It's obvious and it's been obvious...

[TheyWereCones]

My opinion is the Hausers leaving was a surprise only because it seems improbable that 2 starters on a preseason top 10 team would transfer.  For anyone paying attention to the reality of the season as it unfolded though, I don't think it's a surprise at all.

I'll start with portions of my past posts:

January 2nd

There was one guy politely complaining about Markus trying to do too much after the Buffalo win when his first half was awful, and got roasted by other posters.  I understood where he was coming from.  Yes, he can go into NBA Jam mode at any point, but when he doesn't have it, he does NOT do a good job of finding other ways to contribute, get other people shots, etc.  I think he needs to grow the most in this area.  Ponds scores almost as much as him but also leads the conference in assists.  Markus seems so one-dimensional.  It's an amazing dimension when he's on, but if we are literally going to win or lose as Markus goes, then we will not go far in the BE tournament or the NCAA tournament, because against good competition, he's just not going to be able to single-handily carry us for the multiple wins in a row required to win a tournament on a neutral floor.

Lastly, this team's ceiling will be determined by how much less reliant we become on Markus as the year goes on.  If others step up and he learns to better incorporate others, the ceiling is high.  If not, we may finish as high as 12-6 in the BE but I don't see much happening after that.  Teams with one main star don't tend to do much outside of Kemba Walker that one year.

March 23rd

Howard running PG, playing 35+ minutes, launching 20+ shots every game no matter the result again next year and getting constant unlimited star treatment and unending praise from Wojo?  My opinion, but then expect a repeat of this year.  Also, poor Sam must be so tired of having to constantly answer questions about Howard during the postgame pressers.  We need more balance.  Enough of the star parade.  I don't like where it gets us.  I don't like the feeling all us fans have right now about how this season ended.  There's a lot of anger and a lot of justified reasons for it.

April 17th (yes, these are my new comments)

When things were good, most posters like me who were worried about the way we were winning posted with the risk of tremendous backlash.  My issues with the way we were winning were twofold:

1. Not sustainable
2. A cancer to team chemistry

I watched every single postgame press conference, and every time Sam was asked a Markus question, he gave very diplomatic answers, but you could see it on his face.  It was exhausting as a fan to watch.  I can only imagine how much more amplified it was for Sam in person.

Markus is a terrific ambassador for Marquette.  It's been awesome to see the national attention he has brought back to MU.  I squarely place the blame back on Wojo's usage of him.  Wojo gave him...well I was going to say far too long of a leash, but really no leash at all.  No one wants to play with a chucker, especially one who doesn't know when to stop and/or have a coach who knows how to manage it.

So, I'll go back to what I've said before.  If Howard can play off the ball more, has a more controlled usage, actually faces consequences when he plays hero ball, and learns to trust & find his teammates more, we could be really good.  Even without the Hausers.  Think about the fact that the four players we just lost are our four least athletic players.  We could be super fast & quick next year and do alright (we had almost no transition offense last year).  I think we need Torrence now too (hoping he reclassifies).

Last thing I'll say about all this.  Actions speak way louder than words.  Wojo's constant "the strength of our team is our team" bs was just that...complete bs, because he never coached like it, yet he repeated it all the time whenever convenient.  I'm sure every time the Hausers heard Wojo saying that publicly they were thinking what a compete hypocrite Wojo is.  Howard constantly praising his teammates every chance he got but then shot hunting every game is just as disingenuous, but again, I believe it's the coach's job to coach that.  I hope no one else transfers, but I believe Wojo & Howard have to both find a way to earn this team's trust back, or we are broken.  Sure, Cain, Bailey, & crew may be excited by more minutes, but more minutes in the current system are only going to temporarily mask deep-seeded frustrations in the long run.  I wish the Hausers well unless they end up at UW.  I'm already over them leaving, because there is zero point in dwelling.  Next man up, and I'm actually kind of excited to see what our athletes can do next year.  I just hope (without any confidence) that Wojo will actually know how to manage the pieces he has for the first time ever and actually exceed expectations for the first time ever.

[Heisenberg]

Why is everyone saying the problem is Markus or Wojo. Why isn't the problem the massive egos of the Hausers?

They are leaving a potential top 5 team and, at best, going to an equivalent level team in Virginia and /or Michigan State (at least compared to MU's potential next season).  If they go to Bucky they are going to a clearly lesser ranked team.

They cannot "beat out" Markus?  They cannot get more selfish and demand the ball, or take the ball?  MAybe they are not as good as their egos think they are.  Maybe Bailey or Elliott (or Kobe) force Joey out of his starting role next year.  I saw him being a turn over machine down the stretch.

So if they go to Virginia, and the national champion coach Tony Bennett recruits a superstar one and done scorer this year, that becomes the leading scorer in two years, the Hausers think this is preferable than working with Markus? Ditto final four coach Tom Izzo.  Are they sure he will not replace Winston this summer with an even better scoring guard?

If they want to be featured, go to Bucky because the odds are low that Gard is getting a superstar that will be featured over them.  Then they are saying that playing for a far lesser team and being featured is far more important than playing next April in Atlanta.  Because if they stay at MU, playing in April in Atlanta in realistic.  It is not a Bucky, and odds are reasonable if they are playing with Virginia in April in two years they are playing the same supporting role they have now.

This is on the Hausers and their incredibly selfish egos. Transferring says they are more interested in filling the stat sheet than winning.  They can win big now at MU but what is more important is they want more numbers on their stat sheet

[MUCam]

This world is not black and white. It is an infinite number of shades of grey. Saying that this is all on Markus, or all on Wojo, or all on the Hauser boys, seems awfully simplistic.

Going back and forth on the reasons seems like an awful waste of time. Dissecting the various factors that went into this decision, when most of us do not know any of these people individually — relying upon hearsay of differing levels of trustworthiness instead — seems equally wasteful.

The fact is, for better or worse, they are gone. Wojo is the captain of this ship, at least for now. Where the ship sails to from here on out is completely under his control. Thus, I see next year as a watershed moment for Wojo. Either the ship sails true, or it sinks.

I have my doubts about Wojo. I've had those doubts all along. That said, I acknowledge he is growing as a coach. Maybe he knows something we, as a board of non-insiders, don't know. Maybe his vision for this team didn't necessarily rely on the Hauser. We don't know. It's conjecture.

What we do know is that this team was supposed to bring back nearly every piece, and certainly every significant piece, of a five seeded NCAA team. Now it doesn't. That matters little though in the end. Either we progress and show addition by subtraction is a real concept, or we falter, in which case I think the final chapter on Wojo's story as Marquette basketball head coach is written. There can be no excuses. Next year is make or break. While Wojo is coach, I'll continue to hold out hope that we can "make."

Losing the Hauser boys is a real loss. But it is not — should not be — the end all be all. It's on Wojo know to find a way to better this team despite the departure of two starters. That's the beauty of college ball; it's possible.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

This world is not black and white. It is an infinite number of shades of grey. Saying that this is all on Markus, or all on Wojo, or all on the Hauser boys, seems awfully simplistic.

Going back and forth on the reasons seems like an awful waste of time. Dissecting the various factors that went into this decision, when most of us do not know any of these people individually — relying upon hearsay of differing levels of trustworthiness instead — seems equally wasteful.

The fact is, for better or worse, they are gone. Wojo is the captain of this ship, at least for now. Where the ship sails to from here on out is completely under his control. Thus, I see next year as a watershed moment for Wojo. Either the ship sails true, or it sinks.

I have my doubts about Wojo. I've had those doubts all along. That said, I acknowledge he is growing as a coach. Maybe he knows something we, as a board of non-insiders, don't know. Maybe his vision for this team didn't necessarily rely on the Hauser. We don't know. It's conjecture.

What we do know is that this team was supposed to bring back nearly every piece, and certainly every significant piece, of a five seeded NCAA team. Now it doesn't. That matters little though in the end. Either we progress and show addition by subtraction is a real concept, or we falter, in which case I think the final chapter on Wojo's story as Marquette basketball head coach is written. There can be no excuses. Next year is make or break. While Wojo is coach, I'll continue to hold out hope that we can "make."

Losing the Hauser boys is a real loss. But it is not — should not be — the end all be all. It's on Wojo know to find a way to better this team despite the departure of two starters. That's the beauty of college ball; it's possible.

I agree.   I'm ready to move forward.  Time for Wojo to sink or swim.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I agree.   I'm ready to move forward.  Time for Wojo to sink or swim.

But what if he floats—does that mean he's a witch?

[MUCam]

But what if he floats—does that mean he's a witch?

I suppose that depends on whether he lays an egg next season that hatches into a duck that ends up weighing the same as Wojo.

[Heisenberg]

I agree.   I'm ready to move forward.  Time for Wojo to sink or swim.

I was trying to provide a counter-point to all the Markus/Wojo hate.  Don't see as many putting this on the Hausers being selfish.

But I agree we will move on, but it is the offseason and there is nothing else to discuss.

[TheREALwrk]

Why is everyone saying the problem is Markus or Wojo. Why isn't the problem the massive egos of the Hausers?

They are leaving a potential top 5 team and, at best, going to an equivalent level team in Virginia and /or Michigan State (at least compared to MU's potential next season).  If they go to Bucky they are going to a clearly lesser ranked team.

They cannot "beat out" Markus?  They cannot get more selfish and demand the ball, or take the ball?  MAybe they are not as good as their egos think they are.  Maybe Bailey or Elliott (or Kobe) force Joey out of his starting role next year.  I saw him being a turn over machine down the stretch.

So if they go to Virginia, and the national champion coach Tony Bennett recruits a superstar one and done scorer this year, that becomes the leading scorer in two years, the Hausers think this is preferable than working with Markus? Ditto final four coach Tom Izzo.  Are they sure he will not replace Winston this summer with an even better scoring guard?

If they want to be featured, go to Bucky because the odds are low that Gard is getting a superstar that will be featured over them.  Then they are saying that playing for a far lesser team and being featured is far more important than playing next April in Atlanta.  Because if they stay at MU, playing in April in Atlanta in realistic.  It is not a Bucky, and odds are reasonable if they are playing with Virginia in April in two years they are playing the same supporting role they have now.

This is on the Hausers and their incredibly selfish egos. Transferring says they are more interested in filling the stat sheet than winning.  They can win big now at MU but what is more important is they want more numbers on their stat sheet

You are so incredibly wrong.

When you're girlfriend won't change after 2 years of you asking for change... You have to break up with her. You don't stink around any longer once you realize things are never going to get better

[Jon]

This is on the Hausers and their incredibly selfish egos. Transferring says they are more interested in filling the stat sheet than winning.  They can win big now at MU but what is more important is they want more numbers on their stat sheet

Incredibly selfish egos? Filling the stat sheet?

Most of the speculation here on the Hausers has been a banal recitation of the trite and the hackneyed. But what you just wrote is not just incorrect but repulsive.

These are good kids. Don't ascribe values or impute behaviors that are not there.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I agree.   I'm ready to move forward.  Time for Wojo to sink or swim.

But what if he floats—does that mean he's a witch?

I suppose that depends on whether he lays an egg next season that hatches into a duck that ends up weighing the same as Wojo.

This is the stuff that separates Scoop from all other fan boards.

[Pakuni]

You are so incredibly wrong.

When you're girlfriend won't change after 2 years of you asking for change... You have to break up with her. You don't stink around any longer once you realize things are never going to get better

This analogy sucks. Markus isn't the Hausers' girlfriend. It's not his responsibility to change to make the Hausers happy or provide what they want or think they need. His on-court existence does not and should not revolve around their happiness.
The simple fact here is the Hausers chose to leave because they want to go somewhere they believe they'll be more featured, and not play second fiddle to an all-American. That is all. That's their right and I don't begrudge them for it. It doesn't make them bad kids. There's a logic to it, at least in Joey's case (Sam sitting one to play one is just plain goofy).

But let's stop making Markus out to be a villain here. He's also done nothing wrong. And he's certainly not responsible for the Hausers.

[Avenue Commons]

Incredibly selfish egos? Filling the stat sheet?

Most of the speculation here on the Hausers has been a banal recitation of the trite and the hackneyed. But what you just wrote is not just incorrect but repulsive.

These are good kids. Don't ascribe values or impute behaviors that are not there.

Did you get a thesaurus for your birthday?

[MUBBau]

Incredibly selfish egos? Filling the stat sheet?

Most of the speculation here on the Hausers has been a banal recitation of the trite and the hackneyed. But what you just wrote is not just incorrect but repulsive.

Then why are they transferring? To go play somewhere where they will get less minutes and less opportunities?

[StillAWarrior]

When you're girlfriend won't change after 2 years of you asking for change... You have to break up with her. You don't stink around any longer once you realize things are never going to get better

I think that this is a very fair analogy.

It also has the benefit of being completely neutral regarding whether the change you've been asking for is good or bad.  That doesn't matter.  If change is important to you and you've asked for change, it makes sense to leave if you know that change isn't coming.  The analogy, as stated, doesn't pick sides and doesn't insist that one side must have been in the wrong.

[Heisenberg]

This analogy sucks. Markus isn't the Hausers' girlfriend. It's not his responsibility to change to make the Hausers happy or provide what they want or think they need. His on-court existence does not and should not revolve around their happiness.
The simple fact here is the Hausers chose to leave because they want to go somewhere they believe they'll be more featured, and not play second fiddle to an all-American. That is all. That's their right and I don't begrudge them for it. It doesn't make them bad kids. There's a logic to it, at least in Joey's case (Sam sitting one to play one is just plain goofy).

But let's stop making Markus out to be a villain here. He's also done nothing wrong. And he's certainly not responsible for the Hausers.

+1

I cannot believe the hate Markus, and the never-ending defense to the Hausers.

Pakuni is 100% correct, it is not Markus, job to make them happy.  It is the Hausers job to outplay Markus ... and they cannot.

So they are taking their ball and going home.

[#UnleashSean]

Then why are they transferring? To go play somewhere where they will get less minutes and less opportunities?

Ya unnatural carnal knowledge them for wanting to play basketball instead of watching Markus shoot from 40 feet outside.

I've said this before and very few understand it. Sam was our best player, by a lot. Marquette will miss the spacing, the dead eye shooting, the defense (Even though there are some here that think he's horrible, hes not.) and the rebounding. Sam never will put up 50. But hes the guy who can do everything.

[MU82]

This world is not black and white. It is an infinite number of shades of grey. Saying that this is all on Markus, or all on Wojo, or all on the Hauser boys, seems awfully simplistic.

Going back and forth on the reasons seems like an awful waste of time. Dissecting the various factors that went into this decision, when most of us do not know any of these people individually — relying upon hearsay of differing levels of trustworthiness instead — seems equally wasteful.

The fact is, for better or worse, they are gone. Wojo is the captain of this ship, at least for now. Where the ship sails to from here on out is completely under his control. Thus, I see next year as a watershed moment for Wojo. Either the ship sails true, or it sinks.

I have my doubts about Wojo. I've had those doubts all along. That said, I acknowledge he is growing as a coach. Maybe he knows something we, as a board of non-insiders, don't know. Maybe his vision for this team didn't necessarily rely on the Hauser. We don't know. It's conjecture.

What we do know is that this team was supposed to bring back nearly every piece, and certainly every significant piece, of a five seeded NCAA team. Now it doesn't. That matters little though in the end. Either we progress and show addition by subtraction is a real concept, or we falter, in which case I think the final chapter on Wojo's story as Marquette basketball head coach is written. There can be no excuses. Next year is make or break. While Wojo is coach, I'll continue to hold out hope that we can "make."

Losing the Hauser boys is a real loss. But it is not — should not be — the end all be all. It's on Wojo know to find a way to better this team despite the departure of two starters. That's the beauty of college ball; it's possible.

Very strong post, MUC. I've been saying for two days now that far too many Scoopers are trying to make this an all-or-nothing, him-vs-him argument.

When parsing out percentages of "blame," I give the higher percentage to Wojo because he's the CEO of the organization, and he is responsible for everything. A big part of a coach's job description is managing egos -- and situations just like this -- and he failed to manage this one to the best resolution.

That said, it isn't 100% on him, and it happened, and it's over, and we have to go forward now. I know Scoop, so we will not only be legislating this all offseason, but also next season and also 10 years from now. We're still legislating the choice of Hank as Al's successor, and we also can count on several new Crean-vs-Buzz threads being started over the next several months. So I'm not naive enough to think we actually will move on about the Hausers quitting.

But I plan to try my best to move on. I do see some possibilities for success for next year's team, especially if Koby and/or Symir are as good as advertised. I'll be rooting for my Warriors, and that means rooting for the coach of my team to do a good job.

[Bocephys]

I suppose that depends on whether he lays an egg next season that hatches into a duck that ends up weighing the same as Wojo.

Who would you rather have as our coach next year, one Wojo-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized Wojos?

[Stretchdeltsig]

+1

I cannot believe the hate Markus, and the never-ending defense to the Hausers.

Pakuni is 100% correct, it is not Markus, job to make them happy.  It is the Hausers job to outplay Markus ... and they cannot.

So they are taking their ball and going home.

Totally agree.

[Eldon]

This analogy sucks. Markus isn't the Hausers' girlfriend. It's not his responsibility to change to make the Hausers happy or provide what they want or think they need. His on-court existence does not and should not revolve around their happiness.
The simple fact here is the Hausers chose to leave because they want to go somewhere they believe they'll be more featured, and not play second fiddle to an all-American. That is all. That's their right and I don't begrudge them for it. It doesn't make them bad kids. There's a logic to it, at least in Joey's case (Sam sitting one to play one is just plain goofy).

But let's stop making Markus out to be a villain here. He's also done nothing wrong. And he's certainly not responsible for the Hausers.

The girlfriend in that analogy is Wojo, not Markus

[🏀]

The girlfriend in that analogy is Wojo, not Markus

Why does that change the narrative around the Hausers? Why does Marquette Basketball change for Sammy and Joey?

[TallTitan34]

https://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/sports/2019/04/16/marquette-shocker-hausers-seek-better-fit-former-spash-coach-says/3481168002/

It hasn't been a, 'Boy, they've been so unhappy' kind of thing. ... They're interested in exploring if they can find a place that is just a little better fit for them in the future, and that's what they're pursuing.

This quote from their high school coach makes them sound pretty selfish.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

The girlfriend in that analogy is Wojo, not Markus

Is Wojo the Hausers' girlfriend or Howard's?  What if Markus is John Lennon and Sam is Paul McCartney?  Yoko Wojo?

[Avenue Commons]

I've said this before and very few understand it. Sam was our best player, by a lot. Marquette will miss the spacing, the dead eye shooting, the defense (Even though there are some here that think he's horrible, hes not.) and the rebounding. Sam never will put up 50. But hes the guy who can do everything.

Both Hausers are exceptional basketball players and will be sorely missed. Both have pro potential. No less than Jay Bilas said he thought Sam would have a long NBA career. I don't disagree given the way Sam can shoot and the evolution of today's NBA toward 3s. The criticism of the Hausers as players and saying they won't be missed is as inaccurate as saying this is all any one person's fault.

I also think the Hausers' decisions were exceptionally selfish, misguided and immature. This is why millenials have a bad reputation in modern America. Just my opinion, of course.

[willie warrior]

Ya unnatural carnal knowledge them for wanting to play basketball instead of watching Markus shoot from 40 feet outside.

I've said this before and very few understand it. Sam was our best player, by a lot. Marquette will miss the spacing, the dead eye shooting, the defense (Even though there are some here that think he's horrible, hes not.) and the rebounding. Sam never will put up 50. But hes the guy who can do everything.

Absolutely
And we are losing a ton with his parting
This is all on Wozo the bozo.