2023 Team Outlook

[GoldenEagles03]

https://twitter.com/MarquetteMBB/status/1588979791348527105?t=DvH0udNGuKepFBBajW3Rzg&s=19

This hype video worked for me. I can't recall the last time I was this excited for a Monday.

[Newsdreams]

https://twitter.com/MarquetteMBB/status/1588979791348527105?t=DvH0udNGuKepFBBajW3Rzg&s=19

This hype video worked for me. I can't recall the last time I was this excited for a Monday.

I don't know our D is giving away too many dunks

[Dr. Blackheart]

https://twitter.com/MarquetteMBB/status/1588979791348527105?t=DvH0udNGuKepFBBajW3Rzg&s=19

This hype video worked for me. I can't recall the last time I was this excited for a Monday.

1977

[MarquetteMike1977]

I know most don't like to look ahead because first and foremost is getting better this year, but someone's gotta do it!

Darryl and Kur will be gone. Justin could very well go pro. Greg has already been in College 5 years, will he want to stay a 6th?

That leaves us with:

1. Stevie (Diminished role as season progresses)
2. Emarion (Limited Role)
3. Joplin (Limited Role)
4. OMax (Diminished role as season progresses)
5. Kolek (Major role)
6. Kam (Major role)
7. Oso (Major role)
8. Keeyan (Redshirt)

Incoming are 2 guards Sean Jones and Chase Ross.

Stevie, Emarion, Kolek, and Jones all are best used as a PG and it's hard to see any of them sharing too much time on the court together. There are some solid returning pieces, but arguably more question marks than this year and of those 10 names only Oso is a real post. 

Seems like ever since...you know...let's just say 2014, we've been stuck in an endless cycle of rebuilding.

On the bright side, Justin and Greg could decide to stay and I trust Shaka to often utilize the transfer portal, but for a fanbase desperate to get back to relevance in March this is a reminder to be patient.

Interested to hear some other input. Concerns? Optimism? Encouragement? General thoughts?

Go Marquette!

First the good news Marquette's 2022 Season mirrored 2020 But there was an NCAA tournament in 2022 and MU made that tournament. In 2024 MU should be gangbusters and win their first NCAA tournament game since the Old Big East. Bad news hope am wrong but MU will take one for the New Big East Conference in 2022-23 which is BS since again MU has not won an NCAA tournament game since the Old Big East. Disclaimer there is a window for MU to get to the Big Dance this year and I am excited for a Monday too.

[Jay Bee]

On the other end are those (raises hand) who think he could have a breakout season and have more upside than JL.  As with most things, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Defensively perhaps, but JL was a 24% usage guy as a true frosh & 26% (w/29% %shots) last season.

As a true frosh, OMax has an 18% usage & last season just 16%.

I don't see it

OMax's usage at 16%. %shots only 12.8% but that's impacted by high FTrate. He'll have a couple of big games, but just not going to be a consistently high usage guy.

[GoldenEagles03]

OMax's usage at 16%. %shots only 12.8% but that's impacted by high FTrate. He'll have a couple of big games, but just not going to be a consistently high usage guy.

They don't need OMax to be high usage.  They need him to be high energy, high intensity, and a star in his role as Shaka says.

They have enough pieces to put points up. They just have to be stars in their roles to finish games. For OMax that likely means crashing the glass, cut to the rim, active hands and feet on defense.

[GoldenEagles03]

Joe Lunardi came out with a bracketology today (which is comical to say the least), but here's what he has as far as MU related teams.

2: Baylor
4: Creighton
6: UConn
7: Xavier
9: Villanova
9: Wisconsin
10: St. John's
10: Mississippi State
12: Seton Hall

Next Four Out: Notre Dame

[brewcity77]

I was looking through some kenpom stats and noticed this guy who is starting for 6-0 Ole Miss:

Myles Burns
ORtg: 105.1
OReb: 11.9%
DReb: 13.6%
Stl%: 7.4%
PPG: 7.0
RPG: 6.0
SPG: 3.3

Not great numbers, but certainly a serviceable high-major player contributing to a winning team. So why highlight Burns? Because last year, he was the second best player on his college team. Burns was a great complimentary player on a team that won the NAIA Championship. That team was Loyola-New Orleans, and the best player on his team was Zach Wrightsil.

I have no idea what Wrightsil will do here once he's healthy, but I don't think his ability to contribute will be limited by not being good enough. Because the guy he played with is showing he's good enough to contribute at this level. This leads me to believe that the limitations we're seeing from Wrightsil in terms of movement and production is more down to not being healthy than not being good enough.

[Scoop Snoop]

Joe Lunardi came out with a bracketology today (which is comical to say the least), but here's what he has as far as MU related teams.

2: Baylor
4: Creighton
6: UConn
7: Xavier
9: Villanova
9: Wisconsin
10: St. John's
10: Mississippi State
12: Seton Hall

Next Four Out: Notre Dame

Lunardi is like little kids- often funniest when they least intend to be.

I laughed hard when, in an exchange once with BIll Walton on TV, Walton referred to the lower part of Lunardi's bracket and asked why he was dealing with those "truck stop" conferences  .

[wadesworld]

I was looking through some kenpom stats and noticed this guy who is starting for 6-0 Ole Miss:

Myles Burns
ORtg: 105.1
OReb: 11.9%
DReb: 13.6%
Stl%: 7.4%
PPG: 7.0
RPG: 6.0
SPG: 3.3

Not great numbers, but certainly a serviceable high-major player contributing to a winning team. So why highlight Burns? Because last year, he was the second best player on his college team. Burns was a great complimentary player on a team that won the NAIA Championship. That team was Loyola-New Orleans, and the best player on his team was Zach Wrightsil.

I have no idea what Wrightsil will do here once he's healthy, but I don't think his ability to contribute will be limited by not being good enough. Because the guy he played with is showing he's good enough to contribute at this level. This leads me to believe that the limitations we're seeing from Wrightsil in terms of movement and production is more down to not being healthy than not being good enough.

Maybe. But 1) Ole Miss has played one high major opponent, Stanford. And 2) there are countless cases of where one player is a standout at one level but at a level above that a former teammate is the one who translates much better to the higher level.

[GoldenEagles03]

Wrightsil OUT again as anticipated.

Seems like he probably isn't going to get healthy. He'll be playing hurt all season and probably taking some "load management" days all season.

[Newsdreams]

Wrightsil OUT again as anticipated.

Seems like he probably isn't going to get healthy. He'll be playing hurt all season and probably taking some "load management" days all season.

So he is going to be JFB like?

[DoctorV]

Wrightsil OUT again as anticipated.

Seems like he probably isn't going to get healthy. He'll be playing hurt all season and probably taking some "load management" days all season.

Why as anticipated?

Is it too late to injury redshirt😳😵‍💫

Is it too late to bring in an immediately eligible December dude?

[The Equalizer]

So he is going to be JFB like?

Probably more Joe Fulce like.

[GoldenEagles03]

I want to believe we have a chance on Tuesday, but I just can't get there. Baylor is just so strong.

Mississippi State is the one we needed to have to finish 8-3 or better I think.

[BCHoopster]

I want to believe we have a chance on Tuesday, but I just can't get there. Baylor is just so strong.

Mississippi State is the one we needed to have to finish 8-3 or better I think.

.

We will see where the program is after this week, both games will be tough, time to win a game against a good team.  Last year at this time UCLA came in and it was total blow out. 

[Goose]

BC

This definitely is a good week to judge the progress of the program and we will see what happens. I stated, with confidence, T think they will be competitive with Baylor and have a chance to win the game and will beat UW on Saturday. What are your thoughts on the two upcoming games?

I know I am in the minority on here, but I think this team is further along than they were a year ago. IMO there more pieces to this team and the defense is far advanced over last year.

[jfp61]

Yep. This is kinda a make or break it week for the team. They need to at least go 1-1. They are projected 0.84 wins on KP. 29% chance vs Baylor and 55% vs UW.

Overall, in efficiency and ability, team feels a lot like last year's team. They just have happened to play better teams than we ever played last year. @ Purdue and a on a neutral court vs Miss St. are significantly stronger opponents than home to Kofi-less Illinois. Luckily it looks like Purdue and Miss St are still a little better than even i thought they were in the preseason. Baylor is as strong or stronger than that UCLA too. It is going to take a special offensive performance for Marquette to win. I don't know if they can if Baylor gets Oso into any foul trouble.

We are probably slightly further along than we were last year. The problem is, we don't have the wins, and the wins arn't clearly in sight without going  3-1 to end the the non con. It is possible but we are only projected to go 2.18-1.82. I know shaka didn't really have control in scheduling thus far, but i wish Marquette did a better job scheduling power conference teams/ near power conference teams that we are actually better than.

Like i would love if Marquette scheduled one extra home and home a with one of the teams we played a preseason game against.

[BCHoopster]

Baylor will be interesting, bigger game for MU, have a chance.  Badgers will control the pace which means possessions are important. MU will have to play better in last 5 minutes of the game, not sure they can as of now.  Have to be impressed with Gard.  Should have beaten Kansas. Essegian can not be left open, reminds of Herro with a better shot, confidence off the charts.  Difference maker. 

[GoldenEagles03]

BC

This definitely is a good week to judge the progress of the program and we will see what happens. I stated, with confidence, T think they will be competitive with Baylor and have a chance to win the game and will beat UW on Saturday. What are your thoughts on the two upcoming games?

I know I am in the minority on here, but I think this team is further along than they were a year ago. IMO there more pieces to this team and the defense is far advanced over last year.

2 completely different challenges.  Baylor is just flat out better. UW is better at finding ways to win.

I think Baylor will be a comfortable loss, meaning they pretty much go wire to wire against us.  We will probably have a lead against UW at some point, and it will come down to how we finish. Last year we lead shortly after halftime in Madison and just completely folded to their ability to close.

[MU82]

We will see where the program is after this week, both games will be tough, time to win a game against a good team.  Last year at this time UCLA came in and it was total blow out.

After getting blown out by UCLA, and then following with losses in our first three conference games, one might have thought we would have seen where the program was -- and it sure seemed things were in rough shape.

But we ended up having a great January and making the NCAA Tournament despite having gotten blown out by UCLA.

Yep. This is kinda a make or break it week for the team.

Last season, when we went 1-5 from Dec. 4 to Jan. 1, it looked like a make-or-break month for us ... with the verdict being that we were broken.

Until we weren't.

UW is better at finding ways to win.

Unless the opposing coach is Wojo.

Gard and Bo managed to "find ways to win" only 3 times in 7 attempts against The Worst Coach in Basketball History.

[Lennys Tap]

Unless the opposing coach is Wojo.

Gard and Bo managed to "find ways to win" only 3 times in 7 attempts against The Worst Coach in Basketball History.

Yet another proof of God's existence and the fact that miracles do happen - thanks, Mike!

[Dr. Blackheart]

After getting blown out by UCLA, and then following with losses in our first three conference games, one might have thought we would have seen where the program was -- and it sure seemed things were in rough shape.

But we ended up having a great January and making the NCAA Tournament despite having gotten blown out by UCLA.

Last season, when we went 1-5 from Dec. 4 to Jan. 1, it looked like a make-or-break month for us ... with the verdict being that we were broken.

Until we weren't.
Unless the opposing coach is Wojo.

Gard and Bo managed to "find ways to win" only 3 times in 7 attempts against The Worst Coach in Basketball History.

And, Bo was so embarrassed he lost, he retired the next day.

I wonder how Zags Scoop is doing today?

[jfp61]

And, Bo was so embarrassed he lost, he retired the next day.

I wonder how Zags Scoop is doing today?

Bo Ryan quit on the badgers after the university conspired against his mistress for him.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Bo Ryan quit on the badgers after the university conspired against his mistress for him.

Everyone, including his family, knew he was banging tail all over the state. That wasn't enough embarrassment to quit. Losing to Wojo, though?  That was not only enough to quit but to high tail it out of the state like Napoleon to Elba.