Marquette Basketball: Player reviews for the 2017-18 season
By Brian Foley
F Sam Hauser (So.)
Stats: 14.1 pts – 5.7 reb – 2.9 ast – 50% FG – 83.6% FT – 48.7% 3PT
What went well: Diverse offense
As long as Howard is in the blue and gold, Hauser will likely remain under the radar forever. After a very nice freshman campaign, Hauser added a dynamic post-up game this year to play off his elite shooting. He is incredibly efficient and can score from anywhere on the floor. The sky is the limit for Hauser as the number two option next season.
What to improve on: Aggressiveness
No one would complain if Hauser took more shots – the guy is an elite shot maker, but only averaged 10 attempts per game. Part of that lies at the feet of his teammates; Rowsey and Howard are not always the most willing passers. Still, some blame has to be shifted to Hauser himself, who passes up open looks too often and does not always look to attack. Rowsey’s 30.2 percent usage rate has to be distributed somewhere, so here’s hoping a good chunk heads Hauser’s way.
Unfortunately, Hauser will be recovering from a hip injury this summer, with the initial timetable projecting a 4-5 month rehab process. It’s unclear when he actually injured his hip, though he was clearly hampered in the final four games this season (averaged just 6.5 points and 7 shots per game). Hip injuries can be a tricky business (see Isaiah Thomas), but hopefully it’s not too serious, and Hauser is back on the court by the start of the school year.