C Hamilton v. Portal addition?

[Galway Eagle]

Yeah, Christ, I mean, at least Wally Ellenson took away a track scholarship (or multiple partial scholarships) from more deserving student athletes just to shut his mom up after Wojo cut him, and then he dropped out of school anyway.  No way Hamilton would have the stones or the sway to pull off something like that.  Not advocating for Hamilton or his character at all here, btw.  Both him and Wally are/were awful players.

Wasn't Wally a national finalist for high jump that year? Are you implying that he took away a scholarship from the would be champion?

[The Sultan]

Yeah, Christ, I mean, at least Wally Ellenson took away a track scholarship (or multiple partial scholarships) from more deserving student athletes just to shut his mom up after Wojo cut him, and then he dropped out of school anyway.  No way Hamilton would have the stones or the sway to pull off something like that.  Not advocating for Hamilton or his character at all here, btw.  Both him and Wally are/were awful players.

Wally was on a basketball scholarship. Basketball scholarships are always full scholarships and any basketball player on an athletic scholarship used up one of the ones allowed. (13 at the time.)

[The Sultan]

Wasn't Wally a national finalist for high jump that year? Are you implying that he took away a scholarship from the would be champion?

No, he's wrong. He was on a basketball scholarship.

[Johnny B]

Hamilton gets a lot of attention because he's playing, but he's probably exceeded any expectations I had for him heading into the season. The problem with this team for me is that so many players are playing below where I expected.

Owens is a guy that I thought would play a lot of minutes and he's been awful. He's regressed as a player and seems a bit flighty to me. Parham has just recently started to play with a bit of energy but I thought he had a chance to lead the team in scoring. Parham is living proof that Todd Smith is not the miracle worker some want to claim. Parham is pretty weak. Norman has no offensive game and is maybe solid on defense. Lowery can't finish at the rim unless it's an uncontested dunk.

I'd start James and Stevens going forward and play for next year. Both seem like solid players who play much tougher than their upperclass counterparts.

Exceeded your expectations? Wth were your expectations? 3 passes per game and 1 rebound? The guy is unplayable out there. What are you watching? Glad he was able to grab a few rebounds against a small crappy valpo team.

[Duane6]

Anonymous eagle and paint touches have multiple articles laying out how Hamilton is the biggest issue by far w this team

[Zog from Margo]

Did you watch the game, or just read the box score?

Caedin's been in the program for three years. If three years is "too soon" to play 19 minutes per game, what's the point of bringing a player like this into the program? You're going to spend 4 years paying and developing a kid so he can maybe give you 25 decent minutes a night by year 5? That doesn't seem a very good use of Marquette's resources.

I was at the game. You?

Hamilton was a project. You can take those on occasion, particularly with a 15 man roster. He didn't play high level basketball in HS. Frankly, I never expected him to start but thought he could be a decent backup his last two years. He's just started his second season of actually playing. I think him playing this many minutes is a mistake but it reflects Parham's lack of strength and progress and the complete lack of development of Gold as an inside threat.

By contrast, I expected Owens to compete for a starting spot with Lowery this year. Stevens has surpassed both of them already. If I'm going to point my frustrations at players on the roster, I start with players other than a project player like Hamilton.

[Its DJOver]

I was at the game. You?

Hamilton was a project. You can take those on occasion, particularly with a 15 man roster. He didn't play high level basketball in HS. Frankly, I never expected him to start but thought he could be a decent backup his last two years. He's just started his second season of actually playing. I think him playing this many minutes is a mistake but it reflects Parham's lack of strength and progress and the complete lack of development of Gold as an inside threat.

By contrast, I expected Owens to compete for a starting spot with Lowery this year. Stevens has surpassed both of them already. If I'm going to point my frustrations at players on the roster, I start with players other than a project player like Hamilton.

Agreed.  Royce and Owens regressing is much more frustrating than Hamilton only taking a small step forward.

[panda]

I was at the game. You?

Hamilton was a project. You can take those on occasion, particularly with a 15 man roster. He didn't play high level basketball in HS. Frankly, I never expected him to start but thought he could be a decent backup his last two years. He's just started his second season of actually playing. I think him playing this many minutes is a mistake but it reflects Parham's lack of strength and progress and the complete lack of development of Gold as an inside threat.

By contrast, I expected Owens to compete for a starting spot with Lowery this year. Stevens has surpassed both of them already. If I'm going to point my frustrations at players on the roster, I start with players other than a project player like Hamilton.

Any future talent evaluations from Zogster are hereby disqualified after this Hamilton take.

[Duane6]

Hamilton is playing 20 mins a game and Marquettes offense and defensive ratings are night and day with him on and off the court. He doesn't get to hide behind being a project bc he played bad teams in high school. Owens probably is more disappointing but he's barely playing.

[Zog from Margo]

Anonymous eagle and paint touches have multiple articles laying out how Hamilton is the biggest issue by far w this team
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Anonymous eagle and paint touches have multiple articles laying out how Hamilton is the biggest issue by far w this team

I agree that he's playing too much. The biggest issue on the team, however, is the lack of development of guys who were expected to step up. Shaka is making a mistake playing Hamilton so much. No question.  Shaka appears to have made bigger mistakes in identifying guys one would expect to be frontline players. Parham started the season like crap and lacks strength. Owens seems content on the end of the bench and is in la la land when he's on the floor. Lowery hasn't developed into a scorer. He was lousy of D last night. Norman lacks skill and athletic ability. Jones can't shoot. Did you expect that Hamilton would produce more than Owens when they were recruited? What about heading into this season?

I'm frustrated that Hamilton is getting so many minutes. I'm far more disappointed in the lack of development of players I thought would step up this year and the lack of contribution from the junior and sophomore classes. A project that doesn't work out does not kill a program. Two classes that do not contribute will.

[Galway Eagle]

I was at the game. You?

Hamilton was a project. You can take those on occasion, particularly with a 15 man roster. He didn't play high level basketball in HS. Frankly, I never expected him to start but thought he could be a decent backup his last two years. He's just started his second season of actually playing. I think him playing this many minutes is a mistake but it reflects Parham's lack of strength and progress and the complete lack of development of Gold as an inside threat.

By contrast, I expected Owens to compete for a starting spot with Lowery this year. Stevens has surpassed both of them already. If I'm going to point my frustrations at players on the roster, I start with players other than a project player like Hamilton.

This all makes sense and fits with what I think as well. The sophomore class "stars" (and junior class) is what's killing us. That's 4 four star guys who look horrendous and it unbelievably frustrating.

Caedin's a coach management issue not a player development issue. He has a ceiling, he's a project, him playing these minutes isn't his fault. The fact that parham hasn't pushed him off the court is a player issue. Same with Owens and Tre and Zaide. The fact that none of them have been able to push coach to play them more (except Zaide by default) is comical.

Edit: yes I get the +\- stats but again that's a coach issue not a Caedin issue. Parham not being demonstrably better to coach is more disappointing than Caedin playing to what he is, a lower tier player.

[Duane6]

The main thing that's killing us is not getting transfers and Shaka being content with this awful roster

[panda]

The main thing that's killing us is not getting transfers and Shaka being content with this awful roster

Hence why carrying Clark/hamilton/amadou the last two years killed us down the stretch last year and now this year.

Projects need to progress or they're useless in this day and age.

[MUbiz]

I still cannot comprehend that in 5 years, Shaka has recruited one 4 star big man- Sheek. And Sheek will not play until year six.  That is roster malpractice. Not counting Oso as Oso was committed to MU pre Shaka.

[Duane6]

Also not getting a wing transfer last year or 2 years ago. 2 years ago if they got a wing to replace Omax they could've won it all

[21Jumpstreet]

I actually see a lot of progress in Hamilton. He had double digit rebounds last night. I think the issue is that it is too soon to expect him to play this many minutes.

Perhaps you are being sarcastic, but I actually agree with this. I thought he did some nice things yesterday. He's not great nor ready for the big time, but I'm not giving up on him developing over the course of the year. I always loved his energy on the bench during his redshirt year, and he appears to have a level head on his shoulders. He may never be Oso, but I think he becomes more than serviceable.

[Duane6]

He had 10 rebounds vs Valpo and was 1/5 with 2 turnovers. Walk ons also bring good energy

[Markusquette]

I was at the game. You?

Hamilton was a project. You can take those on occasion, particularly with a 15 man roster. He didn't play high level basketball in HS. Frankly, I never expected him to start but thought he could be a decent backup his last two years. He's just started his second season of actually playing. I think him playing this many minutes is a mistake but it reflects Parham's lack of strength and progress and the complete lack of development of Gold as an inside threat.

By contrast, I expected Owens to compete for a starting spot with Lowery this year. Stevens has surpassed both of them already. If I'm going to point my frustrations at players on the roster, I start with players other than a project player like Hamilton.

CH is a horizon league bench hopeful and he's been inserted into the SL over Parham. Speaking of Royce, there's no reason he can't be impactful despite "lacking strength." Many big guys without a ton of muscle and bulk find ways to make an impact with their athleticism, smarts, tenacity, etc. He's clearly a better player despite having some big flaws right now, which is more in terms of ball control.

There's been reports of MU's spending to recruit and retain their guys; there's reason to believe that adequate money could be moved to acquire a couple of difference-making transfers instead of retaining players that don't cut it at this level. Shaka is shooting himself in the foot with loyalty.