2023 Team Outlook

[brewcity77]

From my Twitter thread:

In his first 36 games for #mubb, Kam Jones shot 21 free throws w 254 field goal attempts, a miserable 8.7% free throw rate.

In his last 4 games, Jones shot 17 FTs w 45 FGA. That 37.8% FTR would've ranked top-10 in the Big East last year. Amazing improvement by Kam & the staff.
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The impact on his offensive rating also seems to benefit. 19 of Kam's 20 FTA came in 5 games, all w multiple FTA. Just 1 FT in the other 4 games. The difference in staggering in AdjORtg.

2+ FTs: 108, 136, 137, 145, 165 (19.8 ppg)

0-1 FTs: 72, 89, 98, 101 (10.0 ppg)
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When Kam attacks, which the staff clearly wants him to do, he's an efficiency & scoring monster. Check his shooting as well:

2+ FTs: 70.3 eFG% / 48.7 3PFG%
0-1 FTs: 39.2 eFG% / 19.2 3PFG%

It's small sample size, but when Kam is attacking, he gets Howard-level video game stats.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Kam has definitely shown better shot selection over the last few games. Probing the defense, driving to the basket, and taking open 3s when they come.

No longer forcing 25+ footers.

[Shooter McGavin]

Kam has definitely shown better shot selection over the last few games. Probing the defense, driving to the basket, and taking open 3s when they come.

No longer forcing 25+ footers.

He keeps doing this, MU better be ready to pay the man.  Don’t need to be a farm system for blue bloods. 

[Newsdreams]

He keeps doing this, MU better be ready to pay the man.  Don’t need to be a farm system for blue bloods.

Already know there are contacts, offers, he GOWNE

[Spotcheck Billy]

A new article from Steele today.

Marquette's Keeyan Itejere patiently waiting until he can make the leap to contributor

[Shooter McGavin]

A new article from Steele today.

Marquette's Keeyan Itejere patiently waiting until he can make the leap to contributor

Nice article.  Hope he continues to get stronger and develop his basketball skills.

[GoldenEagles03]

A new article from Steele today.

Marquette's Keeyan Itejere patiently waiting until he can make the leap to contributor

Not many kids like Keeyan anymore that are willing to see things through when playing time isn't there.  That's how winners are built.  If he's a contributor it'll be because he earned it and he has some great skills.  Excited to see him continue to develop.

[tower912]

Shaka has said multiple times that Keeyan is in year 2 of a 5 year plan.   The kid is so athletic.   Been described by his teammates as the decathlete of the team.  Yes, I think we all would like for him to be able to give us more this season.  Ah, well.

Keep up the hard work and positivity, young man.

[GoldenEagles03]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9B1mhgjlA/?igshid=MTg0ZDhmNDA=

The days of Oso going unnoticed are over.  He's going to start showing up on draft radars.  Enjoy him while we can!

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9B1mhgjlA/?igshid=MTg0ZDhmNDA=

The days of Oso going unnoticed are over.  He's going to start showing up on draft radars.  Enjoy him while we can!

Some of the NBA draft guys on Twitter had Oso on their deep sleeper list heading into the season.

Right now, Oso's complete lack of a jumpshot is holding down his draft stock. Otherwise he might already be showing up on 2nd round mocks.

Coleman Hawkins of Illinois (and one time Marquette target) has a lot of the same skills that Oso has and Hawkins is starting to show up as an early 2nd pick in several mocks. But Hawkins has made 11 threes on 34.4% shooting, which is just enough to make him draftable. 

[MU82]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9B1mhgjlA/?igshid=MTg0ZDhmNDA=

The days of Oso going unnoticed are over.  He's going to start showing up on draft radars.  Enjoy him while we can!

Among the commenters in that Insta thread: Oso and Akanno.

[wadesworld]

Nobody is looking for a 6'9" guy who has yet to shoot a 3 pointer in his career, can't score outside 5 feet, and is shooting 36% from the free throw line.  He has a couple years to develop his game, but he will not be on any NBA draft boards this year.

[tower912]

Oso does a lot of great things.   Until he has range on his jumper, the NBA doesn't care.   So let us enjoy his development.

[Jay Bee]

Oso also has a baby usage rate

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Nobody is looking for a 6'9" guy who has yet to shoot a 3 pointer in his career, can't score outside 5 feet, and is shooting 36% from the free throw line.  He has a couple years to develop his game, but he will not be on any NBA draft boards this year.

And not big enough to be a rim protecting center.

[The Equalizer]

Some of the NBA draft guys on Twitter had Oso on their deep sleeper list heading into the season.

Right now, Oso's complete lack of a jumpshot is holding down his draft stock. Otherwise he might already be showing up on 2nd round mocks.

Given Shaka's publicly stated encouragement of 3-point attempts, it's odd that Oso has never attempted one over his career to date. You would think at some point he'd have been curious and let one fly.

He came to MU with a reputation as a decent 3-point and midrange shooter
https://247sports.com/player/osasere-ighodaro-46083527/

[tower912]

Waiting for a Theo John-like 3 pt outburst.

[Shooter McGavin]

He gets a jumper and sky's the limit for him.  Surprised he hasn’t developed one and is shooting poorly from the FT line this year.

[Viper]

Oso does a lot of great things.   Until he has range on his jumper, the NBA doesn't care.   So let us enjoy his development.

to get range on that jumper, he needs a jumper. Perplexing to me the lack of range.

[GoldenEagles03]

The craziest part is that he was a good shooter with a good shot in high school.  He never hesitated to shoot it either, but didn't shoot too much because it was so easy for him to get to the rim.  Not sure how he lost his shot.

https://youtu.be/8Z2068pEULU

[panda]

The craziest part is that he was a good shooter with a good shot in high school.  He never hesitated to shoot it either, but didn't shoot too much because it was so easy for him to get to the rim.  Not sure how he lost his shot.

https://youtu.be/8Z2068pEULU

Maybe he should go back to high school

[82fanatic]

Not many kids like Keeyan anymore that are willing to see things through when playing time isn't there.  That's how winners are built.  If he's a contributor it'll be because he earned it and he has some great skills.  Excited to see him continue to develop.

“Itejere shares the program record with a 36.5 standing vertical jump”.  Is that with Dominic?   Crazy, add 10 inches to James!

[brewcity77]

Among the commenters in that Insta thread: Oso and Akanno.

Jose Perez jumping in too.

[GoldenEagles03]

Maybe he should go back to high school

The competition isn't the point, the jump shot is.

His jumper in high school looked really smooth.  His shot now looks broken.  Maybe just outgrew his touch.

I'm perfectly fine with his current production but he could sling it in HS.

[panda]

The competition isn't the point, the jump shot is.

His jumper in high school looked really smooth.  His shot now looks broken.  Maybe just outgrew his touch.

I'm perfectly fine with his current production but he could sling it in HS.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q0rSbR80GQk

This was the level of competition oso played in hs