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Marquette Basketball: High expectations heading into 2018-19

By Lukas Harkins

MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts to an officials call during the first half of a game against the Xavier Musketeers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on December 27, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts to an officials call during the first half of a game against the Xavier Musketeers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on December 27, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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2018-19 is expected to be a down season for the Big East. Yet, Marquette basketball could take advantage of this and rise near the top of the standings.

In four years as the head coach for Marquette basketball, Steve Wojciechowski has only reached the NCAA Tournament one time. Marquette fans have extremely high expectations and Coach Wojo is yet to meet those. With a talented roster coming back next season, the Golden Eagle faithful will be looking for more than just an appearance in the Big Dance. The Big East as a whole is projected to have a down season and Marquette could easily benefit from that.

Villanova will once again be the favorite to win the Big East and should be a top-5 team in the nation. After that, though, there is no clear favorite to finish second in the league. Marquette fans everywhere will be hoping to fill that hole with their newfound balance of offense and defense thanks to incoming transfers.

No Rowsey, no problem

Leading the way in 2018-19 will be junior guard Markus Howard. Arguably the best shooter in the entire country, the 5’11” Howard shot 45.4% from 3-point range in his first two seasons on campus while attempting 6.5 trifectas per game. Despite his stature, he is one of the most dangerous scorers in the nation, posting 20.4 points per game this past season. There are very few holes in Howard’s offensive game but his flaws on the defensive end are glaring.

Thankfully, he has a running mate in the backcourt who can lock down opposing guards. Impending graduate Andrew Rowsey was an elite scorer and shooter alongside Howard but was another poor defender. His replacement for next season, though, is one of the best in the business. Joseph Chartouny, a transfer guard from Fordham, is well-known as a top-notch defender who led the country in steals last season with 3.3 steals per game. He will immediately step into the starting lineup and provide balance to the backcourt. In addition, Chartourny’s offensive abilities as a playmaker will allow Howard to be an off-ball scorer.

Here come the Hauser Brothers

Even though Howard gets the majority of the press for Marquette, to-be junior Sam Hauser is a potential All-Big East player next season. In 2017-18, he averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7% from 3-point range. The 6’7″ forward is as versatile as they come on the offensive end while also improving as a rebounder. He is an elite 3-point sniper that keeps defenders on their heels at all times. Marquette fans will welcome his return with open arms as will they happily invite his younger brother, Joey, to the program.

A top-50 recruit in the 2018 class, Joey Hauser will be expected to make an immediate impact as a freshman. A 6’8″ forward, Joey should team up well with Sam in the frontcourt as they will bring a dangerous scoring punch for the Golden Eagles. Joey missed the majority of his senior high school season due to an ankle injury and enrolled at the school in the Spring. However, he did average 23.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game as a junior.

One more transfer to fill out the rotation

Another solid defensive player, Nebraska transfer Ed Morrow will also join the rotation in 2018-19. He sat out this past year due to transfer rules but the 6’7″ forward will provide instant interior defense. As a sophomore for the Cornhuskers in 2016-17, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. He plays bigger than his height and will be an excellent interior addition to the program. If he is utilized correctly, Morrow can be a major contributor.

Next: 2018 Big East recruiting classes

Overall, Marquette will have high expectations heading into this season due to the amount of talent on the roster. Coach Wojo will have his hands full trying to juggle the rotation and implement a defensive system. For the first time under Wojo, there are solid individual defenders on the roster that might be able to help Marquette become at least a decent team on that end of the floor. The offense will be there but will the defense?

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