Marquette Basketball: Expectations for Ed Morrow in 2018-19

Marquette Basketball is counting on incoming Nebraska transfer Ed Morrow to cure the team’s defensive woes. Is that realistic for 2018-19?

Despite finishing the 2017-18 season ranked 12th in adjusted offensive efficiency, Marquette’s horrendous defense prevented a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Golden Eagles ranked just 182nd in adjusted defense last year, by far the worst mark in the Big East.

There were several defensive issues plaguing MU, including the starting guards’ height deficiencies, Andrew Rowsey’s general indifference to defending pick and rolls, Sam Hauser’s lingering hip injury, young players performing in bigger roles, and Steve Wojciechowski’s overall scheme, just to name a few.

Marquette has pursued several grad transfer options this offseason with defensive backgrounds, so Wojo’s priorities are clear: improve the defense at all costs.

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Luckily, redshirt junior forward Ed Morrow is now eligible for the Golden Eagles after he was forced to sit out the 2017-18 season following his transfer from Nebraska. Morrow – listed at 6-foot-7 and 235 lbs – has the ability to be a game-changer from day one for Marquette.

As a sophomore, he ranked in the 93rd percentile among all players in block rate and the 96th percentile in defensive rebounding rate. As a team, Marquette finished just 219th in defensive rebounding last season. And even though he doesn’t have great size, Morrow looks to be a guy capable of genuine rim protection. Pair him with senior Matt Heldt – MU’s likely starting center – and Wojo will now have a couple of players capable of legitimate help defense when an opponent drives to the hoop.

Morrow brings a bit more lineup versatility. At 6-foot-7, he makes sense as the power forward next to Heldt or Theo John (I’m already imagining the frontcourt athleticism with John and Morrow). Heldt is an excellent post defender, but he does not necessarily have the requisite foot speed to play out in space. Morrow should be able to man the quicker player and let Heldt camp out near the rim.

But because Morrow can protect the rim, he will also be a valuable ‘5’ in a small-ball lineup. Wojo should be able to slot a mix of Sam Hauser, Sacar Anim, Jamal Cain, or Joey Hauser beside the former Cornhusker.

Offensively, Morrow comes with more question marks, though they are definitely solvable. Morrow averaged 9.4 points on 51 percent shooting in his final season in Lincoln, certainly respectable for a young big man. However, he has never attempted a college three-pointer, and his 60 percent career mark from the free throw line is indicative of a man destined to live in the paint. That could make the offense a little sticky if he plays next to Heldt or John, neither of whom has displayed much of an outside game to this point.

The Golden Eagles should be able to work around his offensive issues fairly easily though. Markus Howard and the elder Hauser are two of the best offensive players in the country; scoring points will rarely be a problem with those two on the floor.

So if Morrow is paired with John or Heldt, the other three spots need to include three offensive weapons. MU can live with two non-shooters on the floor, but a third puts a lot of pressure on Howard and Hauser. Fortunately, Marquette has no shortage of offensive threats in need of playing time.

A small-ball lineup would be ideal though. If Morrow has the lane to himself, Marquette has any combination of guards and wings to surround him. He can make himself available for drop dunks and put-backs (Morrow ranked in the 99th percentile in offensive rebounding rate in 2016-17), while the rest of the team opens up the floor with handoffs and Howard-Hauser pick and pops.

Heldt and John would theoretically enjoy similar successes as the lone big man, though we’ve seen Heldt struggle to make himself available on offense. John is a work in progress; his offseason development will be critical for the future of the program.

Marquette has plenty of quality size next year, so we’ll see how Morrow fits in during the season. He does have the benefit of getting to know the team over the course of his redshirt campaign, and Wojciechowski has developed redshirt players nicely during his tenure. At worst, Morrow brings an extra boost of athleticism and defense to Marquette’s frontcourt; at best, he crushes opponents on the glass, corrals slashers on the wing, and snuffs out pick and rolls atop the key.

Next: Where will the top high school recruits land?

The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle, but for now, the Golden Eagles have a reason for optimism.

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