The newest reports coming out of Bloomington, Indiana may put smiles upon many Marquette basketball fans’ faces. A crippled Hoosiers team, already beaten down by NCAA sanctions, could be facing even further penalties when the NCAA infractions committee makes its decision in the coming weeks.
The forecast for Indiana basketball and former MU head coach Tom Crean could not get any worse. Indiana is returning only two players from last season (with a combined 11 minutes of playing time in 07-08) and is bringing in eight freshmen.
Marquette fans can easily mitigate the loss of Crean, who left for Indiana in early April, with such news. But even more promising news can be found in what college basketball experts are saying about Marquette basketball and the forthcoming season.
The outlook on Coach Buzz and the Golden Eagles is very promising leading up to the regular season opener on November 14th. Sports Illustrated and ESPN both consider the team to be in the upper echelon of the Big East, as well as in college basketball.
It is even circulating that USA Today picked Marquette to win the Big East in its College Basketball Preview.
There is reason for such high expectations to be bestowed upon the Golden Eagles.
For starters, the team returns with most of its core players from a season that was a Brook Lopez miss away from the Sweet 16. That core includes senior guards Dominic James, Wes Matthews, and last season’s standout, Jerel McNeal.
All three have scored at least 1,000 points in their college careers and are no strangers to winning games. For the last three years the trio has won at least 20 games and landed in the NCAA tournament three consecutive times.
With such a solid lineup in place, this season will be rather atypical for a first-year coach. Rather than having to build the program from the ground up, coach Buzz Williams has inherited a talented and experienced squad.
In an interview with ESPN, Jerel McNeal spoke of the team and its new coach. “We didn’t need a coach to come in and revamp and change what we did,’’ McNeal said. “We didn’t need another [outside] coach being here. Coach Buzz had been here a year and understands what our team is about.’’
While current players seem to believe that off-setting the loss of their head coach will not be as difficult a task as perceived, replacing departed players may be another story.
Gone from last year are Dan Fitzgerald, Ousmane Barro, and Trevor Mbakwe. Although none of the three posed a truly formidable threat down low, maybe with the exception of Mbakwe, the fact that all three were 6-7 or taller makes the Golden Eagles extremely vulnerable underneath the basket.
Lack of size, especially in the Big East, could potentially derail a season, even for a team with such talent in the backcourt. Senior Dwight Burke, 6-8, figures to enter the season as the starting center.
The team’s two tallest players are 6-10 freshman Chris Otule and 7-0 red-shirt sophomore Liam McMorrow. Otule figures to see extensive playing time, but his lack of experience could limit him and the Golden Eagles.
Sophomores Patrick Hazel (who played sparingly last season) and Joseph Fulce (a Junior College transfer), both 6-7, could also garner some playing time, as they are two of only four active players 6-7 or taller on this year’s roster.
Due to both the lack of size and experience in the frontcourt, Buzz Williams will have to counteract these limitations with a sleeker, faster style of play.
Williams spoke to Sports Illustrated about possibly employing some novel line-up combinations to achieve such a goal. Williams predicted, “There will be times when we have five guards on the floor.”
A smaller, faster game play will most likely translate into more possessions and ultimately more scoring opportunities for Marquette and its guards.
Among those figuring to be in a guard-oriented rotation along with the senior-trio are juniors Maurice Acker and David Cubillan. Another sophomore juco transfer, Jimmy Butler will also see some time at both guard spots as well as small forward.
Perhaps the most underrated player on the Marquette roster is forward Lazar Hayward. Last season he finished third on the team in scoring and first in overall rebounds.
The overachieving Hayward seems to be overshadowed by the triumvirate backcourt. But that could only mean more mismatches with the opposition underestimating the 6-6 junior. Hayward will slide into the starting power forward spot as he did for most of last season.
Hayward has steadily been improving each year and this year does not appear to be any different. Look for him to have a breakout year and possibly end up on a second or even first All-Big East team come season’s end.
College basketball teams can officially begin practicing on October 17th, but fall break has moved the Golden Eagle’s yearly Marquette Madness to Saturday, October 25th at 6 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center.
Per usual, the free event will consist of free giveaways, men and women basketball introductions, a dunk contest, and an intra-squad scrimmage.
The season officially kicks off on November 16th at the Bradley Center against Houston Baptist and the Badgers come into town Saturday, December 6th.
The Big East opener is slated for New Year’s Day against Villanova, also at the Bradley Center.
For seniors James, McNeal, and Matthews, this season is one to be filled with a variety of novelties: a new coach, new teammates, and new expectations.
Popularity: 8% [?]
