[Paint Touches] Marquette Minutes Projections for 2026

[brewcity77]

Yeah, I certainly agree with the egalitarian scoring I just don't see Sean being at the top unless his 3 shooting really comes on whatever his usage - can't be 5'10 and not be an outside threat- D will just sag.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Chase's usage ticks up - its his team and I think he has legitimate association chances - I think there's a world where he ends up closer to 18 than 13 ppg

I'll say this, Sean's only limiting factor is Sean. If he can shoot better from three (33-35%), limit his fouls, and hold off NJ's push for minutes, he can lead us in scoring. But if can't lock down his position and is minutes limited by either NJ or his own fouling tendencies, while also not at least marginally increasing his efficiency, he won't get there.

But as far as the rest of the team goes, the only guy who has displayed the willingness to be that go-to scorer so far is Royce (another guy whose minutes are contested). Despite their productive first nights, both Chase and Zaide were below 21% usage. It's hard to lead a team in scoring at that usage level. Efficiency will balance out over the course of a season and the guy taking 3-4 more shots a game than you are will end up with more volume scoring.

All that said, I think ppg is a pretty meaningless stat. Give me a bunch of guys with high efficiency and low ppg totals over one or two high-volume, low-efficiency scorers every day of the week.

[1SE]

Yeah, I mean if Sean shoots 35% from 3 that's a whole different ballgame (and our ceiling is a whole lot higher). But if wishes were fishes...

[tower912]

So, onesie, not optimistic about the season?

[1SE]

Nah - I think we're a tournament team without Sean being a top scorer - but if he is the ceiling is just that much higher.

I'm intrigued by this season - it could either be a real Shaka masterpiece or an indictment of how RGV just can't work in this era.

[Jay Bee]

I'm intrigued by this season - it could either be a real Shaka masterpiece or an indictment of how RGV just can't work in this era.

I don't think the many ways this year goes down could show RGV can't work. We have a path to a nice season w the roster we have - an indication it can work, imo

[Scoop Snoop]

Nah - I think we're a tournament team without Sean being a top scorer - but if he is the ceiling is just that much higher.

I'm intrigued by this season - it could either be a real Shaka masterpiece or an indictment of how RGV just can't work in this era.

I do not see this season as determining the success or failure of Shaka's system. That sounds like the timeline that some portal pushers have been insisting upon.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It's not hate, its just non blue-gold glasses. Last season was of course better but he's still career 35% - he is a very poor man's Steve Novak with better D. If he can continue the progression and shoot 40%+ this year maybe he 2nd leading scorer, but I don't see it happening (prove me wrong Ben)

Saying a career 35.3% 3P shooter, who shot 37.1% in his most recent season, needs "to learn how to shoot" is a lot closer to hate than it is to not having blue and gold glasses.

[romey]

I do not see this season as determining the success or failure of Shaka's system. That sounds like the timeline that some portal pushers have been insisting upon.

I agree that this isn't the season to prove or disprove the Shaka approach.  I think next year is the year we need to make a deep run (top 3 BEast, sweet 16 minimum).

[Newsdreams]

MU needs to hit the portal

[Scoop Snoop]

MU needs to hit the portal

Someone needs to hit you.

[Shooter McGavin]

I agree that this isn't the season to prove or disprove the Shaka approach.  I think next year is the year we need to make a deep run (top 3 BEast, sweet 16 minimum).

Yep.  Arrow pointing up at the end of this year and a tournament run next year will definitely show that the plan is working. This year there is definitely some flexibility.  But the trend needs to be a good one (hopefully squeaking into the tournament). 

[Jay Bee]

Crazy.

Yep. Batsh1T crazy. 16.8% usage bruh.

[brewcity77]

Yep. Batsh1T crazy. 16.8% usage bruh.

He is second in scoring and field goal attempts. If only three guys are going to average 20+ mpg, then to date it might not be wrong to consider him the second option (and his teammates with higher usage largely have that usage rate because they are turning it over while Zaide is not).

[jfp61]

He is second in scoring and field goal attempts. If only three guys are going to average 20+ mpg, then to date it might not be wrong to consider him the second option (and his teammates with higher usage largely have that usage rate because they are turning it over while Zaide is not).

1. Parham is second in FGA's. And Him and Zaide are tied at 38 points. (Nigel and Ben each have 36)
2. This is because Shaka is not trusting his eyes and playing Royce and Nigel the minutes he should yet.

[Jay Bee]

He is second in scoring and field goal attempts. If only three guys are going to average 20+ mpg, then to date it might not be wrong to consider him the second option (and his teammates with higher usage largely have that usage rate because they are turning it over while Zaide is not).

No. look at %shots

[brewcity77]

No. look at %shots

I did. But again, minutes matter. Other guys aren't out there enough to be considered second options and Zaide is second in raw scoring.

4 guys are playing over 50% of the minutes. Of those 4, Zaide is second in percent of shots taken. Unless your argument is that someone who's not even on the court half the time is the second scoring option, the strongest "second scoring option" case is for Zaide.

[Hards Alumni]

I did. But again, minutes matter. Other guys aren't out there enough to be considered second options and Zaide is second in raw scoring.

4 guys are playing over 50% of the minutes. Of those 4, Zaide is second in percent of shots taken. Unless your argument is that someone who's not even on the court half the time is the second scoring option, the strongest "second scoring option" case is for Zaide.

He COULD (hypothetically) just say what he means instead of being cryptic.

[Jay Bee]

He COULD (hypothetically) just say what he means instead of being cryptic.

Now THAT is crazy talk!!

[Scoop Snoop]

Yep.  Arrow pointing up at the end of this year and a tournament run next year will definitely show that the plan is working. This year there is definitely some flexibility.  But the trend needs to be a good one (hopefully squeaking into the tournament). 

I like this take. "Some flexibility"?    What political office are you running for? 

Kudos on finding a way to say this probably isn't going to be a great season without actually saying this probably isn't going to be a great season.

I do not see either the IU game or last night's game as defining what this team's potential- or lack thereof- will be. A 23-point blowout L and a 40-point blowout W are strange bedfellows.

[Shooter McGavin]

Ha! This flexibility helps me to be as level headed as possible.  I predicted what amounts to a tournament team in the prediction thread.  But it's because I could see it happening if the freshman were real contributors.  But we all know about freshman and the possibility that they will not contribute in any meaningful way. Needed an infusion of talent on this team.  BG, CR, RP and SJ were not going to be enough IMO.   

Freshman will be more important than ever in the Shaka system of no transfers, especially if many on the roster are projects or don't work out. 

Anyway,  at least two freshmen look like immediate contributors, with one a probable starter going forward this year.  This helps the arrow to be pointing up and hopefully will help us squeak into the tournament.

[jfp61]

I did. But again, minutes matter. Other guys aren't out there enough to be considered second options and Zaide is second in raw scoring.

4 guys are playing over 50% of the minutes. Of those 4, Zaide is second in percent of shots taken. Unless your argument is that someone who's not even on the court half the time is the second scoring option, the strongest "second scoring option" case is for Zaide.

1. Joint second with Royce. (only 2 points ahead of Nigel and Ben)
2. You are adding alot of qualifiers to your evaluation criteria.
3. These qualifiers are being put in because once Nigel and Royce play their proper alotment of minutes all of this will be moot.
4. If Shaka doesn't play Royce and Nigel more, we will have bigger problems.
Unrealated..
Sean and Caedin can play less please.

[1SE]

Nigel much better than we thought - keep him happy - he's the team next year. Amazed at Zaide's regression - I thought he was really going to take a step up. Unless we see a major turn-around, RGV is going to be on a very hot seat. If in 2026-2027 Shaka doesn't go portal (successfully) and RGV fails again he is gone. A team that spends what we spend on MBB can't have multiple consecutive down seasons in this era. Or, if Marquette doesn't care about the V, just hire one of us for 500k a year and pay a bunch of kids from Rhinelander and Platteville 20k a year to come and enjoy lots of R and G and send the rest of the budget to Lacrosse and Women's soccer.