[Paint Touches] What does OMax' decision mean for MU?

[pux90mex]

Lower floor. Same ceiling.

https://painttouches.com/2023/05/26/what-does-omax-decision-to-stay-in-the-nba-draft-mean-for-marquette/

[tower912]

Other than disagreeing with the notion that Ross can guard a 4, I really like this.   Thanks.

[Jay Bee]

Also, this is a good reminder that things can change, resulting in more opportunity. Could a Jop or Gokd or whoever be concerned with playing time? Sure. Very quickly, more minutes can become available at your current school… or disappear at a new school, should you transfer.

#Retention

Believe in yourself, love the program you’re in, and things will often work out just fine

[MUfan12]

Other than disagreeing with the notion that Ross can guard a 4, I really like this.   Thanks.

Not for extended periods of time, but he's solid enough to hold his own on a switch.

[tower912]

Yes.  However, it was being discussed in the context of a 4 guard set.   So, for the sake of argument, Chase, Kam Stevie, and Tyler are the 4 guards.   The opponent has a 6'10 post, a 6'8 wing, and three guards.  Who guards the 6'8 wing?  Who switches?  How is the rebounding.affected?

[Jay Bee]

How is the rebounding.affected?

DReb can’t be much worse, hey

[tower912]

We can hope.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Also, this is a good reminder that things can change, resulting in more opportunity. Could a Jop or Gokd or whoever be concerned with playing time? Sure. Very quickly, more minutes can become available at your current school… or disappear at a new school, should you transfer.

#Retention

Believe in yourself, love the program you’re in, and things will often work out just fine

Who? There's no one named Gokd on the roster. 

[MUfan12]

Yes.  However, it was being discussed in the context of a 4 guard set.   So, for the sake of argument, Chase, Kam Stevie, and Tyler are the 4 guards.   The opponent has a 6'10 post, a 6'8 wing, and three guards.  Who guards the 6'8 wing?  Who switches?  How is the rebounding.affected?

If last year was any indication they all will at some point. Assuming Shaka rolls with the returning guys, this is what I'm most interested in going into next year. OMax unlocked a lot of things defensively that will be hard to replicate. Does the staff adjust by playing a little more vanilla? Ben got cooked whenever he got switched out on the perimeter last year. Jop isn't terribly quick laterally either.

I'm skeptical as well of seeing four guard lineups for anything other than a few possessions.

[MU82]

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic now has Prosper at #25 on his board, but he also says Marquette is still a top-10 team even without O-Max.

[jfp61]

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic now has Prosper at #25 on his board, but he also says Marquette is still a top-10 team even without O-Max.

i mean... yes, but their is a difference between 3/4 and 9/10/11.

I get why people would be bummed out.

granted, i think omax's decision was obvious

[Jay Bee]

i mean... yes, but their is a difference between 3/4 and 9/10/11.

There

[MuggsyB]

Shaka is looking for the right replacement.  It's a loss but we will be fine and may get a hammer addition. 

[Goose]

Muggsy

The right addition will raise the ceiling.

[cheebs09]

Muggsy

The right addition will raise the ceiling.

That could be true, but I find it hard to get a higher ceiling than OMax would have given us. We are a national title contender with him. I think we can still be with a solid transfer.

Although, I don’t know how we’d be able to raise the ceiling with a transfer versus an NBA prospect that would be in his 3rd year in the program.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy

The right addition will raise the ceiling.

I'm disappointed but I'm sure Shaka anticipated this.  I believe the opportunity will be there to find a nice addition to our roster. 

[jfp61]

Muggsy

The right addition will raise the ceiling.

Yes, Julian Philips would raise the ceiling.


Any other addition. Would raise the floor

[The Lens]

I'm not concerned filling the hole from within, bc it's the only hole we have to fill.  If Oso left and Kam transferred then the draft & develop plan gets exposed but one roster spot lost?  That's sustainable.  Gold, Jop & Ross will all make big strides year over year.

[brewcity77]

If the ceiling is the national championship, nothing has changed. We should still have a significantly better offense & while O-Max's one-on-one defense seems irreplaceable, there was also consternation about the defensive losses of Morsell & Kuath. We could still have improved team defense even without a designated stopper like O-Max.

That isn't to say this isn't a big loss. You don't lose a guy who's being projected as a starter & borderline first round draft pick and not consider it a loss. But the system and pieces have the ability to overcome it.

[MU82]

i mean... yes, but their is a difference between 3/4 and 9/10/11.

Right now, they are just numbers spat out as conversation pieces. Some argue that rankings are always meaningless; I'm not in that group but I'd certainly argue that rankings in May aren't very meaningful. We'll see what the rankings are -- and more importantly, how Marquette actually plays -- when we get into next season.

[Uncle Rico]

I’m afraid Marquette will be in a lot of trap games now

[GB Warrior]

How lucky are we that we get to bring the BE 6th man into the starting lineup so Gold can be next year's 6th man

[cheebs09]

How lucky are we that we get to bring the BE 6th man into the starting lineup so Gold can be next year's 6th man

It appears you spelled Chase Ross wrong. 🚀 🚀 🚀

[bilsu]

What was our final defensive ranking last year?
A good coach adjusts his team to the talent he has.
Maybe we play a more solid halfcourt defense.
I understand the value of having Prosper cover all over the floor, but it does not necessarily mean our defense overall will not be better without him.

[MU82]

I understand the value of having Prosper cover all over the floor, but it does not necessarily mean our defense overall will not be better without him.

Yeah, but it doesn't not not mean that it won't not be not better, either.

[lawdog77]

Yeah, but it doesn't not not mean that it won't not be not better, either.

This statement has me all tied up in nots

[tower912]

I don't know if it is defensible.

[MuggsyB]

I'm most excited to see the development of our Frosh and do think Jop is more than capable of stepping it up.  Let's also not forget the potential for Leviathan seasons for Oso, Kam, and Tyko.  I think this team will be just fine and highly, highly, motivated. 

[Shooter McGavin]

I’m afraid Marquette will be in a lot of trap games now

That’s my biggest fear as well Rico.

[Herman Cain]

Omax going pro is a very good thing for MU Program. We have depth who will get more opportunities. Signals to recruits they are in a good place with their basketball career if they choose MU.

Also can't look at O Max leaving in a vacuum, there are going to be approximately 60-70 ( depending on how many foreign are drafted) players  leaving other college programs.

 

[bilsu]

Yeah, but it doesn't not not mean that it won't not be not better, either.

won't not?

[muwarrior69]

Yeah, but it doesn't not not mean that it won't not be not better, either.

This statement has me all tied up in nots

82 for Vice President!

[Scoop Snoop]

Yeah, but it doesn't not not mean that it won't not be not better, either.

To be, or not to be. That is the question.

[The Lens]

I'm most excited to see the development of our Frosh and do think Jop is more than capable of stepping it up. 

The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.

— Al McGuire

[79Warrior]

The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.

— Al McGuire

Oddly enough, during a fair amount of Al's career Freshmen were not eligible to play. I think that came into effect in 1972.

[Shooter McGavin]

Very good article.  Thanks for your work.

[bilsu]

Oddly enough, during a fair amount of Al's career Freshmen were not eligible to play. I think that came into effect in 1972.

Tatum was the first player eligible to play as a freshman.
Al originally said the best thing about sophomores was they became juniors. Changed when freshmen became eligible.

[We R Final Four]

Shaka is looking for the right replacement.  It's a loss but we will be fine and may get a hammer addition.

He is? Where? From his current roster? Yes.