2024-2025 Season Grades

[Zog from Margo]

Who does Stevie start ahead of on the 2003 or 2012 teams?

Edit: And which of the Amigos does he start ahead of? Stevie putting Jerel or Wes on the bench?

I agree. Having Stevie on the floor was like playing offense four against five down the stretch. He couldn't shoot, he couldn't drive and finish, and he couldn't create. Shaka is loyal to a fault. Chase didn't take the jump expected this year, but he at least forced defenses to cover him. I've greatly enjoyed watching Stevie play and I would hire him in a heartbeat but there are a lot of MU teams for which he wouldn't have been good enough to start. At this point in his career, Chase is in the same boat. People are overrating the talent this team had.

[BM1090]

Because Chase is good and plays well in games we win. And Zaide doesn't.

Chase is the second best defender on our team. Zaide was only better than the bad freshmen on defense.

Chase has the usage rate of 17.7% protional to a contributor in most lineups. Zaide is at 11-12% like a Matt Heldt.

Chase can actually make decisions in a pick and roll. Zaide can't.

Chase can create in a pinch. Zaide can't.

Zaide finished the year with 19 less points of +/- than Tre Norman. He is a rotation player.

Some of this are facts, some of these are opinions, but most cases I think you're misinterpreting the "why" here. We'll see next year.

[tower912]

I would start Joplin and Kam over Townsend.

[Pakuni]

First I said Could start. Not would start.

But, Blue is easily replaceable with Stevie and team hardly changes for this year.
Blue shot is miserably until he was a junior.

Blue always played well when it mattered most. But there are some rose colored glasses on what he was over the course of his first 2 seasons.

Kevin Menard could start on any Marquette team.
(Sorry, Kevin, you don't need to be catching strays)

[1SE]

I mean I love Kam, but for all of you giving him an A - what would he have gotten if he had kept the form all year and been NPOYish - A++++? Come on - he played significantly worse for most of the 2nd half of the season. 

[tower912]

True.  As did a hampered Stevie.  And MU had a worse record.  Coincidence, I am sure.

[1SE]

True.  As did a hampered Stevie.  And MU had a worse record.  Coincidence, I am sure.

Yeah - which is why I can't give either of them A's. Like did we ever get a confirmed "Stevie is playing hurt" scoop or is that just all our conjecture? Either way - sucked for him and the team. Hard to play your "A" game hurt.

[Johnny B]

I mean I love Kam, but for all of you giving him an A - what would he have gotten if he had kept the form all year and been NPOYish - A++++? Come on - he played significantly worse for most of the 2nd half of the season. 

He didn't play as a 1st team AA but he still played like a star. What u want a B

[CountryRoads]

Yeah - which is why I can't give either of them A's. Like did we ever get a confirmed "Stevie is playing hurt" scoop or is that just all our conjecture? Either way - sucked for him and the team. Hard to play your "A" game hurt.

He started one of the games with a massive full arm brace. Assumed he didn't do that for funsies, but you are right they never admitted anything.

[jfp61]

Kevin Menard could start on any Marquette team.
(Sorry, Kevin, you don't need to be catching strays)

Me saying that Senior Year Stevie Mitchell could start over sophmore year Vander Blue is very reasonable.

More winshares. More points. More efficent. Shot better percentages accross the board. Better overall defense.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/vander-blue-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/stevie-mitchell-1.html

[tower912]

Yeah - which is why I can't give either of them A's. Like did we ever get a confirmed "Stevie is playing hurt" scoop or is that just all our conjecture? Either way - sucked for him and the team. Hard to play your "A" game hurt.

Shaka said right after Thanksgiving that Stevie could not even practice due to achilles tendinitis.  So, do we believe Shaka?

[Pakuni]

OK, I'll give it a shot for giggles:

Kam: A
Yeah, he faded down the stretch, but I think that's largely a result of him having to carry so much of the load all season. Still a great season overall and deserving of 2nd team AA honors.

Stevie: B+
Great defense, great leader, warrior, but often an offensive liability. Injury may have played a role in that, but gotta give a grade based on what I see.

Chase: B
Really looked to be blossoming on the offensive end heading into the stretch, then faded away. Seemed less willing/able to attack the hoop, which should be his strength, and less willing/able to force and absorb contact. In 13 games in December-January, he got to the line 59 times. In 13 games in February-March, 34 times. Needs to be more aggressive if he's going to be the alpha guy next year.

Jop: B-
Is who he is. Plays hard, plays fearlessly, but also too prone to mistakes and streakiness.

Ben: C
Others may disagree, but I just don't see it with him. Unlike Jop who's streaky and aggressive, Ben is streaky and timid. Unlike Jop, who puts it on the floor too often, Ben doesn't put it on the floor enough. Unlike Jop, who has shown the ability to step up in big moments, Ben tends to disappear in big moments. Case in point: Came out hot last night, hitting his first three 3s. Would miss his next five and fouled out in only 22 minutes. Case in point: Didn't attempt a single shot in the BE semis. Hope he comes back and proves me wrong next year.

Zaide: B+
Don't crown him yet, but he provided a glimmer of hope for next year. Definitely saw the confidence grow as he started hitting shots and has the length/athleticism to create matchup problems for opponents.

Tre: D
No need to pile on.

Royce: B
I'm more bullish on him than most, perhaps. Needs to improve his shot selection and defense, but he's got tools that you can work with. The lack of athleticism may hold him back.

Damarius: C
Looked like a baby deer out there most nights. You can see the makings of a good player in there somewhere, but a lot of awkwardness to his game right now. Kind of the anti-Royce: The athletic tools are there, but his game needs a lot of development.

Caedin: Incomplete
Didn't impress, and the fact the staff tried Royce at center instead of him down the stretch isn't encouraging. But the minutes were so limited it's hard to give a grade. Basically a second redshirt season.

[Johnny B]

OK, I'll give it a shot for giggles:



Caedin: F
Didn't impress, and the fact the staff tried Royce at center instead of him down the stretch isn't encouraging. But the minutes were so limited because he has absolutely zero skill or talent whatsoever.Basically a second redshirt season and needs to go down a level.

FIFY

[CountryRoads]

Caedin: Incomplete
Didn't impress, and the fact the staff tried Royce at center instead of him down the stretch isn't encouraging. But the minutes were so limited it's hard to give a grade. Basically a second redshirt season.

I don't see it with Hamilton. First Game as a Freshman Theo John was better than Last Game of his Second Year Caedin Hamilton. I thought a realistic goal for him would be to give us what Theo did, but it's looking like his ceiling is significantly lower than that.

[Daniel]

The team, which is what this is, gets a B-

[Hards Alumni]

OK, I'll give it a shot for giggles:

Kam: A
Yeah, he faded down the stretch, but I think that's largely a result of him having to carry so much of the load all season. Still a great season overall and deserving of 2nd team AA honors.

Stevie: B+
Great defense, great leader, warrior, but often an offensive liability. Injury may have played a role in that, but gotta give a grade based on what I see.

Chase: B
Really looked to be blossoming on the offensive end heading into the stretch, then faded away. Seemed less willing/able to attack the hoop, which should be his strength, and less willing/able to force and absorb contact. In 13 games in December-January, he got to the line 59 times. In 13 games in February-March, 34 times. Needs to be more aggressive if he's going to be the alpha guy next year.

Jop: B-
Is who he is. Plays hard, plays fearlessly, but also too prone to mistakes and streakiness.

Ben: C
Others may disagree, but I just don't see it with him. Unlike Jop who's streaky and aggressive, Ben is streaky and timid. Unlike Jop, who puts it on the floor too often, Ben doesn't put it on the floor enough. Unlike Jop, who has shown the ability to step up in big moments, Ben tends to disappear in big moments. Case in point: Came out hot last night, hitting his first three 3s. Would miss his next five and fouled out in only 22 minutes. Case in point: Didn't attempt a single shot in the BE semis. Hope he comes back and proves me wrong next year.

Zaide: B+
Don't crown him yet, but he provided a glimmer of hope for next year. Definitely saw the confidence grow as he started hitting shots and has the length/athleticism to create matchup problems for opponents.

Tre: D
No need to pile on.

Royce: B
I'm more bullish on him than most, perhaps. Needs to improve his shot selection and defense, but he's got tools that you can work with. The lack of athleticism may hold him back.

Damarius: C
Looked like a baby deer out there most nights. You can see the makings of a good player in there somewhere, but a lot of awkwardness to his game right now. Kind of the anti-Royce: The athletic tools are there, but his game needs a lot of development.

Caedin: Incomplete
Didn't impress, and the fact the staff tried Royce at center instead of him down the stretch isn't encouraging. But the minutes were so limited it's hard to give a grade. Basically a second redshirt season.

Omax's freshman year at Clemson was basically what DO was this year.

[BCHoopster]

Chase regressed during the year, linear type of player, zero creativity, seemed to lose his confidence shooting, can get open but had no mid range game, then like other on this team went to the hoop and tried a layup shot against the big boys. Not successful.  I would give him a C.  Lots of development to become the alpha dog next year.

[DoctorV]

Omax's freshman year at Clemson was basically what DO was this year.

Good point, except OMax probably looked like a lost ox while DO like a baby deer.

Hopefully DO can flourish into a deer that can be feared.

Huge offseason for both him a Royce for future development

[Warrior_2002]

Would like to see Chase draw fouls better when he drives. He gets there and falls away every time. He needs to take it up stronger even like  a Tonje and draw better fouls and some and ones. I know I'll get the "Tonje pushes off" comments but it works and Chase is capable of getting to the lane when he wants.

[burger]

Team talent: D-
Team growth: F-
Coaching: D
Culture: D
Future: F
Portal: Incomplete / F
Recruiting: C

Pretty depressing after watching these first rounds have far we have to go just to be at a Sweet 16 level....

The Big East.....The "one and done" league.......

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Team talent: D-
Team growth: F-
Coaching: D
Culture: D
Future: F
Portal: Incomplete / F
Recruiting: C

Pretty depressing after watching these first rounds have far we have to go just to be at a Sweet 16 level....

The Big East.....The "one and done" league.......

LOL...priceless.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Team talent: D-
Team growth: F-
Coaching: D
Culture: D
Future: F
Portal: Incomplete / F
Recruiting: C

Pretty depressing after watching these first rounds have far we have to go just to be at a Sweet 16 level....

The Big East.....The "one and done" league.......

Talent is D- and coaching is a D yet the team was ranked in the top 25 all year except the last and was comfortably in the tourney as a 7 seed. 

I hope this is sarcasm/teal I'm just completely missing otherwise this is as dumb or dumber than anything Willie ever posted. 

[panda2.0]

Talent is D- and coaching is a D yet the team was ranked in the top 25 all year except the last and was comfortably in the tourney as a 7 seed. 

I hope this is sarcasm/teal I'm just completely missing otherwise this is as dumb or dumber than anything Willie ever posted. 

It appears to be serious. I'm glad you're calling him out on his egregious commentary. We need more heroes like you here.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It appears to be serious. I'm glad you're calling him out on his egregious commentary. We need more heroes like you here.

Thank you.  I credit you for giving me that same opportunity numerous times.  I appreciate it. 

[panda2.0]

Thank you.  I credit you for giving me that same opportunity numerous times.  I appreciate it. 

This isn't the zinger you think it is.