The 2018-19 college basketball season is quickly approaching, and thus, we turn our attention to previewing the upcoming Marquette men’s basketball season.

As was the case last year, we’ve got a stacked up list of questions about the 2017-18 campaign, and each of the 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:

Who will lead Marquette in scoring this season?

For context purposes, Markus Howard (20.4 points per game), Sam Hauser (14.1 ppg), and Sacar Anim (7.6 ppg) are MU’s three leading returning scorers.

Ben Snider:

Sacar Anim being the third leading returning scorer at 7.6 ppg just blows my damn mind. We really need to appreciate the fact that only 3 guys led the team last year to an elite offense. Just stunning. Anyway, the answer is Markus Howard.

Patrick Leary:

I am trying to think of the scenarios where it’s not Markus Howard, and frankly all of them scare me more than I’d like to admit. Not only will Howard lead Marquette in scoring, he’s going to score more than his 20.4 points per game of a year ago. There’s just no way anyone else on the roster can handle to kind of volume to even come close.

Connor Lagore:

I’m trying to think of which guy would surprise me the most if they turned out to be Marquette’s leading scorer. I think I’d have to go with Theo John. That would have to mean their offense completely upended itself and the Golden Eagles became a prototypical 2006 college basketball powerhouse, right? Just throw it to the biggest guy on the floor and make something happen? And because Marquette was ahead of the curve with the importance of three-point shooting a couple years ago, maybe now they’re jump-starting the shift back to bully ball. And with the lack of good shooting in NCAA basketball, they’ve decided to focus on high-efficiency shots inside while everyone else continues to take low-percentage 3s. Could this be true? Will Theo John and Ed Morrow lead the team in scoring?

Nope, still Markus Howard. It was fun to dream.

Brewtown Andy:

YOU WANNA GET NUTS? LET’S GET NUTS.

Someone is going to have to absorb the 20+ points per game that Andrew Rowsey threw up last season. It’s probably going to be a collection of someones, to be honest. In any case, there’s a likely candidate for where most of those points are going to go, and it’s not Markus Howard.

Markus Howard was already in the top 100 in the country in terms of usage rate. He averaged over 15 shots a game while MU as a team averaged just shy of 60 per game. On a couple of podcast appearances over the summer, head coach Steve Wojciechowski talked about how Howard is going to have to focus on distribution more than scoring this year. Combine “he can’t possibly take more shots than he was” with “Wojo seems to want him to take fewer shots” and all of a sudden, you’ve got even more than just Rowsey’s 20+ points per game needing a home.

My theory?

It’s Sam Hauser.

Yes, it will likely end up ruining his status as one of the most efficient players in the country. I’m all for Hauser and his 47% career three-point shooting percentage letting fly more than the five tries per game that he put up last season and nudging his 14 points per game upwards and passing Howard on his way back down.

Sam Newberry:

Two words. Well, two names, Markus. Howard. Like, come on. Big East Preseason Player of the Year Candidate. Averaged over 20 last year ALONGSIDE ANDREW ROWSEY.

I love everyone else on this team that will score, but this is the easy question.

Broadway Brown:

Markus Howard. Next question.

Oh, an actual explanation? FINE. Markus Howard averaged 20.4 points per game last year and it is extremely hard to imagine he won’t average more this year. His three point numbers will go up this year with Rowsey gone and he will probably average around 21 or 22 points this year.

Besay:

Markus Howard!!!

At this point you’re probably not reading the explanation because my friends above me have done an incredible job of telling you what you already know. Markus Howard, barring injury, will be Marquette’s top scorer. Good ole’ Brewtown Andy is trying to trick you all with his fancy theory. Do not give in! I do partially agree and think Sam Hauser will be Marquette’s best offensive weapon but Howard will lead the team in scoring. He’s a more versatile scorer and will benefit from Joseph Chartouny having most of the ball-handling duties.

Pistol Brad:

Matt Heldt will lead the team in scoring this season, provided the other 12 scholarship players suffer some sort of season ending injury in the preseason. If that is not the case and we presume every player is healthy, Markus Howard will lead the team in scoring. Howard averaged 20.4 points per game last season and is likely so see an increase in usage as his gun-slinging backcourt mate Andrew Rowsey has been replaced with pass first point guard Joseph Chartouny. The only way I see a healthy Markus Howard not leading the team in scoring is if Sam Hauser takes a gigantic leap forward building on his stellar sophomore season and even then if Hauser does take another huge step it is very hard to envision his usage spiking high enough to overtake Howard for the scoring title.