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Message: [QUOTE="Hey Adrien!, post: 4881391, member: 5787"] Ladies and Gentlemen, here it is. The last fully new scouting report until March Madness. Arguably the biggest regular season game of the season!!! [CENTER] [B][SIZE=7]Marquette (19-5)[/SIZE][/B] #11 in KenPom #8 EvanMiya #10 Barttorvik 117th in D1 experience 3rd in minutes continuity (81.5%)[/CENTER] [B]22nd in Offensive efficiency[/B] [LIST] [*]7th in tempo [*]12th w/ a 57.2 2P% [*]43rd in TO prevention [*]58th in A/FGA (56.6%) [*]67th in 3PA/FGA (41.7%); 123rd w/ a 35.0 3P% [*]134th w/ a 72.7 FT%, but bottom 20 nationally in FT rate [*]258th in offensive rebounding [/LIST] [B]13th in Defensive efficiency[/B] [LIST] [*]Tie for 1st, for slowest defensive tempo (19.2 seconds/possession) [*]13th in turnover caused rate (but national median in block rate) [*]48th in FT rate prevention [*]138th in opp. FG% (similar ranks for 2P% and 3P%) [*]197th in defensive rebounding rate [*]327th in BOTH 3PA/FGA prevention (42.6%) and A/FGM allowance (57.6%) [/LIST] Eight game winning streak (6th longest in the nation…v. Nova, at St. John’s, at DePaul, v. Seton Hall, at Villanova, at Georgetown, v. St. John’s, at Butler) [B]PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP W/ BIG EAST STATS: [/B] Tyler Kolek 6’3 195 senior [LIST] [*]17p, 4.9r. 8.6a, 1.7s, 49.6 2P%, 39.3 3P%, 86 FT% [/LIST] Stevie Mitchell 6’3 200 junior [LIST] [*]10.2p, 4.3r, 2.4s, 0.6a, 62.3 2P%, 39.1 3P% (¾ FGAs from 2), 64.3 FT% [*]#3 most efficient defender [/LIST] Kam Jones 6’4 200 junior [LIST] [*]13.1p, 2.3r, 1.8a, 60.6 2P%, 31.1 3P%, 2PA/3PA split even [*]#2 least efficient defender [/LIST] David Jopin 6’8 225 junior [LIST] [*]12.7p, 3.7r, 1.0s, 1.1b, 51 2P%, 43.4 3P%, 60% FGAs from 3, 61.5 FT% [*]#1 least efficient defender [/LIST] Oso Ighodaro 6’11 235 senior [LIST] [*]14.7p, 8.5r, 3.2a, 58.8 2P%, 1 3PA, 70 FT%, 0.9s, 1.5b [*]#2 most efficient defender [/LIST] [B]FREQUENTLY USED BENCH PIECES - 29.6% minutes (215th in nation)[/B] Chase Ross 6’5 205 sophomore [LIST] [*]4.9p, 3.0r, 1.4s, 40 2P%, 33.3 3P%, about ~ FGAs from 3 [*]#1 most efficient defender [/LIST] Ben Gold 6’11 245 sophomore [LIST] [*]4.1p, 3.2r, 0.6s, 0.6b, 32.5 3P%, 6x as many 3PAs as 2PAs [/LIST] Even after losing to Michigan State in the second round of last year’s tournament, the sheer volume and quality of talent returning to Marquette (OM Prosper was the only key player who did not return, and of course, Sean Jones is out for the year, but still on the roster) rightfully called for every prognosticator to deem Marquette as one of the top teams entering this season and so far, they have certainly not disappointed. Comparing the roster from last year and this year, the team seems stronger physically. Per listed weight, the starting backcourt of Kolek/Mitchell/Jones gained five pounds apiece while both Ighodaro and Gold gained at least 20 pounds, with both looking noticeably stronger. Overall, even though the roster hasn’t changed much, this year’s Marquette team is much better defensively. They are rebounding better (closer to national median while last year, they were terrible), are tougher at defending shots and their interior presence means more teams are settling for perimeter threes. The signature of Smart’s defense is still there: gang aggressiveness forces teams to use a ton of clock and cough up the ball a lot, especially in Marquette’s way of using deflections, both on defense and in rebounding, to work in their favor. Offensively, the development of Kolek, Mitchell, Joplin and Ighodaro has now allow Kam Jones to take less of an alpha-role in Big East play, while still remaining one of the more potent and efficient offensive weapons in the conference. Like last year, Marquette plays fast (7th fastest offensive tempo), shoot a ton of threes, are incredibly efficient inside the arc (12th best 2P% in the nation) and share the ball well (nearly 57% of FGAs are assisted). As many have already shared here, like Devin Carter, Tyler Kolek has taken yet another step in his development as a gritty, creative two-way point guard who can score in a variety of ways and oozes basketball IQ. Not afraid to play the villain, Kolek is dangerous once he sees the ball go in the hoop. One of the toughest on-ball defenders in the Big East, Mitchell leads the Big East in steal rate and is exceptionally efficient on offense (2nd lowest turnover rate and 6th best 2P% in the Big East). His toughness and defensive versatility pairs excellent with Kam Jones, who struggles defensively. Chase Ross is quickly developing into an excellent three-and-D wing who can comfortably guard us from 1-to-4. A strong, athletic specimen, Marquette’s strongest defensive lineups include a Kolek/Mitchell/Ross backcourt and like, Mitchell, Ross pairs nicely as a defensive safety value with Kam Jones. Not a strong defender, David Joplin continues to develop as one of the most dangerous offensive forwards in the Big East in the way he can score in a variety of ways in a short amount of time and doesn’t need sets to be drawn up for him in order to make an impact on offense. He seems much stronger this season too. Oso Ighodaro and Ben Gold make up one of the best center rotations in the Big East. Ighodaro is an excellent defender, a strong rebounder and is arguably the best passing big in the conference. While he doesn’t shoot threes, he can convert from the high post with ease. One interesting strategic wrinkle: this year, teams are fouling Ighodaro wayyyy more than previous seasons, as he’s averaged more than double the amount of FTAs compared to last year, which is a reasonable strategy as he is only a career 62% FT shooter. Last season, I incorrectly poo-pooed Ben Gold entering our first matchup with Marquette and he ended up scoring 12 points in just 16 minutes. Gold’s bread-and-butter is perimeter shooting, but his added strength has improved his defense, rebounding and comfort driving from the perimeter. Simply a sub for Ighodaro last season, Gold and Ighodaro have shared the floor quite a bit this season, mostly in bigger lineups with the 6’8 225 Joplin at the 3 along with the two bigs. Similar to last year, the main weaknesses for Marquette is overall rebounding and they are not the strongest three-point shooting team (they shot under 30% from three in all but one of the team’s losses), so take that for what it is. They are also a team with clear weak-points on their roster in terms of defense: Kam Jones is not a good defender, period, and while Joplin can generate turnovers at a decent rate, his aggressiveness sometimes puts him out of position. That being said, Karaban’s savvy combined with whomever Jones guards, are potential mismatch opportunities. [/QUOTE]

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