The 2021-22 college basketball season is quickly approaching, and thus, we turn our attention to previewing the upcoming Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball season.

To that end, we’ve got a stacked up list of questions about the forthcoming campaign, and we’ve gotten the #mubbPAC of Paint Touches, Anonymous Eagle, and Cracked Sidewalks back together 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 transfer will have the biggest impact on Marquette?

For clarity’s sake, we’re talking about both the two graduate transfers, Kur Kuath and Darryl Morsell, as well as the two traditional transfers, Tyler Kolek and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. PLEASE NOTE: These answers were submitted before Thursday night’s exhibition contest against Bowie State.

Alan Bykowski, Cracked Sidewalks: I don’t see how it’s anyone other than Darryl Morsell. He’s going to set the defensive tone for everyone else, he’s the most proven scorer (even if not the most efficient), and the more I read about him the more I think he’ll be an extension of the coaching staff on the court. Watching the season ticket holder practice, it was really impressive how when the competition was on the line, Morsell drove inside to hit a tough contested layup on one possession and then drilled a three on the next to send everyone home. He just seems to have some of that killer instinct that might be hard to find on such a young team.

Ben Snider, Anonymous Eagle: College basketball is in a weird phase as transfers become more dominant in teams. Previously when a new coach would come in he’d bring along a couple new guys to fill in the gaps created by a lack of recruiting window and graduating seniors. The players poised to help ease the discomfort of the transition were the guys who know the program and the younger players. Now this role is on the veterans brought in from other programs. It’s a tall order and not the well-worn path we would prefer, but that makes Darryl Morsell’s role a lot bigger. With Shaka’s clear emphasis on defense and Daryl’s history as a former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, he will be setting the tone on that side of the ball and will be a big reason why fans can see a lot of potential in Coach Smart’s ability to coach a tough team.

Joe McCann, Cracked Sidewalks: I’m going to go with Tyler Kolek. First, he’s in the mix to get a lot of minutes in the backcourt. Secondly, someone has to be a three-point shooter on this team. Greg Elliott probably can be one, but Kolek - a guy who hit 35.9% of his threes as a freshman - needs to be another.

Carter Chapley, Anonymous Eagle: It’s kinda down to how you view the term impact. In the immediate its most likely Morsell as a defensive stalwart and a commodity that has tangible results to fall back on. He’s going to be a major reason this team wins games this year. But in the long term I think Olivier-Maxence Prosper has the potential to be a real star.

Tim Blair, Cracked Sidewalks: Morsell. The Maryland transfer started more than 100 games for the Terps, and he’ll set the tone for this team straight-away. A versatile backcourt veteran, his experience will be vital in re-establishing a defensive identity for this program, while his assist rate — which has improved in every single season — proves that he’ll be a difference-maker offensively as well.

Patrick Leary, Anonymous Eagle: In 2021-22, Darryl Morsell. This is his team. He’s so much more vastly experienced and pedigreed than any other member of the roster. Kolek and O-Max will definitely have impacts this year and will obviously have a bigger impact than Morsell in the future, but Morsell is the BMOC this year for MU.

Rob Lowe, Cracked Sidewalks: It’s Morsell. He’s there not only to contribute on the court, but to lead the defensive tone and culture for the entire team. If his contribution is done right, his impact will ripple for years.

Brewtown Andy, Anonymous Eagle: Y’all got one particular way you want to go about this, huh? Okay, I understand why everyone wants to go in the direction of Darryl Morsell, and the on/off court contribution angle is very compelling. But I am going to go with Kur Kuath for one particular reason: He has to be the defensive backbone of Marquette’s pressing and trapping defense. When teams slip past the trap — and it’s going to happen regularly, no knock on anyone, that’s just life, you can’t execute perfectly every time — it’s going to be up to Kuath to be holding it down in the paint to stop teams from getting easy layups and dunks.

Todd Welter, Cracked Sidewalks: Morsell has to be the lockdown defender he was in the Big Ten and the leader of this team. If he can insert himself quickly and not avoid that transfer ease in period that some guys get caught in (don’t want to rock the boat, etc.), MU has a shot to be competitive in some of these early non-conference games. He has been through the battles already and has seen it all up and down the roads in the Big Ten. Kuath protecting the rim will have an impact as well as there is bound to be some defensive lapses.

John Gunville, Anonymous Eagle: Darryl Morsell for sure. I’m always super big on defensive minded guys who work really hard and maybe aren’t the perfect players (Juan Toscano-Anderson comes to mind). Morsell should be huge for this season and for the future of the program as a whole. He comes in with a new defensive-minded coach looking to create a culture of hard work and toughness on the defensive end. Morsell is the perfect player to help Shaka Smart instill his values into all of these new players that we have coming in this season.

Phil Bush, Cracked Sidewalks: Morsell, and it isn’t close. Morsell can really, really, REALLY defend and that matters in the Shaka regime (does anyone sense a theme with me?). He elected to spend his COVID-bonus season with this team to make a difference, that would seem to answer the question, no?

Andrei Greska, Paint Touches: Morsell. He probably won’t score as much as Kuath, but he’s the kind of player who gives you 35 minutes a night once he’s fully in shape after his offseason shoulder surgery. His defense is game changing and will send the tone for Shaka Smart’s view of Marquette hoops for years to come.

Now it’s your turn! Vote in the poll and make your voice heard in the comments section!