Busting Brackets
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Marquette Basketball: 3 questions facing the Golden Eagles

By Lukas Harkins

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 20: The Marquette Golden Eagles bench celebrates during the second half of the game against the VCU Rams at Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 20: The Marquette Golden Eagles bench celebrates during the second half of the game against the VCU Rams at Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 08: Booth of the Villanova Wildcats drives past Hauser. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 08: Booth of the Villanova Wildcats drives past Hauser. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Where will the defense improve?

Everyone knows this is the biggest question that is facing Marquette this year. Defense has been a serious issue for the Golden Eagles in recent years and it could be what prevents them from reaching their full potential this year too. Unlike years in the past, though, Marquette has added a few key pieces that could help the defense improve as a whole.

First, Nebraska transfer Ed Morrow will be eligible to play this season after sitting out 2017-18 due to transfer rules. A 6-foot-7 forward with two years of experience in the Big Ten, Morrow is expected to immediately play significant minutes during this upcoming season. He is an above-average athlete and also has quality timing when it comes to blocking shots. As a sophomore in 2016-17, Morrow averaged 1.1 blocks per game and exhibited a 5.0% block rate. These numbers would have been first and second on Marquette’s team last year, respectively.

Then, incoming grad transfer Joseph Chartouny brings a high defensive pedigree as well. Not only is he immensely experienced at the college level, having played three complete years at Fordham, but he is also an elite on-ball defender. At 6-foot-3, he has plenty of size to play at either guard position. This is something that was seriously lacking in the backcourt last year and simply adding a bigger guard will help. In addition. Chartouny has averaged over three steals per game in each of the last two seasons and he led the entire NCAA this past season at 3.3 swipes per contest.

Even though he is not the most efficient offensive player, the Golden Eagles did not need more scoring this offseason. Coach Wojo went out on the grad transfer market and came away with the best available perimeter defender. We will not find out how improved Marquette will be defensively until we see them on the court but it is clear that Coach Wojo had the right idea in mind with this grad transfer commitment.

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