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

[El Guerrero 2]

Good for OMAX if he makes it in the league, but I remain constant in my view that he was the weakest link among the starters last year.  Tough to replace his length but considering that he spent 40% of his time on his butt, that length was often not available for use. 

Next man up.

I get that OMax was frustrating at times, but you appear to give him no credit for guarding our opponent’s best player every night.

[tower912]

Falling up, now.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I get that OMax was frustrating at times, but you appear to give him no credit for guarding our opponent’s best player every night.

IIRC, Warriorfan was of the belief that OMax was a poor defender. He was very lonely on that hill.

[WarriorFan]

IIRC, Warriorfan was of the belief that OMax was a poor defender. He was very lonely on that hill.

Yes, and that he only had good offensive nights against bad teams.

I'm just saying, MU might even be better without him.  5 guys who stay home on D, don't get lost, guard their man, make the right rotations... 

I'm going to own my position... when he makes the all-star team I'll admit I was wrong.

[genious expert]

Yes, and that he only had good offensive nights against bad teams.

I'm just saying, MU might even be better without him.  5 guys who stay home on D, don't get lost, guard their man, make the right rotations... 

I'm going to own my position... when he makes the all-star team I'll admit I was wrong.

O-Max was the leading scorer against Baylor and Michigan State.

[wadesworld]

Yes, and that he only had good offensive nights against bad teams.

I'm just saying, MU might even be better without him.  5 guys who stay home on D, don't get lost, guard their man, make the right rotations... 

I'm going to own my position... when he makes the all-star team I'll admit I was wrong.

So you think Kolek, Kam, Stevie, and Oso will make NBA All Star teams in their basketball careers?

[barfolomew]

One should not explain the forest to a dog that barks up the wrong tree.

I'm happy for O-Max showing out at the combine, because landing with an NBA team is the best possible outcome of leaving MU with remaining eligibility.

That said, for this season's team, it does leave a hole.
The good news is that hole is fillable in several ways:

1) Chase Ross
2) Ben Gold
3) Impact Transfer
4) Stevie Mitchell's Report Card
5) Ben Gold on Chase Ross' shoulders

My personal opinion is that Shaka rides with the guys he has, and Stevie's Report Card ends up redshirting (cuz it's on the 5.0 year plan).

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Comparing anything to Morrow, especially his last year when he stunk and then quit on the team I sure read as a negative.  And a cheap shot on a freshman who played well and showed a lot of upside when given the opportunity.   Plus was trusted by Shaka all season, no matter the opponent or game situation.

It read remotely nothing like a cheap shot.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'm going to own my position... when he makes the all-star team I'll admit I was wrong.

 

[MU82]

Yes, and that he only had good offensive nights against bad teams.

I'm just saying, MU might even be better without him.  5 guys who stay home on D, don't get lost, guard their man, make the right rotations... 

I'm going to own my position... when he makes the all-star team I'll admit I was wrong.

You're already wrong, and most of this is just silly.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Good for OMAX if he makes it in the league, but I remain constant in my view that he was the weakest link among the starters last year.  Tough to replace his length but considering that he spent 40% of his time on his butt, that length was often not available for use. 

Next man up.

Boum and Hawkins opinions probably differ.

[brewcity77]

I'm just saying, MU might even be better without him.

They might well be, but it won't be because he's gone. Joplin or Gold could become an all-Big East forward. Chase could go from seventh man to the lottery pick off the bench. Tyler and Oso could continue to improve to the point where the only BEPOY question is which Marquette player is more deserving. One of the freshmen could be the rare sub-50 recruit that puts up a first round draft pick season, like Taylor Hendricks did for UCF. Or we could add a transfer that mitigates the loss.

We could be better without O-Max, but I'm positive we won't be better because he isn't here.

[We R Final Four]

Chase could go from seventh man to the lottery pick off the bench.

Really? Yeah

[jfp61]

5 guys who stay home on D, don't get lost, guard their man, make the right rotations... 

Wait one second.... So Joplin is supposed to help with these things. 

[Jay Bee]

Ed Morrow couldn’t play for us now because he excels at rebounding

Wasn’t there a chase down block he had Vs uw Madison? Can someone find the clip online? I might be imagining this; lots of ribs yesterday

[TSmith34, Inc.]

There was a chase down block...however, it occurred AFTER he let Happ get completely away from him.

[lawdog77]

I get that OMax was frustrating at times, but you appear to give him no credit for guarding our opponent’s best player every night.

Except he didnt do that every game. Stevie handled that duty some nights as well.

[jfp61]

Ed Morrow couldn’t play for us now because he excels at rebounding

Wasn’t there a chase down block he had Vs uw Madison? Can someone find the clip online? I might be imagining this; lots of ribs yesterday

high blk%

[dgies9156]

All right, I'm happy for OMax and hope he has a wonderful professional career.

I can't say I'm not disappointed a little though. I was hoping he would be back next year. It seems like every time we get to the edge of something really good, something like this happens. From Dwyane Wade leaving with one year left (don't blame him), to Vander Blue, to OMax and, going back, to Jim Chones and Maurice Lucas, we're on the cusp of something special and then someone turns pro.

If Blue stayed (and he should have), we would have been something special. Instead, we had a middling team with no point guard.

If Chones and Lucas had stayed, there would be at least one and maybe two more banners hanging next to 1977.

If Wade had stayed one more year, there might be yet another banner!

I get this is the way of the world and I get that NBA millions is worth leaving school. But as a die-hard Warrior, I really wanted a chance at another Final Four next year. We might still get it -- in Shaka I Trust -- but darn, it will be a little harder.

[MUfan12]

If Blue stayed (and he should have), we would have been something special. Instead, we had a middling team with no point guard.

If Chones and Lucas had stayed, there would be at least one and maybe two more banners hanging next to 1977.

If Wade had stayed one more year, there might be yet another banner!

I get this is the way of the world and I get that NBA millions is worth leaving school. But as a die-hard Warrior, I really wanted a chance at another Final Four next year. We might still get it -- in Shaka I Trust -- but darn, it will be a little harder.

I wasn't around for Chones or Lucas, but I don't know if I agree on Vander/Wade.

That 03-04 team was an absolute trainwreck. Chemistry was awful, the freshmen raised all sorts of hell. They definitely make the tournament with Wade, but also never really replaced big Rob.

in 13-14 Buzz had one foot out the door. It's hard to say if Vander could have played point effectively enough to get them over the hump in those close games they lost.

[Scoop Snoop]

All right, I'm happy for OMax and hope he has a wonderful professional career.

I can't say I'm not disappointed a little though. I was hoping he would be back next year. It seems like every time we get to the edge of something really good, something like this happens. From Dwyane Wade leaving with one year left (don't blame him), to Vander Blue, to OMax and, going back, to Jim Chones and Maurice Lucas, we're on the cusp of something special and then someone turns pro.

If Blue stayed (and he should have), we would have been something special. Instead, we had a middling team with no point guard.

If Chones and Lucas had stayed, there would be at least one and maybe two more banners hanging next to 1977.

If Wade had stayed one more year, there might be yet another banner!

I get this is the way of the world and I get that NBA millions is worth leaving school. But as a die-hard Warrior, I really wanted a chance at another Final Four next year. We might still get it -- in Shaka I Trust -- but darn, it will be a little harder.

I hear you dgies, but of course every team in the NCAA has to deal with the early exits. However, with the way Shaka is building his teams-synergy is the best word I can come up with-we may have an edge vs. other teams. Our other 4 starters are coming back. I think this will be the pattern going forward- maybe lose one (hopefully not two) per year from a strong team but have our remaining players stay on. Maybe I am being naive, but I think that along with the understandable draw of making money as a pro somewhere, some players who are either "just OK" or unhappy with their teammates and coaches are a little more likely to leave their school.,

[El Guerrero 2]

From Dwyane Wade leaving with one year left (don't blame him), to Vander Blue, to OMax and, going back, to Jim Chones and Maurice Lucas, we're on the cusp of something special and then someone turns pro.

If Blue stayed (and he should have), we would have been something special. Instead, we had a middling team with no point guard.

If Chones and Lucas had stayed, there would be at least one and maybe two more banners hanging next to 1977.

If Wade had stayed one more year, there might be yet another banner!

Dwelling on Wade going pro in 2003 makes about as much sense as fretting about why Wemby hasn’t committed to Shaka yet. Blue’s decision to go pro was frustrating because it was obvious that he needed to show out for another year in order to get drafted, but that’s the risk you take when cheering for a bunch of 20 year old basketball players. And we might not have the ‘77 banner if Al doesn’t demonstrate his unconditional support of his players by backing Chones going to the ABA.

I’m mostly glad that we’re back to the point where we have to worry about our players leaving school early… it’s a good problem to have.

[4everwarriors]

82 for Vice President!

Nah, slide 'im right into da Buffoon's spot. We'd all sleep a little better, hey?

[StillAWarrior]

It's inevitable that teams these days are going to lose players. It may be disappointing, but if we're losing them to the NBA, things are trending in the right direction.

Good luck, OMax! Thanks for being a Warrior!

[bilsu]

We would be better with Omax.
However, I think we are fine without Omax.