Expectations
There were two sets of expectations for Todd Mayo’s season.
The first set was fairly high. With Darius Johnson-Odom leaving Marquette, there were points to be replaced. With Trent Lockett coming to the school, though, those expectations were to be tempered a bit. Also, Mayo was sent home in the summer by head coach Buzz Williams. There were many reasons to believe that the sophomore wouldn’t take a huge step forward this past season.
That other set of expectations is undefined, really. No one knew if Mayo would even play this season, so no one knew if anything should be expected of him.
So how’d it go?
Stats: 5.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, 35.6% FG, 27.9% on three-point shots, 14.1 minutes per game
The sophomore missed a big portion of this past year because he was academically ineligible. After missing the first 10 games of the season, Mayo was behind when it came to game action. Unfortunately he stayed a bit behind the whole season, never really hitting his stride.
Mayo’s ineligibility was announced just days before the Golden Eagles were scheduled to start their season against Ohio State. Marquette didn’t necessarily replace Mayo’s expected production. They struggled at times offensively and their lack of depth at the guard position was on full display.
When Mayo did return to the team, he was not the same player he was last season. In 2011-12, he was a sparkplug off the bench, who could be relied upon to hit a big shot or display impressive aggressiveness offensively. This season, it never really clicked for Mayo, and missing those 10 games to start the season are likely the reason why.
High
When the Golden Eagles traveled to South Florida in February, they exploded offensively in the first half. Mayo was the driving force, scoring 13 points of the team’s first 30 points, with nine of them coming in a span of 1 minute, 23 seconds.
Mayo made a lay-up at the 16:04 mark. Then, he scored nine consecutive points, leading Marquette on a 9-0 run with a three-point play and two three-point shots. Mayo’s final two points came in the form of another lay-up with 4:57 left in the first half.
He failed to score in the second half, finishing with those 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field. Still, Mayo displayed the electric scoring ability that Marquette fans knew he had in him all along.
Low
Just two games before that game at South Florida, Mayo did not play a single minute against Providence at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
He stayed on the bench the whole game, with his wrist wrapped up. Afterward, Williams said Mayo was not injured and could have played. The sophomore guard did not play simply because his coach didn’t feel he would benefit the team enough.
At that time of the season, many doubts were cast onto Mayo’s status for the rest of the season. If he didn’t play at all against Providence, then who would he play against?
It turned out to be a one-game thing, as he would play double-digit minutes in 12 of the Golden Eagles’ last 17 games. While it wasn’t the playing time Mayo desired, at least he was getting on the court.
Bottom line
Mayo has been open in discussing his relationship with Williams, saying he didn’t really talk to him that much as a freshman. This past season, Mayo was finally able to build one with his head coach through the process of regaining his eligibility. This would be good news for his future at Marquette.
Next season, Jajuan Johnson will be a Golden Eagle – a top-50 recruit who plays shooting guard. He is an impressive scorer who will come to Marquette and likely earn playing time right away. If Vander Blue decides to stay for his senior year, then Mayo will have to compete with Johnson to earn the minutes that Trent Lockett got last season. The odd man out will likely serve a role similar to the one Mayo did as a freshman.
But, there was actually some speculation that Mayo wouldn’t even come back to the team after he was rendered ineligible. It is likely he will come back for his junior season, but at 22 years of age he might consider a career overseas or in the NBA’s Developmental League.
Marquette fans are yet to see the best of Mayo. He hasn’t been able to put together a full season of consistent performances. If he chooses to stick around for another season at Marquette, he’ll definitely have to chance to have that complete season he should be striving for.
