Marquette Basketball: 3 reasons why the Golden Eagles will be better than Wisconsin in 2018-19

Supporting Cast

Every team needs stars, but quality role players push the team over the hump. Amidst the Badgers’ rash of injuries last season, Brad Davison stepped up and put together a solid campaign – 12.1 points, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals per game – while playing with an injured left shoulder. He should take another step forward as both the lead guard and the nation’s biggest pest.

But the rest of the roster has plenty of questions. D’Mitrik Trice is returning after missing most of the year with a foot injury, but he is a career 38 percent shooter. Kobe King is also back, and he showed some promise in 10 games last year, but it’s too soon to draw any real conclusions about the former three-star recruit. Brevin Pritzl was third in scoring for the Badgers last season, but he doesn’t move the needle much. Khalil Iverson is entering his senior season, but it’s probably time to give up on him ever finding a three-point shot. He is 6-49 beyond the arc for his career, and he has missed his last 26 three-point attempts dating back to February 2017.

In fact, three-point shooting will likely be part of the Badgers’ downfall. Happ’s inability to shoot outside the paint is his one weakness, so ideally, the other four players on the floor would have some modicum of long-range acumen. Instead, Wisconsin finished 254th in three-point percentage (33.5) as a team last year.

Wisconsin has some fairly reliable players around Happ, but the Badgers lack any players who really up their “risk profile,” as Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey would say. Meanwhile, Marquette has almost too many options surrounding Howard and Hauser. Grad transfer Joseph Chartouny figures to be a perfect point guard fit next to Howard as a high-level passer with stud defensive tendencies. Redshirt senior Ed Morrow is an elite rebounder and shot blocker, and should completely transform Marquette’s defensive intensity in the frontcourt.

On the wing, sophomores Jamal Cain and Greg Elliott are absolute dynamite athletes who also shot a combined 37-85 (43.5)  from beyond the arc last year. They each provide legitimate 3-and-D possibilities and should be even better in 2018-19 with another year of experience and a full bill of health. Joey Hauser, Sam’s younger brother, comes to campus as an even better prospect than his brother. Likely starters – wing Sacar Anim and big man Matt Heldt – won’t wow anyone, but they are very consistent, which allows Wojo to manage the higher-variance players off the bench each game. Even MU’s likely benchwarmers – Theo John, Brendan Bailey, and Ike Eke – come with a little bit of juice, and have the skill sets to potentially win a game for the Golden Eagles this year.

Marquette’s number of capable options boosts the Golden Eagles’ floor and could send their ceiling sky-high if everyone hits their peaks. Wisconsin simply doesn’t have the same kind of talent orbiting around its lone star.