The 2017-18 college basketball season is quickly approaching, and thus, we turn our attention to previewing the upcoming Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball season.

As you may have noticed, we’ve got a few new voices here on the site since the school year started. We’re going to take advantage of that and do something new for the season preview. We’ve got a stacked up list of questions about the 2017-18 campaign, and each of the new contributors to AE are going to take a crack at answering them. There will be a new question every weekday afternoon between now and the start of the season, so be sure to stop back every day to find the new one.

Onwards, then, to the question of the day:

Which Marquette newcomer will have the biggest impact on the 2017-18 season?

Pistol Brad: If you asked me this question a few weeks ago, I would have told you that Harry Froling would be the most impactful newcomer on this team. With his size and ability to shoot the ball, it is a pretty logical choice. However, from what I have seen so far and heard from my sources around the team (Yea… I got sources…), Theo John will be the most important newcomer to the team this year. I really like the size, length, and attitude that John will bring to the center position. I don’t believe John will amass very many, if any, starts this season, but I could see him actually getting the most minutes of any center on the team. If he can block shots with his self-proclaimed 7’4” wingspan and be effective hedging on ball screens, he will prove an invaluable asset on the defensive end where God knows Marquette needs help after the Lindenwood fiasco.

Ben Snider: While I stand by my answer of Greg Elliott being the X Factor, his minutes will be limiting his impact. My guess is Ike Eke. From what I’ve read, he’s the more athletic one between Theo John and himself. The power forward spot will be the one that needs the most contribution and they’ll both need to contribute anyway, especially on defense, so it probably doesn’t matter which one does more. I’m just so happy that we’ll never see Katin Reinhardt try to guard Angel Delgado again.

Sam Newberry: It’s hard to imagine (for me at least) that the answer isn’t Harry Froling. While Theo John, Greg Elliott, Jamal Cain, and Ike Eke all might be better players in the long run, Harry’s ability to stretch the floor is quite unlike every other big on this roster. Theo and Ike (and Matt Heldt, too) might all be better defenders and better pure post players, but Harry’s offensive ability and versatility should demand floor time. I’m not looking forward to him guarding some of the extremely talented bigs that the Big East has to offer (Harry, meet the mobile brick wall that we call Angel Delgado), but his pros should far outweigh his cons, and that isn’t something that every new player can rest their laurels on. I could definitely see times where Harry and Theo trot out to play at the same time, which could maximize both Harry and Theo’s strengths and downplay individual weaknesses.

Plus: I really want to get used to saying “From Way Down Under”(TM) when Harry makes a three.

NHammertime: There will be the opportunity for most, if not all, of the newcomers to make their impact on this team. Theo John has the biggest opportunity of all, and he seems the readiest to take advantage of that opportunity. Marquette will be relatively thin in the frontcourt coming into this year. They will need production from newcomers Theo John and Harry Froling in that area. Theo will be able to have an impact on the team for a full season, whereas Froling will miss the first two months. Both of these guys have developed their bodies in the weight room to the point where they should be able to hold their own down in the paint. The combination of available playing time and readiness to compete at this level is why I think Theo John has the biggest overall impact on the 2017-2018 team.

Broadway Brown: I think Theo John will have the biggest impact among the newcomers. Wojo brought him in to rebound and block shots and that is what Theo does best. I expect him to play a huge role in the interior defense and get a ton of blocked shots. On the offensive side, I would like to see him post up and get opportunities that way along with the pick and roll.

CLagore: It's tough to go with anyone other than Harry Froling. The Thunder from Down Under (let's get this some legs, yeah?) is going to have to have the biggest impact. As much as I hate to say it, Matt Heldt probably won't cut it as MU's primary post presence this year, so the quicker mid-December gets here, the better. We've already seen how Froling's bulked up (or, technically, bulked down, I guess) since arriving on campus, but now I want to see him throw his weight around with some other dudes in Big East play. What's tough is what we should expect out of him. He didn't play much/have any impact at SMU (hence the transfer), but Marquette has seemingly bought into him being significantly important to the team. I think his versatility should be a huge game-changer for the team, as putting five guys on the floor that can shoot it will make Marquette's offense even more spaced than it already was last year. I'm also curious as to how often, if ever, Wojo puts both Froling and Heldt on the court together. The Thunder from Down Under (see how that just rolls off the tongue) is almost certainly more skilled than Heldt, but if he can bring the same amount of toughness, he'll be incredibly valuable. I don't want another season of trading offense for defense (a la the Luke Fischer-Heldt rotation) substitutions. I also think if you want to measure impact, you look at how the team changes. Froling becoming eligible mid-season will add another dynamic to an (hopefully) already meshed squad, and right in time for conference play. I've got high hopes for the Aussie. Let's make some magic.

Besay: Harry Froling will have the biggest impact as a newcomer for the Golden Eagles once he becomes eligible next semester. Right now, they don't have a true backup for Matt Heldt. Once he gets into foul trouble (which is bound to happen often) they'll have to go to a smaller lineup. Froling has the physical attributes to be dominant inside the paint for Marquette. I think he'll end up splitting time with Heldt and help the MU defense be much improved in the rebounding category when he starts playing in January.