[Paint Touches] Big East programs ranked by NBA representation

[PaintTouches]

Saw this Q on Twitter so had to get my hands dirty.

https://painttouches.com/2024/04/17/big-east-programs-ranked-by-nba-representation-villanova-uconn-marquette/



If you want to sort any of the metrics yourself, also built a quick interactive dashboard: https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/13c7cd58-3137-48e7-a919-040d6f948cdc

[muwarrior97]

Myles Powell is really angry reading this 

[MarquetteDano]

Good stuff.  Thank you for posting this.

[Shaka Shart]

It's very funny how easily you can pick out Gordon Hayward

[cven7]

It's very funny how easily you can pick out Gordon Hayward

And even funnier because Gordon Hayward didn't play in the Big East

[#UnleashSean]

Marquette has had 9 in the past 5 seasons? Pretty crazy considering what the program looked like 3-10 years ago.

Soooo...

1. Jimmy Butler
2. Wesley Matthews
3. Markus Howard
4. Sam Hauser
5. Juan Anderson
6. Dwight Buycks(?)
7. Henry Ellenson
8. Deonte Burton(?)
9. Justin Lewis(?)

Completely off the top of my head.

Edit: Wow I missed OMP... So replace Justin Lewis (I'm guessing he never got into an nba game) with OMP. And I somehow blanked completely on Crowder.

[MUfan12]

Lewis hasn't played in a regular season game.

Add Jamal Cain too.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Marquette has had 9 in the past 5 seasons? Pretty crazy considering what the program looked like 3-10 years ago.

Soooo...

1. Jimmy Butler
2. Wesley Matthews
3. Markus Howard
4. Sam Hauser
5. Juan Anderson
6. Dwight Buycks(?)
7. Henry Ellenson
8. Deonte Burton(?)
9. Justin Lewis(?)

Completely off the top of my head.

Edit: Wow I missed OMP... So replace Justin Lewis (I'm guessing he never got into an nba game) with OMP. And I somehow blanked completely on Crowder.

You missed Crowder, OMP, Cain, and DJ Carton. Remove Hauser, Buycks, Burton , and Lewis.

The site Andrei used counts where a player graduated from (or last played for) so Cain counts for us but Hauser/Burton don't

[GoldenEagles03]

You missed Crowder, OMP, Cain, and DJ Carton. Remove Hauser, Buycks, Burton , and Lewis.

The site Andrei used counts where a player graduated from (or last played for) so Cain counts for us but Hauser/Burton don't

Why wouldn't Buycks count?

[DoctorV]

Lewis and Prosper got "the bag" as the kids would call it these days but it seems hard to believe that their long term pro prospects were helped by leaving early.

Injuries can obviously happen anywhere, so that sucks. It's also super early, and I get that.

You hear all the time that if a guy can develop in college he can develop in the nba, it's a full time gig and the coaching and training is way better.
You see these Villanova guys finding their way in NY though, and guys in the ilk of Jimmy Butler, and you wonder if sticking with an elite coach in college isn't sometimes the best long term career strategy...

I'm not talking about this bounce around stuff either, I just mean life long lessons with someone that wants your best for now and for life

[wadesworld]

Lewis and Prosper got "the bag" as the kids would call it these days but it seems hard to believe that their long term pro prospects were helped by leaving early.

Injuries can obviously happen anywhere, so that sucks. It's also super early, and I get that.

You hear all the time that if a guy can develop in college he can develop in the nba, it's a full time gig and the coaching and training is way better.
You see these Villanova guys finding their way in NY though, and guys in the ilk of Jimmy Butler, and you wonder if sticking with an elite coach in college isn't sometimes the best long term career strategy...

I'm not talking about this bounce around stuff either, I just mean life long lessons with someone that wants your best for now and for life

[DoctorV]

I know, staying in school when you can get paid now is an insane take in 2024, when everyone is already getting paid anyway...

All I'm saying is that jumping early isn't as sure fire an argument as some make it out to be

[The Sultan]

Ya think OMax regrets his decision at all? Not a chance.

[#UnleashSean]

The site Andrei used counts where a player graduated from (or last played for) so Cain counts for us but Hauser/Burton don't

Darn! I might have been better had I known that part!

[#UnleashSean]

and guys in the ilk of Jimmy Butler, and you wonder if sticking with an elite coach in college isn't sometimes the best long term career strategy...

Jimmy improved an incredible amount in the NBA. He was not an nba allstar at Marquette.

[Lennys Tap]

Jimmy improved an incredible amount in the NBA. He was not an nba allstar at Marquette.

Yes he improved - but...

1. He was a star at MU
2. He was a first round draft choice.

[DoctorV]

I get that it was an isolated incident, but which single coach was the most instrumental in Jimmys life long journey as a successful basketball player?

You won't find that coach anywhere in the NBA.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Why wouldn't Buycks count?

Because his last appearance in an NBA game was more than 5 seasons ago

[GoldenEagles03]

Lewis and Prosper got "the bag" as the kids would call it these days but it seems hard to believe that their long term pro prospects were helped by leaving early.

Injuries can obviously happen anywhere, so that sucks. It's also super early, and I get that.

You hear all the time that if a guy can develop in college he can develop in the nba, it's a full time gig and the coaching and training is way better.
You see these Villanova guys finding their way in NY though, and guys in the ilk of Jimmy Butler, and you wonder if sticking with an elite coach in college isn't sometimes the best long term career strategy...

I'm not talking about this bounce around stuff either, I just mean life long lessons with someone that wants your best for now and for life

OMax got a bag...Justin really didn't I don't think.

The Mavs are really high on OMax. He dominated the G League and looks to be a real piece for them in the future.

[MU82]

Lewis and Prosper got "the bag" as the kids would call it these days but it seems hard to believe that their long term pro prospects were helped by leaving early.

Injuries can obviously happen anywhere, so that sucks. It's also super early, and I get that.

You hear all the time that if a guy can develop in college he can develop in the nba, it's a full time gig and the coaching and training is way better.
You see these Villanova guys finding their way in NY though, and guys in the ilk of Jimmy Butler, and you wonder if sticking with an elite coach in college isn't sometimes the best long term career strategy...

I'm not talking about this bounce around stuff either, I just mean life long lessons with someone that wants your best for now and for life

I happen to think you're wrong about Lewis, but it could be at least a discussion there.

OMax left to be a first-round draft pick with a guaranteed contract that gives him a nice first step to generational wealth. He played well in the G League and earned several call-ups to the Mavs, who like his defense and energy. He's receiving excellent coaching and support, and he doesn't have to focus on anything except basketball.

Not sure how anybody could argue that staying in college would have been better for him ... except Marquette fans who would have liked him to be part of our team this past season for their own selfish reasons.

[jfp61]

If you don't think NBA teams are better development facilities than College basketball teams... then you are just inept

[PGsHeroes32]

Lewis and Prosper got "the bag" as the kids would call it these days but it seems hard to believe that their long term pro prospects were helped by leaving early.

Injuries can obviously happen anywhere, so that sucks. It's also super early, and I get that.

You hear all the time that if a guy can develop in college he can develop in the nba, it's a full time gig and the coaching and training is way better.
You see these Villanova guys finding their way in NY though, and guys in the ilk of Jimmy Butler, and you wonder if sticking with an elite coach in college isn't sometimes the best long term career strategy...

I'm not talking about this bounce around stuff either, I just mean life long lessons with someone that wants your best for now and for life

Its almost freightening that someone could think this

[DoctorV]

Its almost freightening that someone could think this

I know, scary.

Almost as scary as not knowing how to spell frightening.

[tower912]

He may have meant freightening.  Invented a.word that means sonething akin to adding a burden or being an increasingly large load.

[DoctorV]

Yea I considered that.

Flaming out of the NBA as a first rd pick within a few seasons would be a heavy load to bear, but at least you're still rich, an NBA player for life, and can go make dough elsewhere while you've still got game.

Can't get that year or decision back, however.

Could be worse too, see my main man Vander Blue. Loved that kid at Marquette