Fru to Mu

[BM1090]

And I do like bringing in upperclassmen with offensive skills, I trust Shaka to teach defense more than offense.

Not saying he'll be a great defender, but I'd bet Shaka can get him up to average. He has the quickness.

[MuggsyB]

I'm pretty optimistic. Sheek was a top 50 recruit in the incoming class. Now he's a top 50 recruit with a year in a college strength program and hundreds of practice hours to get used to the speed of the college game. I don't think it's unreasonable to think he will be a big contributor.

Egbuono has the offensive talent to play already and is in a big east ready body.  Defense is the concern with him. My comp for him is Justin Lewis. Pair him with quality defenders and I could see (not guarentee) him being an effective 6th man.

I was sorry to hear that Nash got hurt,  it tempers my expectations a bit.  Supposedly he's our best shooter and there are rumors of elite passing skills. We'll see.

Ian i see having future but my guess is that if he redshirted last season,  it's because he was behind Philips. Im not expecting more than a back of rotation spot for him.

Johnston is likely a redshirt candidate.

Ty, TAMU.  I think we very easily could have pulled off a coup with Fru, and we may only be one more piece away from a tremendous resurgence in Milwaukee. 

[Badgerhater]

Clark and Hamilton will benefit going up against Fru in practice. They will improve significantly.

[The Sultan]

Clark and Hamilton will benefit going up against Fru in practice. They will improve significantly.

Eh. I'm not sure about that...

[Badgerhater]

Eh. I'm not sure about that...

One wasn't going to learn much guarding Ben Gold.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Clark and Hamilton will benefit going up against Fru in practice. They will improve significantly.

Replace Clark & Hamilton with Sheek and I'll agree with you.

[Johnny B]

Nice pickup in Fru.
Wish he had 2 years eligibility but it is what it is.

The best thing about that pickup is that, besides making the team immediately much better this upcoming season, it'll help a guy like Sheek (or even Josh if he develops) see what that role should look like going forward.
Shaka shouldn't have to go out and get another like Sananda the following year, he should be able to have someone step into the role internally.

As for Riley or Minessale either would be another good get, and both would be great.
If I had my choice on either/or I would pick whoever the better scorer and higher usage guy would be, and I would assume that would be Riley but the data guys can chime in here.

That would give Marquette a lineup of
N James
A Stevens
T Riley
R Parham
S Fru

That's a pretty good lineup that would compete for a top 3 spot in the BE and a roster bid given health.

Bench would be solid with potential guys and you just play whoever pops an grows the most
Damarius, Phillips, Clark/Caedin/Sheek, Ian, Nash, Egbuonu, Ethan Johnston gives Shaka a lot of options to red shirt and grow, find then next man up star, figure out who can shoot and defend well enough to play etc etc.
A lot of athleticism and length there too, and hopefully some good shooting and additional basketball skills.

As an aside to the Riley v Minessale talk, Nolan has an extra year of eligibility so you could argue that bringing him on could be more impactful for the program overall, if he hits.

My last point is that although I would take one of those two over another big, because they should be able to score and play heavy minutes at a 1-3 spot, if it was up to me I would bring in another high caliber big given the ability/funds and move on from one of our other two in house bigs.

The above team is good, but becomes that much better with yet one more starting caliber big.
Don't worry about how you'd play them, Shaka can figure it out

Riley's like 6"2 not sure u want him starting at the 3?

[The Sultan]

One wasn't going to learn much guarding Ben Gold.

I'm questioning "significantly."

[The_Blaze]

If Riley can start in a 3 guard line-up and assuming Owens keeps progressing, is there room / need for Riley and Minessale?

My thoughts as well.  And then there are Phillips, Ian and Egbuonu who looks physically ready to contribute in year 1. Good depth at the 2&3.

I'm no scout but do you bring in a mid-major top player and play them over a Phillips and Egbuonu? And saying St Thomas MN is a mid-major is a stretch.   

Riley clearly makes sense as he is proven against good talent and he fits a need with Sean Jones leaving. 

[jfp61]

If Riley can start in a 3 guard line-up and assuming Owens keeps progressing, is there room / need for Riley and Minessale?

Yes, the rest of our team was not good last year

[tower912]

No other way to put it.  With Fru in the fold, guard depth is the paramount concern.

[MU82]

We did a lot of winning with a lineup that included 6-2 Kolek, 6-2 Mitchell and 6-4 Jones ... so I guess it's possible we'd hang in there OK on defense with 6-0 James, 6-1 Riley and 6-4 Stevens.

But Stevie was an extremely tough kid who played taller than his height, willingly mixed it up with much bigger players, and loved playing defense. And Kolek was both sturdy and good at anticipating plays.

A James-Riley-Stevens backcourt could run into trouble defensively similar to the Markus-Rowsey-Sacar backcourt.

I echo others who have said they doubt Riley would come here to play 15-20 mpg off the bench. Obviously, Stevens isn't guaranteed a starting spot, but unless we also add Minessale or another wing, who on the roster would be better than Adrien at the wing? A freshman? A redshirt? D.O. or Phillips? Not seeing it.

[GoFastAndWin]

I'm pretty optimistic. Sheek was a top 50 recruit in the incoming class. Now he's a top 50 recruit with a year in a college strength program and hundreds of practice hours to get used to the speed of the college game. I don't think it's unreasonable to think he will be a big contributor.

Egbuono has the offensive talent to play already and is in a big east ready body.  Defense is the concern with him. My comp for him is Justin Lewis. Pair him with quality defenders and I could see (not guarentee) him being an effective 6th man.

I was sorry to hear that Nash got hurt,  it tempers my expectations a bit.  Supposedly he's our best shooter and there are rumors of elite passing skills. We'll see.

Ian i see having future but my guess is that if he redshirted last season,  it's because he was behind Philips. Im not expecting more than a back of rotation spot for him.

Johnston is likely a redshirt candidate.

I agree with this analysis*

*everything except the Ian part. 
Going to surprise people!

[Zog from Margo]

A James-Riley-Stevens backcourt could run into trouble defensively similar to the Markus-Rowsey-Sacar backcourt.

James and Stevens are better defenders than Rowsey while at MU or Howard, particularly as a frosh. Huge difference as shooters. Sacar was a pretty good defender but I think Stevens can be as good. No idea about Riley.

[SchnitzelBoy]

I think Sheek will improve over the course of the season, especially his awareness and feel for the game. Playing against Fru at practice will be beneficial, and he's already gone through the rigors of a college weight room, so I think he'll come in more physically prepared than most freshmen.  I also love that Sheek will be able to slot in at PF for a pair of 6'11" forwards.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that either Josh or Caedin might surprise us next season in spot minutes. Fru is a 1-year rental, so Sheek projects as the starter and having a developed/older big man as back-up C in 27-28 is key. Who knows what they'll need to add in the portal next offseason, but it'd be awesome to not have to drop a bag on a center every spring.

[SchnitzelBoy]

James and Stevens are better defenders than Rowsey while at MU or Howard, particularly as a frosh. Huge difference as shooters. Sacar was a pretty good defender but I think Stevens can be as good. No idea about Riley.

I think the woeful outcome makes people forget how exciting the freshman seasons for Nigel and Adrien were. We haven't seen frosh campaigns like this in quite a while. Even Kam and Howard had nowhere near the outings these 2 have had. If they make a sophomore leap and have a lot more help....

That said, 2026 Royce (tough November/December) has been as good as Kam, Stevie, Markus, and Sam Hauser were. Possibly even better. He definitely could be an all-conference player next season.

[Pakuni]

I think the woeful outcome makes people forget how exciting the freshman seasons for Nigel and Adrien were. We haven't seen frosh campaigns like this in quite a while. Even Kam and Howard had nowhere near the outings these 2 have had. If they make a sophomore leap and have a lot more help....

Nigel was great last year, but Markus had nine 20+ point games his freshman year, including a 34-point game in which he shot 9-for-12 from three. He led the nation in three-point shooting as a freshman. Suggesting he had "nowhere near the outings" of James and Stevens is way off.

That said, 2026 Royce (tough November/December) has been as good as Kam, Stevie, Markus, and Sam Hauser were. Possibly even better. He definitely could be an all-conference player next season.

Royce better than Kam, Markus and Sam? Huh???

[The Sultan]

Nigel was great last year, but Markus had nine 20+ point games his freshman year, including a 34-point game in which he shot 9-for-12 from three. He led the nation in three-point shooting as a freshman. Suggesting he had "nowhere near the outings" of James and Stevens is way off.

Royce better than Kam, Markus and Sam? Huh???

There have been a lot of hot takes on here over the years, but Schnitzel is really making up for lost time with some of these.

[JakeBarnes]

Marquette will have the entire Big East first team next year.

[MuggsyB]

Here's why I think adding an additional perimeter shooter/scorer will pay major dividends for MU:

Nigel can't really be guarded.  Yes, he was erratic at times, could go cold from the perimeter, and sometimes forced bad shots.  But remember, he generally had 3 guys paying attention to him.  You add a lob and flush threat inside and uh-oh, the defense has a problem.  You add another perimeter threat who can stick an open three and score in open space?  Massive problem and a spaced floor.  You give Nigel more open space to create and attack?  Good luck.  You might as well try to eat Lobster Bisque with a fork. 

[JakeBarnes]

Here's why I think adding an additional perimeter shooter/scorer will pay major dividends for MU:

Nigel can't really be guarded.  Yes, he was erratic at times, could go cold from the perimeter, and sometimes forced bad shots.  But remember, he generally had 3 guys paying attention to him.  You add a lob and flush threat inside and uh-oh, the defense has a problem.  You add another perimeter threat who can stick an open three and score in open space?  Massive problem and a spaced floor.  You give Nigel more open space to create and attack?  Good luck.  You might as well try to eat Lobster Bisque with a fork. 

The new "bbq chicken" will be "lobster bisque." Fits the Big East better.

[Shooter McGavin]

I agree with this analysis*

*everything except the Ian part. 
Going to surprise people!

You've been all in on Miletic.  I like the optimism and really hope you are right.