|
His wrist was clearly hurt during that Seton Hall game. If he's injured, Marquette is obviously fucked ten ways til Tuesday. And of course they're going to struggle to defend Ja.
That said, if we're talking college ball, not future pro talent, Howard is arguably the second best player in the field as a whole. I know how Marquette should defend Morant-- pack the paint, make him shoot. Easier said than done, obviously, but he's not exceptionally strong or physical, so slow the game down, sag off him, and if he tries to tiptoe into the lane, get physical with him. Theo John and Ed Morrow are excellent physical interior defenders for guys who get to the cup-- maybe they can make him think twice, take some outside Js, and give Marquette some free possessions.
But I have *no* idea how you defend Howard. Again, get physical with him, I guess... but his shot release is absolutely Curry or Young level fast, his handles are very crafty for a little guy, and he shoots 90% from the stripe so you can't foul him. If anyone's a candidate to be a Kemba Walker or Shabazz Napier in this tournament, it's absolutely Howard. You can pencil him in for a good 25 PPG at minimum.
Not saying that Marquette will even win, mind you-- but I think the public is gonna go HARD on Murray State, and I think the smart money is to bet on Marquette to win and cover. Especially once the line inevitably moves toward Murray State. My movies: http://russellhainline.com My movie reviews: https://letterboxd.com/RussellHFilm/ My beer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeertravelguide
|