Concerns about the 23-24 team

[tower912]

First off, what a pleasure it is to have to really dig deep to find potential pitfalls.   Well deserving of the preseason accolades and certainly a potential final four team.  But we have to worry about something, so........
1.  Injuries.  Particularly up front, which leads to....
2.  Depth up front.   
3.  Gold and Joplin playing together.  Who guards the athletic wing, who guards the post?
4.  Finding minutes for all of the guards.
5.  Senioritis.   I don't worry about it too much due to what we have seen from Oso and TKo, but it could happen.
6.. Shaka coaching in the tournament.   Much like the 'February Fade' bullsht from last season, it is a thing until it is put in the rearview.  Some troll will bring it up about the time MU gets to 25 wins and starts thinking about how high their seed will be.


Honestly, I am only worried about 1 and 2.  If those two are avoided, it will be a great season.

[brewcity77]

I think defense in general is a potential concern. Per Hoop Explorer, our defensive points/100 possessions was 94.7 with O-Max on the floor and 105.0 with him off. Someone needs to step up to be that stopper, and no one has the combination of length and athleticism.

Last year I believed in team defense overcoming the losses of Morsell & Kuath, and to a point it did, but to contend for the title, our #43 defense probably needs to be in the top 20-25 range, which is a big jump without O-Max.

[NCMUFan]

Not a one.

[tower912]

I think defense in general is a potential concern. Per Hoop Explorer, our defensive points/100 possessions was 94.7 with O-Max on the floor and 105.0 with him off. Someone needs to step up to be that stopper, and no one has the combination of length and athleticism.

Last year I believed in team defense overcoming the losses of Morsell & Kuath, and to a point it did, but to contend for the title, our #43 defense probably needs to be in the top 20-25 range, which is a big jump without O-Max.

I think Oso spends time on the perimeter guarding wings, when the post isn't huge.   But yes, defense will need to improve.

[The Sultan]

Defense is why I think Chase eats into Joplin's minutes as the season goes on.

[Lennys Tap]

1. Per Tower, Injuries. We were very fortunate last year re injuries. Will things even themselves out this year?
2. Per Brew, Defense. OMax has left big shoes to fill.

TBH, every team is concerned with #1. We don't have nearly as many question marks as most of our opponents.

[tower912]

Agreed, Lenny.   MU has fewer concerns than most.

[We R Final Four]

My only real concern is Jop's D. Can he do enough on that end to allow him to stay on the court and go 5-7 from deep? Or, due to this inability, will Chase get more time.....better D at the expense of nailing 3 3s in a row?

[Dr. Blackheart]

My main question has been answered: Why didn't Shaka hit the transfer portal to replace OMax?

He has overachieved the past two years with two widely different stylistic teams and believes in his development from within philosophy. So, to me it will be fun to see his coaching system changes to this year's personnel and how he counters adjustments by other coaches? Jop, Gold and Zaide with Omax's minutes offer interesting possibilities and counters.

[warriorchick]

Some people just aren't happy unless they are miserable.

[Coleman]

Some people just aren't happy unless they are miserable.

First day on Scoop?

[brewcity77]

My main question has been answered: Why didn't Shaka hit the transfer portal to replace OMax?

He has overachieved the past two years with two widely different stylistic teams and believes in his development from within philosophy. So, to me it will be fun to see his coaching system changes to this year's personnel and how he counters adjustments by other coaches? Jop, Gold and Zaide with Omax's minutes offer interesting possibilities and counters.

Agree with this. I also think a significantly improved offense will help offset some of the potential defensive issues.

[PointWarrior]

First off, what a pleasure it is to have to really dig deep to find potential pitfalls.   Well deserving of the preseason accolades and certainly a potential final four team.  But we have to worry about something, so........
1.  Injuries.  Particularly up front, which leads to....
2.  Depth up front.   
3.  Gold and Joplin playing together.  Who guards the athletic wing, who guards the post?
4.  Finding minutes for all of the guards.
5.  Senioritis.   I don't worry about it too much due to what we have seen from Oso and TKo, but it could happen.
6.. Shaka coaching in the tournament.   Much like the 'February Fade' bullsht from last season, it is a thing until it is put in the rearview.  Some troll will bring it up about the time MU gets to 25 wins and starts thinking about how high their seed will be.


Honestly, I am only worried about 1 and 2.  If those two are avoided, it will be a great season.

7. Scoopers pointing out there are things to worry about this team...

[MUfan12]

1) Frontcourt Depth
2) Can Gold/Jop defend in space, or on guards when switched? Ben really struggled with it, and Jop improved some as the year went on. But unless Shaka changes his defensive scheme, they'll need to do it.
3) Avoiding the long FG droughts that put a bunch of pressure on them. Usually involves a bunch of quick shots when it happens... can they have the maturity to realize it and work to get a good look?
4) How much of last year was sustainable? It was such a huge leap that I'd be lying to you if I said part of me didn't think some regression was coming.

[jfp61]

Agree with this. I also think a significantly improved offense will help offset some of the potential defensive issues.

My issue with this is, is how "significantly improved" the offense can be.

On hoop ex, adjusted offensive efficiency was 119.8 last year, adjusted offensive efficiency with Omax was 124.8.

Our weakness in the offensive 4 factors are offensive rebounding and drawing fouls. One for one, Omax is better at both of those things than Joplin. Omax drew fouls at the highest rate on the team last year, and his average offensive rebounding was the third highest rate on the team.

Those factors increase with a dominant big. Timme, Garza, Banchero etc.  It is hard to improve those as a group.

I don't see the offense getting bad, but i don't know how it "significantly improves". Even if Joplin improves his efficiency  and if Mitchell creates for others a tiny bit more.

To me, there is more room to improve defensively even without OMax than there is to improve offensively without him.

Omax is a great defensive player, and forced missed shots constantly with the eye test. However numerically and box score wise his defensive numbers did not line up with the eye test. His defensive rebounding, blocks, and steals did not line up with the adjusted team defensive efficiency with him on the court.

Oso is the key to marquette this year.

[seakm4]

Live streams

[BCHoopster]

MU will have some defense issues this year with Omax leaving, but to many games last year Omax on offense was invisible.  Jop and Ross will both be better than on the offensive side.  Just concerned if Jop can be consistent.

[Herman Cain]

I am absolutely thrilled for the 23-24 Warrior Squad. We have eight returning rotation players. Four upperclassmen of which had some kind of All League recognition. Just got a whole lot of extra practices because of foreign trip. In total, that is a great base to work off of. Not many teams have as much going for them as us.

Should get something defensively out of one of the freshman early on, and maybe a second toward the end of the year. 

[panda]

The team defense will be around as good metrically as they were last year. Shaka's scheme with guys in the program for multiple years will more than make up for the loss of one player.

I want to say the offense will drop off a bit, but I don't think that's the case as long as Kolek maintains his high level of play he did down the back stretch. We have two elite shooters on the perimeter and a great passer out of the high post. Mitchell keeps defenses honest with his prime time cutting ability.

I don't see much weakness on this team and we'll *forget about Omax in no time

*much respect to his time here

[MU82]

I'm a little concerned that I don't have any big concerns about the upcoming season.

[Goose]

I said it earlier this summer, but I really do not have a great feel on this team going into the season. I think they have a chance to be very, very good, but too many unknowns for me at the moment. I think we will see some twists on defense and that will be the key to success. With the number of athletic guards/players on the team I think they are going to play faster on defense than the previous two years.

[MuggsyB]

First off, what a pleasure it is to have to really dig deep to find potential pitfalls.   Well deserving of the preseason accolades and certainly a potential final four team.  But we have to worry about something, so........
1.  Injuries.  Particularly up front, which leads to....
2.  Depth up front.   
3.  Gold and Joplin playing together.  Who guards the athletic wing, who guards the post?
4.  Finding minutes for all of the guards.
5.  Senioritis.   I don't worry about it too much due to what we have seen from Oso and TKo, but it could happen.
6.. Shaka coaching in the tournament.   Much like the 'February Fade' bullsht from last season, it is a thing until it is put in the rearview.  Some troll will bring it up about the time MU gets to 25 wins and starts thinking about how high their seed will be.


Honestly, I am only worried about 1 and 2.  If those two are avoided, it will be a great season.

Are you trying to increase my anxieties??  I have 0.0 concerns. 

[mugrad_89]

I'm concerned that the COLE crowd won't have much to post about this season.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

7. Scoopers pointing out there are things to worry about this team...

8. Were doomed no matter what good or bad happens.

[brewcity77]

My issue with this is, is how "significantly improved" the offense can be.

Expected this pushback. I think this offense could be remembered similar to 2015 Wisconsin, 2018 Villanova, and 2021 Gonzaga. We were elite at the rim and even without O-Max most of that production is back. And O-Max was a mediocre three point shooter. Joplin taking those shots should start to improve our long range accuracy and I think Kam, Ross, & Gold can all improve on their 3PFG% from last year.

I think we have historically good upside offensively, and the only obstacle I see to what should be the best offense in the country and one of the best of the kenpom era would be if Purdue sees more improvement from their sophomores than we do.