Really Good Day for the Future of Marquette Basketball

[MU82]

What if a center such as Nova's Duke Brennan and a wing such as Morsell were added to James, Parham, Stevens, Phillips, Owens, Sheek and Egbuonu?

Would that be an NCAA Tournament team next season? I think it would.

I'd like to add even better players than Brennan-like and Morsell-like guys, of course, because I don't want us to be just a team that scrambles its way into the tourney. But if I'm right, it shows that we don't need to hit two or three home runs to right the ship. Just a couple/few solid line drives. If one ends up being a home run, we're back in the Top 25.

Like VBMG and some others, I thought yesterday was encouraging despite the loss. When I heard Greenberg's report, I rewound it and listened again, and my buddies and I got a nice text chain going. Then to watch James and Parham do what they did ... loved it.

This season has been toast for months now. It's all about the future, and I'm bullish. Really looking forward to see who we add this spring.

[muwarrior69]

100%.  How dare we be positive when it looks like we have multiple young stars to build around, some nice incoming redshirt & freshman talent, and the news that Marquette will use the portal going forward. 

It definitely makes more sense to focus entirely on this awful season and wallow in the disappointment.

Thanks for setting us straight!

Our multiple young stars have not really played anyone playing at the high D1 level except for the Johnnies and UCONN. We have a 4-5 record against every team that has a losing record in the Conference. So are they really playing well or does it just look like they're playing well due to the poor competition. All these teams are just barely playing .500 ball overall as well. Not sure what that means about the "talent" level of the league going forward.

[Elonsmusk]

Being a chase ross fan, means you like defense.

Because no one on this entire roster is a "big east" level defender except him.

Know you get way into analytics, but simple eye test shows Chase has not been good defensively this year.  This post by Paint Touches encapsulates much of what we've seen from Chase this year.  Understandably he's got to be affected by being the senior leader on a team that has just bombed, but he hasn't made the team better.  His performance against Tier A competition has been abysmal. 

https://x.com/PaintTouches/status/2017983955220238559

[jfp61]

Know you get way into analytics, but simple eye test shows Chase has not been good defensively this year. 

Respectably. That's cope.

[Scoop Snoop]

They really don't owe anyone that acknowledgement though. It's pretty obvious that this season was a failure and anything they have done in the last few weeks is setting themselves up for next season more than anything.

That's fair Sultan. I guess the quotes about growth and other RGV stuff in the midst of this season just sets me off. 

[connie]

Our multiple young stars have not really played anyone playing at the high D1 level except for the Johnnies and UCONN. We have a 4-5 record against every team that has a losing record in the Conference. So are they really playing well or does it just look like they're playing well due to the poor competition. All these teams are just barely playing .500 ball overall as well. Not sure what that means about the "talent" level of the league going forward.

I fear this gets worse as the major college leagues with their own networks are made to take advantage of the new reality.  The New Big East was formed out of self preservation, but the changing rules may make this nothing but a stop-gap.  I hope I am wrong, but I have a bad feeling about where this is headed.

[jfp61]

He is really susceptible to the back door cut and he rarely boxes out. He often leaves teammates in no man's land as he forces them to switch even when there hasn't been a screen because he's chasing someone.

This describes every player on the team.

The older player is getting singled out for it because no one wants to ascribe blame, for the lack of defense, to younger players.

Ross gets the best defensive stats because he gambles. And his defensive efficency is better than James, Stevens, Parham, and Gold.

I wasn't singling Stevens and James out as bad defenders (even if they might be if you compare them to Big East players). I was asked if either are good defenders. They arn't. They arn't supposed to be they are freshman.

[Viper]

I'm surprised people actually doubted he'd recognize the need to change and upgrade the talent quickly. One more season even close to this one and he was out the door with some less than optimal coaching prospects. The roster is as weak as the D MU played today. Outside of James, Parham, Stevens, and maybe Phillips, no player deciding not to return would be a big deal.

let's hope Shaka doesn't shop NAIA 'talent' for the roster upgrade. To any Duke, Michigan and Arizona bench guy, there's PT available at Marquette!

[Pakuni]

What if a center such as Nova's Duke Brennan and a wing such as Morsell were added to James, Parham, Stevens, Phillips, Owens, Sheek and Egbuonu?

Would that be an NCAA Tournament team next season? I think it would.

I'd like to add even better players than Brennan-like and Morsell-like guys, of course, because I don't want us to be just a team that scrambles its way into the tourney. But if I'm right, it shows that we don't need to hit two or three home runs to right the ship. Just a couple/few solid line drives. If one ends up being a home run, we're back in the Top 25.

Like VBMG and some others, I thought yesterday was encouraging despite the loss. When I heard Greenberg's report, I rewound it and listened again, and my buddies and I got a nice text chain going. Then to watch James and Parham do what they did ... loved it.

This season has been toast for months now. It's all about the future, and I'm bullish. Really looking forward to see who we add this spring.

I'm excited by the performances of NJ and RP yesterday.
I'm disappointed by the lack of progress on the defensive issues and late-game failures that have plagued the team all season.

[MuggsyB]

2 portal additions means that only 1 player from the current roster leaves. Sorry I'm not buying that is a tournament team, unless we find two massive portal additions.

How do you define "massive" portal additions?  We may need more than two guys, I'll give you that.  But if you look across the landscape of college hoops there are all sorts of portal dudes making major contributions. 

[Zog from Margo]

This describes every player on the team.

The older player is getting singled out for it because no one wants to ascribe blame, for the lack of defense, to younger players.

Ross gets the best defensive stats because he gambles. And his defensive efficency is better than James, Stevens, Parham, and Gold.

I wasn't singling Stevens and James out as bad defenders (even if they might be if you compare them to Big East players). I was asked if either are good defenders. They arn't. They arn't supposed to be they are freshman.

Yet gambling exposes everyone else. I don't know how the stats are weighted, but Ross leaves guys hanging when he gambles and misses. I like Ross, but he hasn't had a great year. In past seasons, MU didn't get burned so much by his gambling because the people around him were more aware. That said, I don't disagree with your fundamental point. The defense yesterday was atrocious.

[MU82]

I'm excited by the performances of NJ and RP yesterday.
I'm disappointed by the lack of progress on the defensive issues and late-game failures that have plagued the team all season.

That's fair. Some is coaching. Some is lack of leadership. Some is inexperience for our most talented players. I like to think that adding a couple of talented upperclassmen to the young core can make a big difference in clutch-time results. I think back to Lewis, Morsell and even Elliott in Shaka's first year.

[MuMark]

Apparently not only is VBMG a whiny douche, but he can't read.  Where exactly does the word portal appear?

If I tell you it snowed last night and you wake up to your driveway covered with white stuff that is wet to the touch........do I have to tell you it's snow or can you figure it out?

[MuggsyB]

Yet gambling exposes everyone else. I don't know how the stats are weighted, but Ross leaves guys hanging when he gambles and misses. I like Ross, but he hasn't had a great year. In past seasons, MU didn't get burned so much by his gambling because the people around him were more aware. That said, I don't disagree with your fundamental point. The defense yesterday was atrocious.

Zog,

Chase < "hasn't had a great year".

In fact his performance this season > an unmitigated disaster.

[The Sultan]

If I tell you it snowed last night and you wake up to your driveway covered with white stuff that is wet to the touch........do I have to tell you it's snow or can you figure it out?

Well, it's Farley. You could tell him and he still wouldn't figure it out.

[Tha Hound]

I don't think they can signal this mid-season and then not go big in the portal. It'd be an almost worse look than not portaling at all. Will be very interesting to see how things shake out.

I'm imagining the reaction here if Shaka brings in a few Zach Wrightsil-level players. You'd have to shut this place down.

[CountryRoads]

I don't think they can signal this mid-season and then not go big in the portal. It'd be an almost worse look than not portaling at all. Will be very interesting to see how things shake out.

I'm imagining the reaction here if Shaka brings in a few Zach Wrightsil-level players. You'd have to shut this place down.

Regardless of what moves MU makes in the offseason, there will be people complaining about it and not satisfied.

[nyg]

I'm excited by the performances of NJ and RP yesterday.
I'm disappointed by the lack of progress on the defensive issues and late-game failures that have plagued the team all season.

In the last 10 game stretch, James has been playing well beyond a freshman with the exception of some terrible turnovers, Parham has been at an 18 and 6 pace and Stevens has also played well, again like a freshman there have been brutal turnovers.  That being said, if Ross and Gold had provided anything close to last year, then this season might have been much better, especially going into BET.

Ross has been just terrible, in all facets of his game.  To be a pre season All BE, to regress to this level is completely disappointing.

Gold in his last 16 games has shot 10 for 69 from three.  Thats 14% guys and that averages out to less than one three point field goal made per game.  Yikes...

What could have been. Looking forward to see how Parham closes out year at this pace, he could get an All BE honorable mention team and James also. Doubt James gets ROY, Lewis from NOVA probably. 

[panda]

How do you define "massive" portal additions?  We may need more than two guys, I'll give you that.  But if you look across the landscape of college hoops there are all sorts of portal dudes making major contributions. 

We need guys to step into Ross' and gold's production at 2x their production if we're only adding 2 guys.

[BCHoopster]

It's time for Shaka to change playing time.  Should play Owens and Phillips at least a half a game to see if either capable to take over Ross's spot next year.

[panda]

It's time for Shaka to change playing time.  Should play Owens and Phillips at least a half a game to see if either capable to take over Ross's spot next year.

Agree - need to see more Phillips.

[wadesworld]

It's time for Shaka to change playing time.  Should play Owens and Phillips at least a half a game to see if either capable to take over Ross's spot next year.

We've seen more than enough of Owens.

[BCHoopster]

I agree on Owens but giving a player extended minutes changes a players attitude at times. In short spurts he has been below average, great athlete not a great hooper!