Mar 15, 2024; New York Metropolis, NY, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles guards Kam Jones (1) and Stevie Mitchell (4) react through the second half towards the Windfall Friars at Madison Sq. Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Photos Marquette spent the whole season within the High 25, used the identical beginning 5 for all 33 video games, and can journey to Cleveland for the primary spherical of the NCAA Match with the identical objective the group had in October: Finish the season in San Antonio to extend the tip of the season so long as doable.
The Golden Eagles (23-10) are the No. 7 seed within the South Area and can open Friday night time towards No. 10 seed New Mexico (26-7) in a showdown with star energy.
Marquette guard Stevie Mitchell is one among 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Participant of the Yr Award and expects the project of Donovan Dent, the Mountain West Convention Participant of the Yr. Dent ranks within the high 15 nationally in scoring (20.6 factors per recreation) and assists (6.4).
“We’ll get down into the nitty-gritty when it comes to this could possibly be our final time placing on a Marquette jersey when the sport will get just a little nearer,” Mitchell stated.
The Golden Eagles are filled with expertise, led by their very own offensive star in Kam Jones. He’ll take the court docket for the 137th time and averaged 19.3 factors, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and earned second-team All-American honors.
And David Joplin, who completes Marquette’s “Guardians,” is the opposite senior with greater than 134 faculty video games underneath his belt.
All three got here to Milwaukee to play for coach Shaka Sensible and expertise the NCAA Match. They’ve performed six video games in three years and can make their fourth consecutive tourney look this week.
“I gave them a homework project after we acquired again (from the Large East match),” Sensible stated. “I stated I would like you to find out the chance of a participant or a group going to 4 straight NCAA Tournaments.”
“Having been by means of the twists and turns of the NCAA Match, I believe each the wins we’ve had and likewise the losses we have had — six video games within the final three seasons for our seniors — have taught us a variety of classes,” Sensible stated. “Taught these guys a variety of classes.”
Marquette values protection and possessions, whereas the Lobos wish to pull the pin and let it fly. The ace up Mountain West Coach of the Yr Richard Pitino’s sleeve early within the week could possibly be his father, Rick Pitino, the energetic wins chief in males’s basketball with 884. The St. John’s head coach eradicated Marquette from the Large East match final weekend and performed the Golden Eagles thrice this season.
“He texted me proper when it occurred (on Choice Sunday), the scouting report. I am like, loosen up. I do not want that proper now,” Richard Pitino stated.
Generally mother and father know finest. On this case, dad was 3-0 towards Marquette this season with wins by six, two and 16.
Richard Pitino is aware of from watching every installment of the Marquette-St. John’s collection this season the Golden Eagles do not flip the ball over. Jones, a sturdy 6-foot-5 guard with vary, is among the many finest within the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Jones had 32 factors in his remaining house recreation earlier this month, an additional time loss to St. John’s.
As a group, Marquette ranks thirtieth in Division I with a 1.49 assist-to-turnover ratio. Dent averaged just below three turnovers per recreation but in addition accounted for greater than 30 % of the Lobos’ whole offense with 680 factors and 212 assists this season.
The winner of Friday’s recreation doubtless may have a date with coach Tom Izzo and No. 2 seed Michigan State on Sunday within the second spherical.
In 2023, the then-seventh-seeded Spartans eradicated No. 2 Marquette within the second spherical, 69-60.
–Discipline Degree Media
