Just My Opinion

[Elonsmusk]

I've been reading Scoop for a long time, and I'm not sure I've never read a paragraph quite like this one.

Just another example of how bowling has saved America, I guess.

Glad you're OK. We Are Marquette!

100%.  The visual of the Amazon driver handing the fallen shoveler a new bowling ball making all well in the world, while the fallen shoveler's wife was inside drinking egg nog?  Fantastic. 

[DoctorV]

I've been reading Scoop for a long time, and I'm not sure I've never read a paragraph quite like this one.

Just another example of how bowling has saved America, I guess.

Glad you're OK. We Are Marquette!

Indeed these Oilcan posts are definitely a slippery slope, pun intended, but the more the merrier!

Hope he’s not bruised up too badly, those muscles take a little longer to heal if you got to experience the Al era

[jfp61]

A year ago, when Wojo was still the coach, and when DJ Carton and Dawson Garcia were still on the team, I believed MU was 2 years away from really competing in the Big East and putting a team on the floor that could make the elite eight.

The pieces were there, but they had to learn to play together and grow. Adding Justin Lewis was so important to the team’s ability to score from many spots on the floor. In college basketball it all comes down to guards. DJ- check. Add a McDonald’s All American to run up the court and force the ball when he was a freshman? Check. And then Lewis comes in and you say, “It’s going to come together.”

At Marquette we have such expectations. We understand you don’t bring in a Wade or a Butler every year. But because athletes play at MU and go on to have great NBA careers (I watched Jae Crowder play today), I still believe that there is something in the water (or the beer) that turns a player that has an upside into a player that excels at his position. I know I’m rambling here.

What is my point? Smart walked in and lost DJ and the kid from Minnesota. Outside of those 3 Shaka had bench warmers and a couple of freshmen guards coming in. And they didn’t bail after the coaching change. I would give those freshman guards more pt. Stevie Mitchell can’t drive to the basket if he’s only getting one minute a game.

When he got more minutes he fumbled it off his leg and out of bounds.  He should be shooting 3s- he did that in high school. I saw it. And the kid from Iowa with the crazy hair should get more pt. He could be electric. None of the guards are exceptional.

I don’t expect MU to compete for another 2 years. I mean Big East Championship or Elite Eight. Smart will recruit well enough to improve the program. I have no doubt about that. Hey, we won big games already against good teams and we lost a few heart breakers.

Even though I understand we’re still 2 years away, my expectations are high. And no– Justin Lewis is not leaving next year.

edit: paragraphs are your friend.

If you're a top 40 pick, you should leave 9 times out of 10. Hes 35ish right now. Him getting drafted is only good for MU as a program. Wojo did it one time with a Mcdonalds all american game player, and he had 2 of them.

I am sure the transfer that comes in to his spot is nearly as good of a college player as him, but likely a less good pro prospect. And 2023 recruits commit to a program with real nba talent coming out of it.

[dgies9156]

I also remember a story when Al was coach. A player came to him and said I'm leaving after this year. And Al said why, you need another year. Not for me, not for Marquette, but you need to get better. And the player said "Coach, I don't have any food in my refrigerator." And Al said, "Go. Do it. And I'll do anything I can to help you."

The guy you are referring to with the refrigerator was Jim Chones. Mr. Chones was a 6'11" center who arguably was one of the top players in the NCAA. During the 1971-1972 season, the NBA and American Basketball Association were engaged in a player war and the ABA offered Mr. Chones a very large contract that would not be replicated once the war was over. Al saw his Dad's refrigerator and told Mr. Chones to take the contract.

I think you may be mixing the stories of Larry McNeill, who needed another year, and Al said so. McNeill probably did and his professional career in the United States was limited. He did, however, have a great career overseas.

The one poster who argued today is very different than the 1980s is right on the money. It's extremely different. Mr. Ellenson in another time probably would have been with MU for three years. I personally believe Wojo expected Henry to be with us two years, as the second year team was built for the kind of success an Ellenson driven team would have.

[Lennys Tap]

The guy you are referring to with the refrigerator was Jim Chones. Mr. Chones was a 6'11" center who arguably was one of the top players in the NCAA. During the 1971-1972 season, the NBA and American Basketball Association were engaged in a player war and the ABA offered Mr. Chones a very large contract that would not be replicated once the war was over. Al saw his Dad's refrigerator and told Mr. Chones to take the contract.

I think you may be mixing the stories of Larry McNeill, who needed another year, and Al said so. McNeill probably did and his professional career in the United States was limited. He did, however, have a great career overseas.

The one poster who argued today is very different than the 1980s is right on the money. It's extremely different. Mr. Ellenson in another time probably would have been with MU for three years. I personally believe Wojo expected Henry to be with us two years, as the second year team was built for the kind of success an Ellenson driven team would have.

Brother dgies

Your recollection of the Jim Chones and Larry McNeil situations is spot on.

Regarding Ellenson, everything I ever heard said his plan was always to be one and done. Hard to believe Wojo expected him to be here for two years.

[Goose]

Lenny

I am 99.9% certain that Wojo knew Henry was going to be a one and done. There should not have been any planning for a second year of Henry.

[MU82]

I personally believe Wojo expected Henry to be with us two years, as the second year team was built for the kind of success an Ellenson driven team would have.

Maybe Wojo thought that about Wally, but I doubt he thought it about Henry.

[leever]

Brother dgies

Your recollection of the Jim Chones and Larry McNeil situations is spot on.

Regarding Ellenson, everything I ever heard said his plan was always to be one and done. Hard to believe Wojo expected him to be here for two years.

Larry McNeil was a fine player for Marquette, but would not have been any better as a pro if he stayed 1 more year.  He was good in the then Continental Basketball Association and in Europe, but was never going to be an elite NBA star.  1 more year at Marquette would have helped Marquette, but not Larry.

[CountryRoads]

Maybe Wojo thought that about Wally, but I doubt he thought it about Henry.

I think the fact that Wally had 2 years of eligibility is the reason some think that Henry staying another year was “part of the deal.” Wojo did seem to abruptly change course and essentially cut Wally which seemingly caught the Ellenson’s off guard (smoke and mirrors).

Maybe it was always the plan to lie to Ellenson’s regarding Wally being here for 2 years. Or maybe Wally was much worse than Wojo expected and he had to cut bait.

In any case, it’s another example of Wojo being bit in the ass by recruiting brothers.

[Uncle Rico]

Maybe Wojo thought that about Wally, but I doubt he thought it about Henry.

The whole thing got blown up when he ran John Dawson off.  I heard he promised Henry he’d play with an elite PG for two years

[oilcan]

Thank you for the good wishes, my friends. I survived the snow bank episode and am resting comfortably. My wife said I should have listened to her when she said the National Weather Service issued an avalanche warning in my driveway. “Yes, dear. Of course you’re right dear.”

Let’s talk bb. And I won’t do any grousing tonight. The past is past. How do we get back to college bb relevance? What are the paths a team/program can take? Well, who’s always ranked int the top ten every year? Who wouldn’t want to sign 3 or 4 five star recruits every year like Duke & Kentucky? And it’s obvious these young men are going to be “one and done” and will move on because the money is there. I understand there are more opportunities in the NBA these days. I hear it here, and just this morning the Milwaukee paper had an article about it. I didn’t read it because you only get to read 5 articles a month unless you have a subscription. I not pulling out my credit card for that. People on this forum understand the changes and remind us why athletes come and go.

What is my point? How does Smart build a team that can win enough to meet the expectations we have, and resurrect our proud tradition? I’ll tell you right now. Duke and Kentucky don’t win championships. Gonzagna got rolled last year because Baylor had big guards who could defend the perimeter and shoot threes.  They pressed those Zags on the 3 point line chest to chest. And they could rebound.  They had better athletes. And they didn’t have 2 All Americans and Jalen Suggs. ?????  Villanova cut down the nets in 2016 and 2018 because Jay Wright learned the game from Rollie and knows how to adapt mid-game and finish out a game. That’s why he can sign some outstanding players. He has developed a culture where a player like Collin Gillespie comes back after a severe knee injury and doesn’t go pro– doesn’t even think about the risk he’s taking to play for what?  A championship in March. There have been many players in this program who practiced and played believing their effort would take them to the ladder under the rim when the game was over. And they would take their turn cutting down the net.

I don’t want a soft small forward who can shoot but can’t play defense. Unless you’re talking Bobby Dandridge or Jamal Wilkes. Give me Justin Lewis who is a power forward in a small forward body.

[JWags85]

I don’t want a soft small forward who can shoot but can’t play defense. Unless you’re talking Bobby Dandridge or Jamal Wilkes. Give me Justin Lewis who is a power forward in a small forward body.

Interesting cause I think in the modern game, toughness aside, you want a SF in a PF’s body