Marquette coach Shaka Smart talks to Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro in NBA
Marquette coach Shaka Smart talked about Oso Ighodaro and Tyler Kolek honoring their teammates with their NBA numbers.
Kam Jones is the clear alpha scorer for the Marquette men’s basketball team.
If anyone needed more proof, the senior guard scored 32 points on hyper-efficient 14-for-16 shooting in MU’s season-opening 102-62 win over Stony Brook on Monday at Fiserv Forum.
The more interesting question heading into the season was who would emerge as the secondary goal scorer.
All offseason, Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart said junior guard Chase Ross has been one of the team’s most impressive players.
Ross seemed to play the role of Robin to Jones’ Batman, with Jones scoring 23 points in college. He was also efficient going 9 for 11 and adding eight rebounds and four assists.
“It felt great to be there with my teammates,” Ross said. “We worked all spring, fall and summer to be here, where we are today.
“So it felt great to be there with my teammates and give me energy.”
Chase Ross finally free from injuries
Ross attacked the basket with revenge, earning a team-high six free throws. After that he is finally healthy leg and shoulder injuries disrupted last season.
“He has been our most important player from the end of last season until now,” Smart said. “It’s really not close, between him and Jop (David Joplin), those guys have really put in a lot of work and those guys have been very consistent in practice.
“With Chase, I think the biggest thing is his confidence is on a whole different level than it was this time last year. He knows he can do it. He knows we need it from him. He has an aggressiveness to him.” .”
Ross also shot 2 for 3 on three-pointers, showing he can be just as effective on half-court shots as he is in transition.
“I just try to help my team as much as I can,” Ross said. “So just go to the gym. Do what I have to do.
‘Play to my advantage. Work in my favor. Do the things that will help us on the offensive and defensive side.”
Kam Jones starts red hot
Jones is well on his way to become the No. 2 scorer in MU history.
He took shots like he always did with the Golden Eagles, come into focus for smart finishes while also bombing away 4 for 6 on three-pointers.
“He’s one of the best finishers for a guard I’ve ever seen,” Smart said. “He’s able to go out there and just make a lot of short shots.
“It wasn’t all layups, but within his range where he can shoot a jump hook or a floater. He’s a very good post player. You don’t really think of guards that way. But he’s good at turning the back to the basket and using his cunning to create.”
Jones had 20 points in the first half, including knocking down a triple in the corner at the buzzer that gave MU a 48-30 lead.
“That’s Kam Jones,” Ross said. ‘He just does what he does.
‘It doesn’t surprise me. It might surprise you all. But he also worked hard all summer and fall. He does what he has to do.’
Royce Parham is making a strong debut as a freshman
It was a slow start for the Golden Eagles, who tied the Seawolves at 17-17 before pulling away.
The lineup that provided that spark featured freshman Royce Parham as a 6-foot-4 small-ball center.
“Royce is just a baller,” Smart said. “I’m sure he was nervous because it was his first match, but he doesn’t show any fear.
“He doesn’t show any fear and he’s one of the best scorers I’ve ever coached. So as he gets more and more comfortable, he’ll be able to put the ball in the basket.”
Parham finished with four points and three rebounds.
“I was happy, I was excited to see him get that deflection and dunk,” said freshman Caedin Hamilton, who was also making his MU debut.
As expectedMU freshman Damarius Owens dropped out with a toe injury on his right foot.
Owens hurt his toe during the Golden Eagles’ close game with Oklahoma on Oct. 26.
Smart did not have a clear timeline for Owens’ return.
“Maybe he’ll come back relatively soon,” Smart said. “It’s a unique injury that he has. So the first thing is to get the pain back to a place where he feels comfortable when he goes out and plays.
“Initially we were afraid that he would be out for a long time this season. And there is a chance that he will return sooner.”
Sophomore big man Al Amadou will redshirt
The Golden Eagles cleared the bench in the final few minutes, with all the walk-ons in the game.
But 6-foot-2 sophomore Al Amadou stuck with his warm-up. That’s because the big man will redshirt this season.
Amadou has been a project after he started playing basketball as a teenager.
“He’s shown some real glimpses in practice,” Smart said. “His best basketball is still ahead of him. So that’s what we plan to do.”
Josh Clark a 7-foot-1 freshmanis also redshirting this season.