And Then Along Came Jones?

[MuggsyB]

Could this be the year where we turn the corner, literally and figuratively, in the backcourt.?  During our decade of mediocrity we have have not had an explosive blow-by guy with handles. ....a.k.a. zoomability.  When you have a kid that can get into the paint and create it absolutely changes everything. 

Jones squared could be the beginning of a new era in MU hoops.  The emergence of Kam's game excites me greatly. He's a young man that can get buckets a la Nick Van Exel.  What I think we will see is more effectiveness off the bounce from Kam, increased upper body strength, and better control and shot selection.

And let's not forget Stevie and Kolek.  We have great potential on the perimeter and guys with multiple skill-sets.  Obviously the glass and interior is a bit of a question mark.  We need O-Max and Oso in particular to find a way to defend inside and usurp rebs.  But I expect a lot of small ball in '22-23.  Maybe Joplin breaks out?  Losing Lewis clearly hurts but we have a number of guys capable of elevating their play.  I fully expect this group to be super competitive and as good or better than last year.  There will be more balance, more transition hoops, less predictability and an exciting group 1-12.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Could this be the year where we turn the corner, literally and figuratively, in the backcourt.?  During our decade of mediocrity we have have not had an explosive blow-by guy with handles. ....a.k.a. zoomability.  When you have a kid that can get into the paint and create it absolutely changes everything. 

Jones squared could be the beginning of a new era in MU hoops.  The emergence of Kam's game excites me greatly. He's a young man that can get buckets a la Nick Van Exel.  What I think we will see is more effectiveness off the bounce from Kam, increased upper body strength, and better control and shot selection.

And let's not forget Stevie and Kolek.  We have great potential on the perimeter and guys with multiple skill-sets.  Obviously the glass and interior is a bit of a question mark.  We need O-Max and Oso in particular to find a way to defend inside and usurp rebs.  But I expect a lot of small ball in '22-23.  Maybe Joplin breaks out?  Losing Lewis clearly hurts but we have a number of guys capable of elevating their play.  I fully expect this group to be super competitive and as good or better than last year.  There will be more balance, more transition hoops, less predictability and an exciting group 1-12.

Well said. I believe you're point on. Let's play ball!

[jfp61]

Kam could easily be the best guard next year because of his offensive upside.

But only Emarion, Joplin, and the walkons had worse NET ratings than him last year. Lets pump the breaks a little. Its not "early september" hype worthy.

[tower912]

Lets pump the breaks a little. Its not "early september" hype worthy.

Let him be.   Muggsy gotta muggsy.

[PGsHeroes32]

I needed a zoomability reference, its been a while.

[nyg]

Let him be.   Muggsy gotta muggsy.

Here's Muggsy:

Put on Marquette gear, start a new thread, put gear away.  Get new Marquette gear, put on, start a new thread......repeat. 

[MUUWUWM]

Here's Muggsy:

Put on Marquette gear, start a new thread, put gear away.  Get new Marquette gear, put on, start a new thread......repeat.

LMAO!

[We R Final Four]

Here's Muggsy:

Put on Marquette gear, start a new thread, put gear away.  Get new Marquette gear, put on, start a new thread......repeat.

Exactly.

[GoFastAndWin]

I needed a zoomability reference, its been a while.

I liked the "usurp" reference to rebounds. 😂
Muggsy is right....We need to establish some BigEast backcourt hegemony. And it starts with big, er medium size (for now) guards snaring some unlikely rebounds.

[Johnny B]

ppl putting massive expectations on the 5 10.frosh.

[Newsdreams]

I liked the "usurp" reference to rebounds. 😂
Muggsy is right....We need to establish some BigEast backcourt hegemony. And it starts with big, er medium size (for now) guards snaring some unlikely rebounds.

No expectations for rebounds, rebounds no matta.

[panda]

I think Stevie sees the most minutes at Pg this year. We haven't had a player on the roster in years whose defense gave him minutes early in his career. Love the energy and effectiveness he brought day 1 on that side of the floor. By the end of the season, he was making plays on the offensive end of the floor as well. Hes going to be one of if not the most improved player next year imo.

I see Jones as a similar energy type role guy off the bench that Stevie played last year. Completely different players but will fill the same spot/need in the rotation this year.

[tower912]

ppl putting massive expectations on the 5 10.frosh.

A few.   Not that widespread.    I think we will need more from Gold than we do from Sean.       I think SJ (perfect for a Jesuit school) and Ross are going to be depth and situational.   

[MU82]

A few.   Not that widespread.    I think we will need more from Gold than we do from Sean.       I think SJ (perfect for a Jesuit school) and Ross are going to be depth and situational.

Stevie was what I'd call a "situational" player last season. He'd most sit, with many games of only 2 or 3 or 5 minutes, but then Shaka would throw him out there to harass an opposing guard.

I sure hope we get a lot more out of Sean Jones than a similar "situational" contribution, tower, at least the way I think we'd both define the term.

[79Warrior]

A few.   Not that widespread.    I think we will need more from Gold than we do from Sean.       I think SJ (perfect for a Jesuit school) and Ross are going to be depth and situational.

Gold can be a difference maker.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

My roster assessment:

Tier 1: Penciled in starters

Kolek
O-Max
Oso

Tier 2: Fringe starters and rotation players

S. Jones
Mitchell
K. Jones
Wright
Gold

Tier 3: Wildcard
Joplin

Tier 4: Wait and see
Ross
Itejere

Injured/Probable redshirt
Ellis

[We R Final Four]

I would move Kam to 1.1 tier
Wright to a 1.25
I believe Jop will be a Tier 1.5player.

[panda]

Gold in front of Joplin is criminal

[MuggsyB]

I would move Kam to 1.1 tier
Wright to a 1.25
I believe Jop will be a Tier 1.5player.

Wrightsil and Joplin's production are a huge key to the ultimate success of this team.  My gut feeling is Gold won't play all that much.

[Shooter McGavin]

Wrightsil and Joplin's production are a huge key to the ultimate success of this team.  My gut feeling is Gold won't play all that much.

Insiders please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Gold supposed to be a major contributor this year?  I thought he was supposed to be one of the better players in practice.  Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.  Don't want Froling part two.

[MuggsyB]

Insiders please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Gold supposed to be a major contributor this year?  I thought he was supposed to be one of the better players in practice.  Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.  Don't want Froling part two.

I hope I'm wrong but it is usually takes time for bigs to develop.  I fully expect Wrightsil to be a major contributor. My guess is we start either:

Kolek
Kam
ZWright
O-Max
Oso

Or we start Stevie instead of Zach. 

[MuggsyB]

Kolek expectations?

I really hope he finds his shot this season.

[bilsu]

Gold in front of Joplin is criminal

Only, if Gold is not good.

[bilsu]

Wrightsil and Joplin's production are a huge key to the ultimate success of this team.  My gut feeling is Gold won't play all that much.

I think we are worse than 9th place, if Gold is not good enough to play a significant role.
Joplin would need a huge step up (which is certainly possible) to be a game changer.

[MuggsyB]

I think we are worse than 9th place, if Gold is not good enough to play a significant role.
Joplin would need a huge step up (which is certainly possible) to be a game changer.

9th???!!!

No confidence in Oso?