2023-2024 Expectations

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Kinda wonder if Wrightsil will then be back since he hasn't found a landing spot yet.

Based on Shaka's approach this would seem to make the most sense.  And if Wrightsil is healthy and can help provide depth, and some additional rebounding and defense I'm all for it. 

[The Sultan]

Agreed because I am not confident in either Joplin or Gold defensively.

[Goose]

I am fine with whomever Shaka decides to take Omax's spot, but I think it needs to be filled. I agree with Sultan on the defensive front with Joplin and Gold.

[MUfan12]

Agreed because I am not confident in either Joplin or Gold defensively.

Yep. If they want to switch everything that's gonna put those two in a tough spot. Just not quick enough laterally to stay in front.

[tower912]

Yep. If they want to switch everything that's gonna put those two in a tough spot. Just not quick enough laterally to stay in front.

Yet.  We all learned last summer that the staff works hard on development.   I look forward to seeing Joplin's and Gold's development.

[MuggsyB]

OMax is gone, Chucky is gone from UW, Moore is gone from Nova to play with Dickenson at Maryland, we have 0 chance to beat UCONN, etc.

Maybe just let the process play out a bit before making definitive statements on things.

What do you mean we have zero chance to beat UCONN?  This is utter nonsense.

[MuggsyB]

Alright since everyone assumes OMax is gone where are we on a hammer transfer that can defend multiple positions?

[jfp61]

I guess you can say it is an outlier but Vecenie is pretty good at this.

OMax is gone and he deserves it.

Joplin time!

I'm hoping Ben Gold time. WAY higher ceiling.

[Its DJOver]

What do you mean we have zero chance to beat UCONN?  This is utter nonsense.

Bias is pointing out that GE03 has a tendency to make extreme and premature predictions.

OMax may be gone, OMax may stay.  I don't know, and I doubt anyone here does either.

[Scoop Snoop]

Yet.  We all learned last summer that the staff works hard on development.   I look forward to seeing Joplin's and Gold's development.

This is what I have been thinking also. Based upon last year's development by the staff, I think there will be noticeable improvement. As I said in an earlier post (in different words), the "replace Omax with a high-level transfer" is the way to go....if your coach is not Shaka. No way can Omax's likely departure can be casually blown off as no big deal. It IS a big deal. Let's hope that the off-season skill development is another very pleasant surprise come November. I think it will be.

[tower912]

It is.  A year ago Justin's departure was a big deal.   Shortly thereafter I jumped on or started (cannot remember if Goose or I said it first and it really doesn't matter) the OMax to the NBA train.

So, if he goes, MU will be out an NBA talent.   That always hurts a little.   And I will worry about depth up front.   But there is a lot of talent returning.

[lawdog77]

Alright since everyone assumes OMax is gone where are we on a hammer transfer that can defend multiple positions?

Do you listen to Shaka at all? Not happening. He's riding with his guys.

[jfp61]

Do you listen to Shaka at all? Not happening. He's riding with his guys.

It could happen, that staff has tried quietly. I don't think it will happen. We offered some transfers a chance to make the rotation, we just don't offer starting spots like everyone else. Especially with guys like Ross, Joplin, and Gold being ready to make jumps.

All of the guys they talked to 1. would not upset the team chemistry, and 2. actually actually  improve the team.

I know they talked to these 4 guys.

Andrew Rohde, Now a UVA starter. (former teammate of Joplins, and talked to him right before he went to St. Thomas too)
Tyrese Samuel, Now a Florida 6th man/starter who gets to play the 4. (know big east player from Montreal, Canada, like OMAX)
Jahmyl Telfort, now one of Butlers best players. (also from Montreal, Canada, like OMAX and knows him well)
Aly Khalifa, now a focal point for BYU. (pass first big from the NBA Academy in Australia like Ben Gold)

None of them were needs. They just would have fit whats already here and would have not needed minutes, but could play minutes if they had too.

[StillAWarrior]

I guess you can say it is an outlier but Vecenie is pretty good at this.

For the record, there was a question mark at the end of my outlier comment. I don't really follow the mock drafts very closely at all -- don't even know who Vecenie is or how good or bad he is at such projections. But I did not find even one other mock draft that mentioned OMax. So, I was sincerely asking if others are projecting him to get drafted.

This isn't intended as a slight to OMax. I think he's great and would be surprised if he returned. But my original question remains: is there anyone else who is projecting OMax in mock drafts, much less "nearing 1st round territory"?

[StillAWarrior]

What do you mean we have zero chance to beat UCONN?  This is utter nonsense.

Oh, Muggsy. It must be difficult going through life so confused...with no ability to recognize sarcasm or context clues.

I'm sure there's a "things always go over your head" joke in there...but I'm not going to take that low-hanging fruit. I'll leave that for you. 

[Jay Bee]

I know they talked to these 4 guys.

Andrew Rohde, Now a UVA starter.

Source??

[rocky_warrior]

would have not needed minutes, but could play minutes if they had too.

Seems like an odd claim since they all went places where they would  get guaranteed minutes.

[DienerTime34]

I'm grateful for the Big East title & Big East Conference Champ this past season. Made the pain of a second-round NCAA exit more bearable than it would have been otherwise.

That said, this next season is ALL about the NCAAs for me. Whether we finish 1-5 in the Big East really makes no difference to me, or an early Conference Tournament exit, if we hit at least the S16.

That's what I would consider a successful season - a journey that takes us to the S16. Fall short, and it will have been a fun ride, but ultimately the season will have been a failure (even if Giannis wouldn't say so).

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It could happen, that staff has tried quietly. I don't think it will happen. We offered some transfers a chance to make the rotation, we just don't offer starting spots like everyone else. Especially with guys like Ross, Joplin, and Gold being ready to make jumps.

All of the guys they talked to 1. would not upset the team chemistry, and 2. actually actually  improve the team.

I know they talked to these 4 guys.

Andrew Rohde, Now a UVA starter. (former teammate of Joplins, and talked to him right before he went to St. Thomas too)
Tyrese Samuel, Now a Florida 6th man/starter who gets to play the 4. (know big east player from Montreal, Canada, like OMAX)
Jahmyl Telfort, now one of Butlers best players. (also from Montreal, Canada, like OMAX and knows him well)
Aly Khalifa, now a focal point for BYU. (pass first big from the NBA Academy in Australia like Ben Gold)

None of them were needs. They just would have fit whats already here and would have not needed minutes, but could play minutes if they had too.

[jfp61]

Source??

https://news.yahoo.com/charley-walters-way-too-early-213400565.html

Original source is a news paper in St. Paul Minnesota.

But also... local coaches was how i heard about MU liking him. They liked him before he even went to St. Thomas.

[jfp61]

Seems like an odd claim since they all went places where they would  get guaranteed minutes.

I shouldn't as "guaranteed", I am not privy to peoples exact pitches, but they were clearly more available than they would be at Marquette.

[Jay Bee]

https://news.yahoo.com/charley-walters-way-too-early-213400565.html

Original source is a news paper in St. Paul Minnesota.

But also... local coaches was how i heard about MU liking him. They liked him before he even went to St. Thomas.

Yeah, that guy is a dingbat. I did not read that to mean he knew MU was interested, rather an assumption from a guy that doesn't know jack about CBB. Can't trust that guy's little blurbs

[jfp61]

Yeah, that guy is a dingbat. I did not read that to mean he knew MU was interested, rather an assumption from a guy that doesn't know jack about CBB. Can't trust that guy's little blurbs

I would agree with you normally. His local coaches seemed to think MU was involved. I heard his top 4 was Creighton, Virginia, Gonzaga, and Marquette.

[JakeBarnes]

Yet.  We all learned last summer that the staff works hard on development.   I look forward to seeing Joplin's and Gold's development.

Jop looks leaner already. I think he's gonna make a big jump

[MarquetteMike1977]

they all went places where they would  get guaranteed minutes.

Was going to post on this last week. Agree with this and that Andrew should be a starter at Virginia. Am friends with the Parents and communicated with them recently but not about basketball. Mr Kevin Rhode Andrew's Dad was the UW kicker, not that, that mattered much. Jop played with Andrew in HS. It is my take Andrew was genuinely very interested in Marquette and so were his parents. BUT Marquette is loaded talent wise more than even Virginia. Andrew probably starts at Virginia and more Virginia minutes are available am guessing. Congratulated them and am happy for them.