Our second best player

[Silent Verbal]

First the Hausers didn’t like playing with Markus, and now Koby.  I’m noticing a pattern.

[NickelDimer]

Brendan, Sacar and Theo had plenty of shots yesterday. They just kept missing them. With those guys shooting a combined 14%, Markus had to shoot.

I think there’s some chicken or egg debate around Markus, but I do wonder how Wojo’s “defer to Markus” the majority of the time offense affects everyone else’s rhythm, confidence, etc. I thought the first half of PC game was a perfect example. It’s 4 guys looking for Markus possession after possession. It’s really hard to watch and too often ineffective. We have to be the easiest offense in the conference to defend.

[lawdog77]

Brendan, Sacar and Theo had plenty of shots yesterday. They just kept missing them. With those guys shooting a combined 14%, Markus had to shoot.

this...powell and markus had the same amount of shots. Seton Hall had other players yesterday who could create and make scoring opportunities. Marquette did not. If Bailey hits 2 of those wide open threes, or if McEwen doesnt gack those two free throws. Who knows.

[hairy worthen]

First the Hausers didn’t like playing with Markus, and now Koby.  I’m noticing a pattern.

Would you like it? I wouldn't

[Goose]

Goo

They did get shots, agreed. Sacar and Koby are taking a shot far more often than passing once they get the ball. Does not mean good shots, but yes shots were taken. Sam Hauser took good shots for three years, thus far Koby has taken many questionable shots IMO.

[harryp]

I think the other players depend on Markus, especially in important situations. Greg, Sacar, Brendan, Greg and Jamal perhaps without consciously thinking about it, think, in a tight moment, that it is safer to go to Markus than take responsibility for  missing. So Sacar and Bailey, in particular, drive to the middle and stop halfway in and pass it out. That has a bad effect over time.

[hairy worthen]

I think the other players depend on Markus, especially in important situations. Greg, Sacar, Brendan, Greg and Jamal perhaps without consciously thinking about it, think, in a tight moment, that it is safer to go to Markus than take responsibility for  missing. So Sacar and Bailey, in particular, drive to the middle and stop halfway in and pass it out. That has a bad effect over time.

I agree with this. To take it one step further the coach is sending that message to the players as well.

[Elonsmusk]

Anyone that thinks a guy taking 33 shots in a game is a good idea does not know ball. Any competitive person wants to be part of the action, not just watching one guy shoot every time down the court. The second half of the Buffalo game last season created a monster and the coach has allowed to continue.

Spot on. Further I will say Wojo saying early and often in Markus’s career that he has the “ultimate green light” was dumb AF.  Hard to giveth and then takeaway. It was bound to result in discontent among the other guys on the team.

[willie warrior]

First the Hausers didn’t like playing with Markus, and now Koby.  I’m noticing a pattern.

No you are not. In Wojos world, you get on the bus and like playing with Markus or you get thrown under the bus.

[tower912]

Brendan Bailey.

[Lennys Tap]

Brendan Bailey.

Are there any other Big East teams on which Brendan Bailey would be the second (or even third) best player?

[GooooMarquette]

Goo

They did get shots, agreed. Sacar and Koby are taking a shot far more often than passing once they get the ball. Does not mean good shots, but yes shots were taken. Sam Hauser took good shots for three years, thus far Koby has taken many questionable shots IMO.

So I don't understand what you're looking for from Markus.

You acknowledge that other players are allowed to take shots, but when they take then, they often aren't good ones. You know that Koby is the primary PG, so if anyone is at fault for guys taking bad shots, it's Koby and the guy taking the shot. And yet you rip on Markus - the one guy who seems able to make the shots.

What is Markus supposed to do - pass up a makable shot so he can pass it to a guy who will take a worse shot? Before you answer, remember - Markus is NOT our PG.

[tower912]

Are there any other Big East teams on which Brendan Bailey would be the second (or even third) best player?

I have little doubt that he would be a solid rotational player for any of them.   6'8, handles the ball, shoots from 3, d's and rebounds.    As to whether he would be the second best player, it is impossible to know as you don't know how he would interact with the teammates around him.     And, just to annoy you, I will still take him over Joey.   

[Cheeks]

Are there any other Big East teams on which Brendan Bailey would be the second (or even third) best player?

And yet we have all these wins...must be the coaching that is making all this average or below average talent come up with wins....cuz our second best player wouldn’t even be a third best player on some other Big East team...right?


Or...wait for it....different guys step up.  In my mind Sacar is the second most consistent player with BB close by.  There are also other guys that do less on the scoring front, but more of the dirty work which people don’t want to bother with.

[lawdog77]

I have little doubt that he would be a solid rotational player for any of them.   6'8, handles the ball, shoots from 3, d's and rebounds.    As to whether he would be the second best player, it is impossible to know as you don't know how he would interact with the teammates around him.     And, just to annoy you, I will still take him over Joey.   

This... And not just to annoy him. I think Bailey is better than Joey, and fits better on this team as well. Oh, and "good" Koby would start on many teams as well.

[Elonsmusk]

Brendan Bailey.

I would agree, and am pleasantly surprised with his improvement this year.  His rebounding and ball handling (creating for himself off the dribble) are much better this year, and shooting slightly improved.  Just needs to be more consistent.

[Dawson Rental]

Second best player?  Easy.  I'm another vote for Brendan Bailey.  He always shows up on defense and in rebounding.  When he's being assertive on offense he's all league material.  That does not happen often enough, though.

[MU82]

Down the stretch last year, Wojo had two choices:  Reign in Markus and feature the Hausers more, or double down on Markus and call the Hausers’ bluff if they threatened to transfer.

A couple of problems here ...

1. The Hausers, especially Joey, were not very good down the stretch. During the team's end-of-season slump, Joey shot 39% overall, 32% from 3 and 63% from the line, averaging 2.6 TOs and 8.4 ppg. Sam was better -- 40% overall, 39% from 3, 1.000% from the line, 1.6 TO and 13.7 ppg. Markus sucked, too ... but to suggest that the season could have been saved by going to the Hausers, especially Joey, who by that time had been in a month-long tailspin and had become both a turnover machine and a severe defensive liability ... seems like pretty wishful thinking.

2. A college coach cannot submit to player demands. Now, neither you nor I were there, so neither of us knows how this all played out. If Sam approached Wojo as a captain and had a genuine heart-to-heart with him about his concerns and what might be done, that's one thing. If there really was a letter, or if there was some other kind of ultimatum or attempted coup, that's a very different thing. Maybe neither of those things occurred. We don't know. What I am fairly certain of is that most coaches do not react well to players telling them what to do. I'm pretty sure that if the 2nd and 3rd best Michigan State players went to Izzo and told him that they were outta there if he didn't rein in Cassius Winston, he'd tell them not to let the door hit them on the way out.

[Goose]

MU82

Have you looked at Howard's BE stats thus far this season. His BE start is looking a lot like Joey's swan song month at MU. Only difference, Howard takes about 3-4 times more shots per game.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Our second best player is the hottest of Bailey, Anim or Koby.  If none are hot we lose.  It's a tough proposition to not be able to have a reliable #2 but I think its the best we can hope for at this stage.

[Warrior1969]

What happened to Sacar killing it this summer?  Most improved on the team?  More complete garbage.  Just like morrow was the best player on the team when he was sitting out?  How can we ever believe any of this again?   That being said the second best player should sure as heck be sacar.  Fifth year senior, the effort just doesn't seem to be there some games. 

[tower912]

Sacar is not playing physically on the boards, he will not finish through traffic, getting into the lane consistently and then stopping, pivoting in a circle, and passing to somebody else.     He needs to embrace contact.   

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I would say Sacar, but Brendan isn't too far behind.

That said, we still need Sacar to be more aggressive when Markus is getting hounded.  BB has been the biggest pleasant surprise this season - even with his stinker at SH. 

Koby has been a disaster.  Honestly, I don't know that I had disliked a Marquette player more since I started following in 08-09 season.  He has a bad attitude and even worse body language.  I know we need Koby, so I get why he plays, but I definitely would be cutting into those minutes.  Need Greg back in a hurry.

Theo has been terrible offensively.  I give him a bit of break as I realize he's basically playing 1 handed - but man he's in his own head around the rim.  Honestly we should consider starting Jayce for a few games.  Theo just gets stuffed 3-4 times in the first 5 minutes every game. 

Outside of Markus, the supporting cast has been very disappointing. 

[Cheeks]

I would agree, and am pleasantly surprised with his improvement this year.  His rebounding and ball handling (creating for himself off the dribble) are much better this year, and shooting slightly improved.  Just needs to be more consistent.

I wonder if his improvement in part is due to coaching....nah...100% not because of coaching.

[SaveOD238]

Our second best player is the hottest of Bailey, Anim or Koby.  If none are hot we lose.  It's a tough proposition to not be able to have a reliable #2 but I think its the best we can hope for at this stage.

This.  I think a lot of other coach's defensive strategy against us is "let Markus get his, and stop everyone else."  If no one steps up to fill the other scoring role, we lose.

In our losses this year...

@Wisconsin- Bailey + Anim 0-9, 3 pts. Koby had 19.
Maryland- Opposite strategy: Markus was shut down and the rest had 53 combined
@Creighton- Bailey and Anim had 18 each, Koby ZERO
Providence- Bailey had 19, but Sacar and Koby went 5-21
@ Seton Hall- none scored double digits, combined 6-24 from the floor

So we need all of these guys to show up.  When one or more of them lays an egg, we're effed.