MU’s John has made strides
Like most college freshmen, it took time for Marquette big man Theo John to adapt to his surroundings.
John is coming off his best game of the season, piling up collegiate highs with 24 minutes, 14 points, six rebounds and five blocks in the Golden Eagles' 77-75 loss to Providence on Saturday.
That's a long way from the guy who fouled out of the first three games of the season, with those 15 fouls coming in just 30 minutes.
The 6-foot-9, 245-pound John looked physically ready when he arrived on the Marquette campus. He has learned that it takes more than size to be successful in college basketball.
"I see a completely different player," John said. "My confidence has slowly started to come. In the beginning of the summer, I was more nervous, just being a freshman. I’ve been able to get some experience playing a few games. Hopefully, now the results will start coming.”
The Golden Eagles (13-10, 4-7 Big East) could use another solid contribution from John against Seton Hall (17-6, 6-4) on Wednesday.
“He’s shown flashes throughout
the season of improvement," MU coach Steve Wojciechowski said. "Certainly early in the season he had a hard time staying in games just because he was fouling a lot. I think he’s gotten significantly better in that.
"I think he’s finishing better. I think he’s understanding the pace of play better. Certainly, he gives us a different dimension than the other big guys because of his ability to protect the rim."
MU junior center Matt Heldt has worked with John all season and has witnessed the freshman's improvement up close.
“He’s thinking less and just playing and trusting his instincts," Heldt said. "You saw that game (against Providence), he was catching and finishing. Stuff he does every day, just in a game it’s different.
"He just needs to get his feet under him. He had a great game and I would expect him to continue to play really well like that.”
In an 84-64 victory over Seton Hall on Jan. 9, John and Heldt were key defenders against the Pirates' Angel Delgado.
The 6-10 double-double machine still finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. But Delgado only had one offensive board, and Seton Hall finished with just five second-chance points.
“I just tried to meet his physicality," John said about playing against one of the nation's best rebounders. "I’m going to try to do that for each and every big we play in this conference, no matter who they are.”
Heldt had his best game of the season against the Pirates, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds.
With John's improvement and sophomore Harry Froling making three straight starts, Heldt has played just 33 minutes in the last four games. The Golden Eagles will likely need all three big men against Delgado.
“He’s a guy you can’t guard one-onone the whole game," Heldt said. "You need multiple guys to come in and help. When he catches the ball, you’ve got to try to get it out of his hands. I thought, as a team, it was really all five of us (on the court) guarding him.”
Wojciechowski said MU had its best defensive performance of the season in that victory over Seton Hall.
The Golden Eagles will need another effort like that to end their fourgame losing streak. MU's NCAA Tournament hopes hang in the balance with five of its final seven games on the road.
“Being on the road could make it one step harder," John said. "That’s what I like. You can tell a man’s character when he’s down in a slump. So if we can rise from that, it will be a true showing of who we are as a team.”