Is this Wojo's best TEAM?

[79Warrior]

I loved the passing but seriously, it was Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Let's see how we do against a team not ranked #353 by KenPom.

Exactly. Let's give it some time.

[HutchwasClutch]

Cautiously optimistic.  Let's see how they play against Eastern Illinois who lost by ten to the badgers.  Blow the doors off them like apb and I start to get more optimistic for that badger game.

Badgers were up 23 at the half. They let off the gas obviously. 

[Shooter McGavin]

I get the optimism because it was such a decisive opener. The only better opening performance we've seen from a Wojo team was 2016-17 when we drilled Vanderbilt at the Naval Academy. But while we held them to 0.75 ppp, this is a team that had an adjusted offensive efficiency of 79.0 last year, which was the worst out of any team of the past 5 years (more than 1,700 teams). Eastern Illinois and Oklahoma State will be far better barometers of how good we are. Plenty of mediocre Marquette teams have drilled inferior competition. Alabama A&M in 2014-15, Grambling in 2015-16, American in 2017-18 were all resounding wins over teams that were simply overmatched, but it didn't get Marquette a NCAA bid.

Agreed with the comparisons to other blow out wins against inferior opponents. However,  watching the new components of this team yesterday was encouraging.  I also agree that the Eastern Illinois game and Oklahoma State games will be telling.  If we play well and win those games it will start to feel like the beginning of something better than I was expecting.  These next few games have a Great Alaskan shootout feeling to them for me.  I like the look of multiple players on this team.  Do it against better competition and I'm in.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Yeah said I wasn't sold on their speed.

You telling me they're speedy isn't going to do it for me either.

You inferred incorrectly.  I was more or less pointing out a mixed bag.

[Viper]

It was APB - we're not going to look that good every night. But even before getting to see the product on the court I really liked it on paper.

There have definitely been better players on Wojo's watch, but is this the best overall TEAM? There are just so many pieces that I love.

Theo - a MAN's body. Senior leadership. A beast in the paint. Maybe learning how to play within himself? Who knew being able to use two hands would matter.

DJ - a true PG. 'nough said.

Dawson - a super-stretch 4. A Steve Novak that can get to the rim and defend.

Jose - Another man's body in a wing.

Quality senior leadership and offensive spark in Koby and Jamal - on any given night either could pop for 20.

Quality depth at almost all positions - Greg, Symir, Oso, Justin

I just can't think of any piece that is missing from this team. I think it's the best top to bottom team we've seen in Wojo's tenure.

It will be a major shame if we don't see how far this team and develop/go. It will also be a major indictment if Wojo can't make this team more than the sum of its parts. This is the year to do it.

lets reconvene after the UW game

[jesmu84]

lets reconvene after the UW game

Nah. Set up a false narrative now so you can rip on wojo later

[MU82]

Badgers were up 23 at the half. They let off the gas obviously.

True ... but if we had done the same there would have been some rippers here.

Doesn't Wojo know you have to run up the score? We can't afford to take any possessions off. Blah blah blah.

Agreed with the comparisons to other blow out wins against inferior opponents. However,  watching the new components of this team yesterday was encouraging.  I also agree that the Eastern Illinois game and Oklahoma State games will be telling.  If we play well and win those games it will start to feel like the beginning of something better than I was expecting.  These next few games have a Great Alaskan shootout feeling to them for me.  I like the look of multiple players on this team.  Do it against better competition and I'm in.

Yessir. E Illinois is a step up from APB; that's damning with faint praise, as almost any team would be. A week from tomorrow, we'll know quite a bit more about our heroes. And by Xmas, we should know if we have a tourney team or not.

[Loose Cannon]

One Game,  One Win.  Lots of smiles, no more than that.  Hope is one thing, Rush to judgement another.  Can not believe that to some this seems to be their First Rodeo.

[Jockey]

You don't learn a lot from games like this. But there are things to look for.

1. Team play. It was outstanding. Even as guys looked to make the extra pass, almost everybody was looking for good shots as well. Nobody was looking to defer to someone else.

2. Skill levels. Some good things here. Dawson is gonna be better than advertised. Ellenson-level skills, but looks to be a better shooter. Carton is gonna be a stud on both ends of the floor. Theo has gotten better at Theo-type things. Lewis and Oso are better at this point - skills-wise, than Theo was as a freshman. Koby, without elite level skills, is pretty decent at everything. Cain & Elliot, despite some limitations, have skills on both ends of the floor.

I'm looking forward to the next few games where the competition gets better and we can see where everyone stands against better teams.

[poman]

Definately Wojo's deepest team...really doesn't matter though because Wojo will find a way to screw it up.  Hopeful this is Wojo's last year and we can fins someone who can win a few games down the stretch instead of the Wojo collapse.

[1SE]

We had a pretty good "team" in 2016-17.

Ellenson was gone and Markus was not yet MARKUS!

Five guys averaged between 10.8 and 13.2 ppg, and seven guys averaged at least 8.7. Those same seven guys averaged between 6.3 and 9.3 FGA.

We didn't play very good D, we were too young in a few spots, and we got an unfortunate NCAA assignment -- a very good (eventual FF) SCaro team in Greenville -- but the guys got along and played well together. And Wojo, in Year 3, seemed to have the program on a very good trajectory.

This season's team has the potential to be quite a bit better in all facets.

We'll see.

Probably the best competitor

[1SE]

I dont know of this will be wojos most successful team, but I meam best in the sense that there is no glaring hole. Markus was great, but him.being able to put up 50 papered over a lot.of cracks

[Markusquette]

Most impressed with the newcomers. I expected Dawson to be good but his touch inside and passing from the high post is going to be really helpful. DJ is quick and seems to have a pulse on the offense and how to run the show. Once he gets more comfortable I really like what he adds. Lewis has a knack for the ball and a nice touch around the hoop too.

Dare I say Theo John might be a decent free throw shooter now? What was he, 8/9?

[brewcity77]

Most impressed with the newcomers. I expected Dawson to be good but his touch inside and passing from the high post is going to be really helpful. DJ is quick and seems to have a pulse on the offense and how to run the show. Once he gets more comfortable I really like what he adds. Lewis has a knack for the ball and a nice touch around the hoop too.

Dare I say Theo John might be a decent free throw shooter now? What was he, 8/9?

9/10. Really impressive from him. I'll be overjoyed if he stays north of 70%.

[MU82]

9/10. Really impressive from him. I'll be overjoyed if he stays north of 70%.

The form looked very good, no hitch and no long hesitation. He acted like he knew they were going in.

[tower912]

Didn't have a broken wrist to distract him.

[PGsHeroes32]

Theo's free throw shooting last year was even greatly improved from previous years(still not great).

So with a good wrist I think it's definitely reasonable to expect he can at least be mid 60s for a full year

[Autoengineer]

I'm still not sure about that 2 position.  I think it's the biggest question mark on the team.  Someone needs to claim it.  Will it be Kobe?  Jose?  Dexter?  Greg?   

[wadesworld]

I'm still not sure about that 2 position.  I think it's the biggest question mark on the team.  Someone needs to claim it.  Will it be Kobe?  Jose?  Dexter?  Greg?   

The good thing is there's flexibility. If Symir steps up and shows he's capable of running the point, DJ can play the 2. If Koby steps up, DJ can play the 1. If both step up, Sy can play the 1, DJ the 2, and Koby the 3. Jose and Greg can also step up if Koby doesn't.

[Jockey]

I'm still not sure about that 2 position.  I think it's the biggest question mark on the team.  Someone needs to claim it.  Will it be Kobe?  Jose?  Dexter?  Greg?   

I like Koby off the ball. Three & D. Throw in some rebounds, as well.

[BCHoopster]

If Koby finds his shot, MU might be better than you think.  But this year, if he does not, there are other players hopefully capable to take his place. I was opening it was Akanno, but now I am just hopeful he become healthy. 

[Its DJOver]

Greg is a career 40% three point shooter, and while he'll always be a bit gangly, he looked more filled out than he's ever been before.  The problem is, he's not great at creating his own shot.  If DJ is as good of a distributor as billed, he won't need to be.  Also needs to stay healthy.

[Shooter McGavin]

I bet you the Xavier fans were having the same conversation until today.  We need to play better competition to decide how good we are.

[BCHoopster]

Xavier is not very good.

[brewcity77]

Xavier is not very good.

We could be saying the same thing about ourselves if we're in a 1-2 possession game with EIU tomorrow.