Marquette Basketball: Breaking down the Golden Eagles’ 2018-19 rotation

Potential Lineups

With so many quality players dotting the depth chart, Wojciechowski will have plenty of lineup options to play with this season. Let’s roll out a few options here:

Starters

G Joseph Chartouny, G Markus Howard, G Sacar Anim, F Sam Hauser, F Matt Heldt

Howard and Hauser are locks. Chartouny brings the passing and perimeter defense. Heldt and Anim might not be the two best players at their respective positions, but they are certainly the most reliable. Heldt will also be the first player to finish four years with Marquette under Wojo.

Small Ball

G Joseph Chartouny, G Markus Howard, G Sacar Anim, F Sam Hauser, F Joey Hauser

The key to an effective small-ball lineup is having players who can still shift across the defensive spectrum to guard bigger players, and then make those bigger opponents pay on the offensive end. Chartouny, Anim, and Sam Hauser can all guard several positions. Morrow and Cain would also work as small-ball centers.

Athleticism

G Greg Elliott, G Markus Howard, F Jamal Cain, F Ed Morrow, C Theo John

This lineup includes the four best dunkers on the team, plus Howard. Someone needs to do the scoring after all.

Pure Shooting

G Greg Elliott, G Markus Howard, F Sam Hauser, F Jamal Cain, F Joey Hauser

Howard, Hauser, Cain, and Elliott nailed 243 of their 555 attempts last season (43.8 percent). Joey Hauser also comes to Marquette with a solid shooting reputation.

Defense

G Joseph Chartouny, G Greg Elliott, G Sacar Anim, F Ed Morrow, C Matt Heldt

Wojo might trot out this all-defense lineup in the final seconds of games where Marquette is tied or ahead by one possession. The Golden Eagles don’t necessarily have a lockdown wing stopper, but Anim can do the trick in a pinch as a big-bodied guard. Sam Hauser doesn’t necessarily have elite foot speed as a defender, but he should have an extra burst this season after undergoing surgery on his injured hip over the summer.

Pure Size

G Joseph Chartouny, F Sam Hauser, F Jamal Cain, F Joey Hauser, C Matt Heldt

I would be surprised if Wojo ever dusted off the jumbo lineup, but this group actually has real playmaking. There is enough ball handling, shooting, and speed to take advantage of a smaller opponent in the minutes when Howard is resting.

Aside from a pending improvement on the defensive side of the floor, Wojciechowski’s management of this loaded roster will be the biggest key to the season. The sooner Wojo wades through his plethora of options and settles on a crunch-time lineup, the better equipped the Golden Eagles will be for March.