Problem Wojo or Markus?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I see a lot of speculation about how, if the Hausers were unhappy with Markus' ball hogging and inefficiency than why didn't Wojo do something about it?

I'm wondering if anybody would care to speculate why he did not. Why would a coach known for his defensive intensity, a pass first PG who played at Duke let this go on?

Is it possible Markus is being coddled because he's fragile? Is it possible there are issues there that put Wojo in a no win situation? Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't? Maybe he was so certain the Hausers were good that he forgot they needed a little attention themselves?

I'm sorry, I know Wojo is not Buzz. He's not KO. But I don't think he's the problem.

I think the problem is Howard. We can all see it and have seen it for a while. You really think Wojo hasn't talked to him ad nauseam? Howard continues to pay lip service to his teammates in interviews but it's blatantly artificial and now we've lost two starters as a result.

Personally, I was hoping he'd leave after this year. I am a fan of Marquette basketball. As such, I don't tune in to watch Markus Howard take 25 shots a game. I just don't. I don't care if he scores 25 or 35 or 50. I think Markus does care about that. I watch because I hope we win.

[4everwarriors]

Rican, who drives da bus? Therein lies yo answer, hey?

[#UnleashSean]

Wojo is to blame. If Wojo talked to Howard, and Howard doesn't listen, theres always suspensions and the pine.

[WhiteTrash]

That read like a very damning opinion of Wojo as a head coach. If what you say is true, Wojo should be gone soon.

[MDMU04]

The speculation is interesting. The problem is regardless of whoever is creating the issue, it is the responsibility of the head coach to make sure it never gets to this point.

Wojo brought all the guys here and assembled the team. It is on him to make it work.

If this was an either/or calculus and he feels that he can win more next season with Howard than the Hausers, this is the type of decision he is paid to make.

The problem is letting it get to the point where it becomes an either/or decision between his 3 best players. That is a catastrophic failure of leadership.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

The problem is letting it get to the point where it becomes an either/or decision between his 3 best players. That is a catastrophic failure of leadership.

This is really the crux for me.  How in the holy hell did we get to this point?  And why was nothing done to stop it?

[WhiteTrash]

This is really the crux for me.  How in the holy hell did we get to this point?  And why was nothing done to stop it?

Because Buzz left the cupboard bare. 

[Mutaman]

Don't particularly care who's fault it is. just know its time for a change.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Howard is a classic coach killer. I'd be much more interested in watching this team next year without Howard than I will be with Howard and no Hausers.

I'm not even looking forward to the season. I can't say I've ever felt that way. I can't watch this kid dominate the ball, hoist up shot after shot and then talk up his teammates. It's terrible basketball.

[Skip Intro]

I also wonder if they both saw a lot of their ppg going to Koby this year.  Between he and Markus, that's a lot of potential points.  One or both of Sam and Joey take a hit, and while it may be good for the team, probably not good for draft stock. 

Not to mention the fact that Sacar can be looked to to score, too.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Howard is a classic coach killer. I'd be much more interested in watching this team next year without Howard than I will be with Howard and no Hausers.

I'm not even looking forward to the season. I can't say I've ever felt that way. I can't watch this kid dominate the ball, hoist up shot after shot and then talk up his teammates. It's terrible basketball.

This isn't Markus' fault.  Don't make this about him.  He was allowed to do what he's done.  That's on the coaching.

I do agree that this was a major kick to the nuts though.  I think I've only not watched 1 Marquette game since like 2009.  One game is like 8 or 9 seasons. And I am seriously at a point to where I am debating if its worth it right now.  Time heals all and I will be fine come September, but holy fu*k this crap sucks.

Sam is the epitome of what it takes to be a great college basketball player, and I loved 99.9% of his game. 

[GooooMarquette]

The problem is that the Hauser brothers are a lot more selfish than we ever realized. Markus is the Big East player of the year – we should be giving him the ball in crunch time.

If we have to pick one of the two to blame, I guess that's on Wojo...but I find it hard to blame him for not sensing the selfishness of these guys when he was recruiting them..

[Avenue Commons]

They are all a bit to blame. Just depends on what you think is "wrong."

Markus shoots too much.

Wojo didn't manage his players and their expectations.

Hausers quit on their commitment to the team and Marquette.

[lawdog77]

I see a lot of speculation about how, if the Hausers were unhappy with Markus' ball hogging and inefficiency than why didn't Wojo do something about it?

I'm wondering if anybody would care to speculate why he did not. Why would a coach known for his defensive intensity, a pass first PG who played at Duke let this go on?

Is it possible Markus is being coddled because he's fragile? Is it possible there are issues there that put Wojo in a no win situation? Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't? Maybe he was so certain the Hausers were good that he forgot they needed a little attention themselves?

I'm sorry, I know Wojo is not Buzz. He's not KO. But I don't think he's the problem.

I think the problem is Howard. We can all see it and have seen it for a while. You really think Wojo hasn't talked to him ad nauseam? Howard continues to pay lip service to his teammates in interviews but it's blatantly artificial and now we've lost two starters as a result.

Personally, I was hoping he'd leave after this year. I am a fan of Marquette basketball. As such, I don't tune in to watch Markus Howard take 25 shots a game. I just don't. I don't care if he scores 25 or 35 or 50. I think Markus does care about that. I watch because I hope we win.

markus took 17 shots a game, sam took 11. Sam and Joe couldn't tKe their man off the dribble.  It falls on the coach, not Markus.

[muguru]

Holy hell people...how dare you blame Markus for this, or even the Hausers. I'll tell you what...you know who else jacked up shots like they were a one man team?? Carsen Edwards from Purdue. He had a HIGHER shot rate then Markus did. What did Purdue do?? Only go to the Elite 8. They made it work..Matt Painter made it work...who didn't make it work?? WOJO.

[NavinRJohnson]

I also wonder if they both saw a lot of their ppg going to Koby this year.  Between he and Markus, that's a lot of potential points.  One or both of Sam and Joey take a hit, and while it may be good for the team, probably not good for draft stock. 

This right here. No need to over complicate this. Sam is trying to get to the NBA. His minutes, usage and role were likely to be reduced next year, and potentially significantly reduced when you factor in not only McEwen, but Elliott, Bailey, etc. He was looking at his senior season as a 3-pt specialist who was an average defender and rebounder. They consistently lacked athleticism as a team this year. Next year they will have more options, further eroding his PT. There was undoubtedly frustration on the Hausers' part (I assume that includes the parents), but this was a business decision, and if the rumors of McEwen whipping everyone's asses in practice are to be believed, it was likely a pretty easy one. Really no need to look for anything more complicated or sinister than that.

[Pakuni]

This right here. No need to over complicate this. Sam is trying to get to the NBA. His minutes, usage and role were likely to be reduced next year, and potentially significantly reduced when you factor in not only McEwen, but Elliott, Bailey, etc. He was looking at his senior season as a 3-pt specialist who was an average defender and rebounder. They consistently lacked athleticism as a team this year. Next year they will have more options, further eroding his PT. There was undoubtedly frustration on the Hausers' part (I assume that includes the parents), but this was a business decision, and if the rumors of McEwen whipping everyone's asses in practice are to be believed, it was likely a pretty easy one. Really no need to look for anything more complicated or sinister than that.

Weird way to go about it. He'll be closing fast on 24 years old by the time the 2021 NBA draft rolls around. At that age, he might as well be 40 as far as NBA personnel are concerned.
Also, keep that in mind when he plays in 2020-21. He'll be a 23-year-old man playing against a lot of teenagers.
Just a weird decision all around by him.

[GooooMarquette]

Weird way to go about it. He'll be closing fast on 24 years old by the time the 2021 NBA draft rolls around. At that age, he might as well be 40 as far as NBA personnel are concerned.
Also, keep that in mind when he plays in 2020-21. He'll be a 23-year-old man playing against a lot of teenagers.
Just a weird decision all around by him.

Good point. To be drafted as a fifth-year senior, you pretty much need to make first or second team All-American. Sam is a solid player, but I kind of doubt he's going to do that.

[StillAWarrior]

...if the rumors of McEwen whipping everyone's asses in practice are to be believed...

Your post reminds me of another time when we heard rumors of a player who wasn't eligible to compete "whipping everyone's asses in practice."  A guy can dream, right?

[GooooMarquette]

Holy hell people...how dare you blame Markus for this, or even the Hausers. I'll tell you what...you know who else jacked up shots like they were a one man team?? Carsen Edwards from Purdue. He had a HIGHER shot rate then Markus did. What did Purdue do?? Only go to the Elite 8. They made it work..Matt Painter made it work...who didn't make it work?? WOJO.

Ummmm...if we are assuming there is "blame," it's easy (and fair) to blame the Hausers, since they are the ones who made the decision.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

My guess is both

[NCMUFan]

Or neither.  The coach is doing what he believes will get wins.  Maybe it was the Hausers that were unrealistic.  Let's see what happens when they are eligible in two years.  Will they be the brilliant stars they are expecting to be?  Or will reality meet up with them again?

[NavinRJohnson]

Weird way to go about it. He'll be closing fast on 24 years old by the time the 2021 NBA draft rolls around. At that age, he might as well be 40 as far as NBA personnel are concerned.
Also, keep that in mind when he plays in 2020-21. He'll be a 23-year-old man playing against a lot of teenagers.
Just a weird decision all around by him.

Maybe, but would he be better off staying at MU and playing 3rd or 4th fiddle (Howard, McEwen, Joey)?

It worked out pretty well for another 5th year UVA graduate a couple years back. An extra year to work on specific aspects of his game? Is that the worst thing?

If I had to guess, and I am certainly guessing, Wojo and the Hauser family had a very frank discussion about expectations for next year, and the Hausers made the (business) decision they made. Good on everyone involved if that's the case.

[CountryRoads]

Feel really bad for Howard. He has given a lot to this program and I'm sure the news of this has really hurt his feelings and put a downer on the offseason. I'm not sure how he can move on from this and feel positive going into next year.

On the other hand, this is a complete embarrassment and failure for Wojo to let this happen. This moment will haunt the program for the next 12+ months and it will be impossible to look past what a failure this day has been. How he was not able to manage this situation is incomprehensible. The hausers and Howard were close friends (and still most likely are) but Wojo designed a system that caused them to hate playing with each other so much which led to this event occurring.

As others have mentioned, the hausers are making a huge sacrifice (especially Sam) to get out of this dumpster fire of a program and they would rather wait an entire year than be a part of this team where they were earning max minutes and having the free reign to do as they pleased.

[Skip Intro]

Weird way to go about it. He'll be closing fast on 24 years old by the time the 2021 NBA draft rolls around. At that age, he might as well be 40 as far as NBA personnel are concerned.
Also, keep that in mind when he plays in 2020-21. He'll be a 23-year-old man playing against a lot of teenagers.
Just a weird decision all around by him.

I think Joey's stock was the deciding factor.  Instead of potentially being the 4th option next year, he can sit out and let the hype machine do its magic.  He comes back in 2020 and as long as his numbers improve in the slightest, he's in a better position for the draft somewhere down the line.

Right or wrong, these kids (and their parents) see the NBA in their future first.