With the 2025-26 Marquette Golden Eagles season officially in the rearview, it's time to break down the roster player by player. We're kicking off our reviews by looking at the man who literally stood above the rest: redshirt freshman big man Josh Clark.

Let's be real—what were you honestly expecting from a project big in his first active season? The path for players like Clark at Marquette has been pretty clear. Just last season, Caedin Hamilton, another "project big" coming off a redshirt year, averaged a modest 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in limited minutes. While Clark's 6'11" frame gives him a physical edge, expecting a dramatic leap from that blueprint might be setting the bar too high.

The advanced analytics seem to agree. BartTorvik.com's algorithm doesn't project Clark as a top-10 contributor for the upcoming season. Given the recent history of players like Hamilton and Keeyan Itejere needing time to develop, that's a reasonable, if cautious, outlook. This year in Milwaukee will be valuable for Clark's growth, but it's likely more about development than immediate starring minutes.

So, where does that leave him? When compared to Ben Gold's sometimes turbulent run as the starting center last year, Clark could be seen as a steadying presence "at worst." His most intriguing role might actually be as the starting power forward, with the flexibility to slide over to the five depending on foul trouble and matchup needs.

If that's the plan, the battle for the true starting center spot likely comes down to Caedin Hamilton and Joshua Clark. This is where the projections get interesting, and where Clark's unique blend of size and developing skill could defy the early expectations. His journey is just beginning, and how he adapts will be a key subplot for Shaka Smart's frontcourt this season.