimate argument that can be made for each.

I'd rank the lack of PG and/or others who can drive/create for others as our No. 1 offensive problem, and our inability to contain quick guards as our No. 1 defensive problem.

Maybe McEwen and Elliott solve both (he said, thinking wishfully)!

[WarriorFan]

I think the biggest problem John has is going for those massive blocks everyone loves.

Sure it looks amazing and gets everyone fired up. But they usually result in 4 different options.

A) he blocks the ball, it goes out of bounds. Opponents miss a bad shot on the inbounds.
B) he blocks the ball, it goes out of bounds. Opponents score on inbounds.
C) he misses the block, opponents get rebound due to no one being underneath anymore.
D) he fouls

Only 1 of those options goes in Marquette favor.

D) Goaltend... points for the other team

I agree it's not Theo vs. Ed - it's Theo + Ed for the minutes we need a traditional center, but I can see up to 15 minutes per game with a 6'9" outside shooter - who also happens to box out extremely well and gets lots of boards - as our "center".  Joey. 

[MUHoopsFan2]

NO.....IT'S...NOT!

POINT GUARD is the major problem. I can't wait to see if this McEwen can play or not. And how Greg does when he is back. Entirely different team overnight.

On both sides of the ball...point guard or guards, in general, are the issues. Greg and Jamal would have solved that. But Center is not the issue man. Get real.

Center is the one strength....what are you typing about ??? The rebounds, the shot blocks, and the physicality, etc are you crazy? No, no no...don't knock the Center.

IN FACT, THEY DO NOT USE THE CENTER...ENOUGH!

[MUHoopsFan2]

D) Goaltend... points for the other team

I agree it's not Theo vs. Ed - it's Theo + Ed for the minutes we need a traditional center, but I can see up to 15 minutes per game with a 6'9" outside shooter - who also happens to box out extremely well and gets lots of boards - as our "center".  Joey. 

Any fan who said Theo is the problem is clueless! He might be as important as Howard is if he is not called for phantom fouls and thrown out of games unnecessarily!

He and Big Ed screen well, run the floor and when they are finally fed down low they can catch the ball most of the time and finish.

Neither one of their games will translate to the Pro game but they can be a major cog for this team going forward.

[Cheeks]

NO.....IT'S...NOT!

POINT GUARD is the major problem. I can't wait to see if this McEwen can play or not. And how Greg does when he is back. Entirely different team overnight.

On both sides of the ball...point guard or guards, in general, are the issues. Greg and Jamal would have solved that. But Center is not the issue man. Get real.

Center is the one strength....what are you typing about ??? The rebounds, the shot blocks, and the physicality, etc are you crazy? No, no no...don't knock the Center.

IN FACT, THEY DO NOT USE THE CENTER...ENOUGH!

He can play, and yes our issue was more with guards than anything.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv6XWudHrEk

[The Sultan]

NO.....IT'S...NOT!

POINT GUARD is the major problem. I can't wait to see if this McEwen can play or not. And how Greg does when he is back. Entirely different team overnight.

On both sides of the ball...point guard or guards, in general, are the issues. Greg and Jamal would have solved that. But Center is not the issue man. Get real.

Center is the one strength....what are you typing about ??? The rebounds, the shot blocks, and the physicality, etc are you crazy? No, no no...don't knock the Center.

IN FACT, THEY DO NOT USE THE CENTER...ENOUGH!

Point guard is a problem but I have no idea what you think Jamal could have done to "solve" that. He wasn't very good this year.

I don't think center was a problem though. We can get interior scoring from others. John is a rim guarding center which is exactly what you need. We don't need him to score much. Morrow has more ability but he is undersized.

[Lighthouse 84]

He can play, and yes our issue was more with guards than anything.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv6XWudHrEk

Well, it is a guard's game....

[4everwarriors]

Big man's game, aina?

[Cheeks]

Well, it is a guard's game....

That is what I hear

[Coleman]

I think the biggest problem John has is going for those massive blocks everyone loves.

Sure it looks amazing and gets everyone fired up. But they usually result in 4 different options.

A) he blocks the ball, it goes out of bounds. Opponents miss a bad shot on the inbounds.
B) he blocks the ball, it goes out of bounds. Opponents score on inbounds.
C) he misses the block, opponents get rebound due to no one being underneath anymore.
D) he fouls

Only 1 of those options goes in Marquette favor.

Well said. And most often, it results in a foul. John spent way too much time on the bench down the stretch. He needs to reign in on foul trouble.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Agree with those that argue that the center spot is not the #1 problem.  Hard to agree with those that feel that it is a strength tho, its much improved but still not strong or on par relative to the teams still alive

[MU82]

I think the biggest problem John has is going for those massive blocks everyone loves.

Sure it looks amazing and gets everyone fired up. But they usually result in 4 different options.

A) he blocks the ball, it goes out of bounds. Opponents miss a bad shot on the inbounds.
B) he blocks the ball, it goes out of bounds. Opponents score on inbounds.
C) he misses the block, opponents get rebound due to no one being underneath anymore.
D) he fouls

Only 1 of those options goes in Marquette favor.

You left off perhaps the most common (or at least one of the most common) situation:

Theo blocks the ball off the backboard, Marquette rebounds and our offense is initiated.

I wouldn't be surprised if this happened an average of once per game -- there were some games it didn't happen, but some it happened multiple times. Morrow did this several times, too.

[Marcus92]

And a few more possible outcomes:

• John forces the offensive player to take (and likely miss) a low-percentage shot
• The offensive player stops and gets trapped near the baseline, open to a steal or jump ball
• John gets called for defensive goaltending

[Its DJOver]

How about the opposing teams coach tells his players to not even bother driving, but they do it anyways and Theo gets a game winning block (to a teammate no less).  Theo's discipline needs to improve, but he's the best shot blocker we've had since joining the BEast.  That's not a bad thing.

[Copacabana]

Does anyone here think that Theo John can be more, progress, and learn?

He's going into his Junior year and he is a physical specimen.

But, he still seems to me a guy who is playing at basketball rather than a basketball player.

He has trouble catching and holding on to the ball.  If he holds on to the ball he doesn't show an ability to get a shot off. He doesn't seem to have developed any inside moves other than dunks. Getting good position in the paint isn't something he's learned so far either.

So, you've got a raw aggressive athletic guy who really needs to polish his game.