The End Of Peak Markus???

[WhoaJoe2020]

Since Markus sustained his nose fracture, there's just a tiny sample size to evaluate his likely production going forward.  Based solely on the way he performed @ home against the worst team in the country(JK), what should Marquette fans expect as the season progresses???

His 3pt shooting was average, he made a couple nice mid-range shots, but his drives to the hoop looked tentative, and he got blocked, or missed the shot most of the time. He did get some calls so there's that.

Does Markus break 50 again the rest of the season?? 45?? 40?? 35??

Will the team need him to??

Is he even capable of it in his current condition wearing the mask??

Was the end of the X game a fluke, or will Koby and Sacar consistently step up and provide supplemental scoring??

Will Brendan find his shot again??

What does Marquettes offense look like going forward??

[Cheeks]

I suspect he won't be driving as much.  I missed yesterday's game...was not on here in Miami.  Will watch tomorrow night when I get back, but I cannot imagine he will be as aggressive in his drives.

[WhoaJoe2020]

I suspect he won't be driving as much.  I missed yesterday's game...was not on here in Miami.  Will watch tomorrow night when I get back, but I cannot imagine he will be as aggressive in his drives.

It looked to me like he was more hesitant and mechanical. Obviously he wasn't as aggressive. I also thought he might have gotten a bail out call once or twice near the end of the game.

[DoctorV]

I've mentioned this in a few threads but it seems to me like Markus is having as much of an "off" stretch as I can remember in his entire career at MU.

I know it sounds crazy when you're talking about a 28ppg leading scorer in the nation, but I feel like this has extended since conference play began.

40/122 from 3 in conference play, a very poor 32,8% for his standards and shooting abilities. If I'm not mistaken, his season avg has dropped below 40% for first time in his career. Someone mentioned his lower ORtg versus top tier KenPom teams, and I'm not sure if this was a pattern the last few seasons as well?

Overall FG percentage is down to 41% from 46 and 42 the last few seasons. FT percentage down to 86% from 89% last season.

I understand that both FG and 3P percentage typically decline some with increased volume, but the biggest red flag to me isn't that he is seemingly missing a lot more shots, it's that he has been missing badly on a lot of shots. In other words the eye test has just shown signs of him not being fully locked in.

I feel like there have been many games where he has just missed so many 3P shots very badly and in non-Markus like fashion. One example that sticks out was draining his first two threes at Butler within the first few mins, neither of which touched rim, and then proceeding to finish 4/18 from 3 that night. Another is that he's had a few air balls. Couple that with much less of what I call video-game-Markus mode where he goes on a tear and seemingly can't miss and it seems like he has just been a bit "off."

Don't get me wrong here- I'm as big of a Markus fanboy as they get- the guy is still amazing and a complete pleasure to watch. I just feel like he hasn't been his elite self so far in conference play.

Now the good news!! As we all know, All Marquettes do indeed reach equilibrium. I have a feeling that Mr Howard is saving his best for just the perfect moment this time around. I actually expect a nice improvement and amazing run to finish off his career. He will get the needed help from his teammates and we will all get to enjoy it.

We Are Marquette

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Hmm video game mode like first half at Xavier?

[WhoaJoe2020]

DoctorV

I generally agree with your analysis, and I think some of it has to do with Koby not stepping up(thumb?) sooner.

Teams have really tried to take Markus out of games at times and when no one else is hitting Markus does tend to force things. It reminds me of Favre trying to do to much and throwing picks.

Maybe after the week off we will see Sacar back to his normal self, and Brendan will find his shot again. Koby did some good things in the DePaul game so, fingers crossed, he's back to where he was before the thumb injury. His handle has looked a lot better since the second half of the X game.

If all three of those guys produce, the team may not need Peak Markus.

[PGsHeroes32]

Honestly, I didn't mind his approach in the 1st half at all(some didnt like it)

In terms of shooting 3s. He started 5/9 and probably only 1 was really forced. Problem is the last 3 were 2 awfully forced ones and one where he once again(I still dont get how he hasnt learned it) didn't pull the "Rowsey" for 3 easy free throws.

But hunting 3s im fine with. Markus gets a lot of foul calls on the perimiter whether its off the shot or coming around screens. So I like him out there. He doesnt get many calls driving into traffic.

So if he sticks to launching rhythm 3s and pulls ups while driving only when the lane is open, Im good with it.

[WhoaJoe2020]

Hmm video game mode like first half at Xavier?

Does Marquette or the fans really want or need that??

[Johnny B]

These threads just get more and more ridiculous. At least the title I mean what the fu*k are you even talking about.

[WhoaJoe2020]

Honestly, I didn't mind his approach in the 1st half at all(some didnt like it)

In terms of shooting 3s. He started 5/9 and probably only 1 was really forced. Problem is the last 3 were 2 awfully forced ones and one where he once again(I still dont get how he hasnt learned it) didn't pull the "Rowsey" for 3 easy free throws.

But hunting 3s im fine with. Markus gets a lot of foul calls on the perimiter whether its off the shot or coming around screens. So I like him out there. He doesnt get many calls driving into traffic.

So if he sticks to launching rhythm 3s and pulls ups while driving only when the lane is open, Im good with it.

Everything you said.

I hope the other guys pick up the slack on drives to the hoop.

I also hope after the week off Sacar and Brendan return to form.

[WhoaJoe2020]

These threads just get more and more ridiculous. At least the title I mean what the fu*k are you even talking about.

Ummm

Are we going to see a major change in Marquettes offense going forward??

With some other options appearing and Markus limited, how will players usage change?? Have we seen the end of Peak Markus usage??

Also, if Markus could only score 31 @ home against the worst team on Marquettes remaining schedule, have we seen the end of Peak Markus scoring??

The Butler game should tell us a lot because the team should be close to full strength other than Markus. If Markus has to carry the scoring load in that game, then it's probably going to be the same old same old.

[CountryRoads]

I think it's more of just teams selling out to make life difficult for Markus.

Howard has had the good fortune of playing alongside some elite offensive players during his time here so it's not a surprise his percentages are a bit down.

Sam was very close to being a top 50 player last season according to TRank. In 2018, Rowsey was top 20 and Sam was top 50 (Markus was top 50 also).

Love the team this year, but none of the other guys are even close to the level Sam or Rowsey were at the offensive end. I think that's making a big difference in his percentages.

[NorthernDancerColt]

These threads just get more and more ridiculous. At least the title I mean what the fu*k are you even talking about.

Umm, you have heard of the concept of "Peak Oil", right? It refers to the point in Energy history where there is both the maxed-out global production of and global dependence on fossil fuels. So, in a sense, the original post was brilliant. It asks whether MU has reached a point beyond "Peak Markus", whereby MU can survive or even thrive with Markus at less than his best levels. It also addresses our dependence on him.

[DoctorV]

DoctorV

I generally agree with your analysis, and I think some of it has to do with Koby not stepping up(thumb?) sooner.

Teams have really tried to take Markus out of games at times and when no one else is hitting Markus does tend to force things. It reminds me of Favre trying to do to much and throwing picks.

Maybe after the week off we will see Sacar back to his normal self, and Brendan will find his shot again. Koby did some good things in the DePaul game so, fingers crossed, he's back to before the thumb injury. His handle has looked a lot better since the second half of the X game.

If all three of those guys produce, the team may not need Peak Markus.

1- Thanks.

2- Markus has always forced things to some extent, but he's been really good at it.

3- It would be awesome if 2 of Sacar, Koby, Brendan could regularly step in as secondary/tertiary scorers on any given night. As a matter of fact, this would make Markus much more efficient IMO as he would be more selective and take less/better shots. It would open up and create more space for him because the defense would have to concentrate more on the other finishers.

4- Ive said and maintained since before the season began that IMO MU will need a 3 headed guard combo of Markus+Sacar+Koby to score 50 or more points to win games. Could be 40 from #0 and 15 from the others combined or 27,15,12 or any different combo. Occasionally as the season has progressed I've realized that Brendan can step in here as well. 

5- In regards to video game Markus not being what fans want or need who cares at this point? Fans want and need wins, no matta how.

6- Lastly to the point of not needing peak Markus- perhaps this is true to some extent in some games (as we saw at X where they didn't have him at all for an extended period).
However, if you're talking about this season exceeding the lofty expectations that many on scoop have set forth- whether its a top 3 finish in conf, a BE conf tourney title, a single win in the NCAA tourney, or a trip to the Sweet 16 and beyond- I believe that'll require a Peakishly freaky Markus

[Johnny B]

Umm, you have heard of the concept of "Peak Oil", right? It refers to the point in Energy history where there is both the maxed-out global production of and global dependence on fossil fuels. So, in a sense, the original post was brilliant. It asks whether MU has reached a point beyond "Peak Markus", whereby MU can survive or even thrive with Markus at less than his best levels. It also addresses our dependence on him.

Genius?? he put up 31 and barely shot in the second half. Why are we even talking about this. How much does he score to be "peak" markus? It's one game and he scored 31. IS PEAK MARKUS DONE??? just weird but oh well.

[WhoaJoe2020]

Umm, you have heard of the concept of "Peak Oil", right? It refers to the point in Energy history where there is both the maxed-out global production of and global dependence on fossil fuels. So, in a sense, the original post was brilliant. It asks whether MU has reached a point beyond "Peak Markus", whereby MU can survive or even thrive with Markus at less than his best levels. It also addresses our dependence on him.

I'm glad you got it.

Usually things only change when production is threatened by an sudden interruption of some kind, in this case a fractured nose.

So who do you think the alternative sources of production should or will be??

Will Marquette still be overly dependent on Markus??

[WhoaJoe2020]

I think it's more of just teams selling out to make life difficult for Markus.

Howard has had the good fortune of playing alongside some elite offensive players during his time here so it's not a surprise his percentages are a bit down.

Sam was very close to being a top 50 player last season according to TRank. In 2018, Rowsey was top 20 and Sam was top 50 (Markus was top 50 also).

Love the team this year, but none of the other guys are even close to the level Sam or Rowsey were at the offensive end. I think that's making a big difference in his percentages.

I was thinking the same thing, and I'm hoping Sacar, Koby , and Brendan combined, can be that consistent complimentary scoring source that reduces Marquettes dependence on Markus.

[WhoaJoe2020]

DoctorV, I fear you're right and much like we still mainly depend on oil, I think Marquette will still mainly depend on Markus.

And, much like the former, I hope the latter changes soon.

[NorthernDancerColt]

I'm glad you got it.

Usually things only change when production is threatened by an sudden interruption of some kind, in this case a fractured nose.

So who do you think the alternative sources of production should or will be??

Will Marquette still be overly dependent on Markus??

I wasn't able to watch the DePaul game, but just by seeing the highlights, Markus looks more than OK. His quickness was there as was the crispness of his step-back move. I expect a little natural hesitancy on the drive until his nose fully heals. Bailey, Cain, Sacar, and Koby have proven they can pick up the slack if Markus needs to ration his own PT to remain fresh for March.

Markus has always been a team player. Despite other narratives, he doesn't want his teammates to overly depend on him. He just wants to win.

[1SE]

Ummm

Are we going to see a major change in Marquettes offense going forward??

With some other options appearing and Markus limited, how will players usage change?? Have we seen the end of Peak Markus usage??

Also, if Markus could only score 31 @ home against the worst team on Marquettes remaining schedule, have we seen the end of Peak Markus scoring??

The Butler game should tell us a lot because the team should be close to full strength other than Markus. If Markus has to carry the scoring load in that game, then it's probably going to be the same old same old.

You realize only a handful of high-major guys will score over 30 in ANY game this season right?

[WhoaJoe2020]

I wasn't able to watch the DePaul game, but just by seeing the highlights, Markus looks more than OK. His quickness was there as was the crispness of his step-back move. I expect a little natural hesitancy on the drive until his nose fully heals. Bailey, Cain, Sacar, and Koby have proven they can pick up the slack if Markus needs to ration his own PT to remain fresh for March.

Markus has always been a team player. Despite other narratives, he doesn't want his teammates to overly depend on him. He just wants to win.

Yeah , I kind of expected to see those other guys pick it up in the DePaul game but oddly enough Markus still had to be the man. It really makes me wonder going forward, if those other guys will show more consistency.

Hopefully fatigue was the major factor in the DePaul game. The Butler game will be the real test to see who else besides Markus is ready to step up every game.

[WhoaJoe2020]

You realize only a handful of high-major guys will score over 30 in ANY game this season right?

Yeah, but I couldn't go lower than 35 because Markus had just scored 31 against DePaul.

According to the "experts" DePaul is the worst team Marquette will play the rest of the season and Markus struggled to get 31 @ home. If those "experts" are right then even 30 on high usage may be difficult to achieve in his current condition.

I guess that's the question. Have we seen the end of being able to rely on Markus having a monster game if the other guys are struggling??

Are the other guys ready to contribute more points on a consistent basis??

Is the team ready to move away from
Peak Markus to a more sustainable offense??

I think the Butler game will give us some answers.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Just bizarre

[warriorchick]

I have become at least partially immune to crazily negative posts on Scoop (thank God), but saying that Markus sucks because he only put up 31 points after someone literally broke his face a few days earlier sets a new standard.

[mu03eng]

Is this really some weird way to ask if we've reached Peak Scoop....because this threat feels like Peak bizarro Scoop