Team Data
Points per game: 75
Points allowed: 64.3
Scoring margin: +10.7 FG percentage: .447
FG allowed: .412
3PT percentage: .353
3PT allowed: .291
3PT-to-FG attempts: .334
FT percentage: .702
FT totals: 522/744
Rebound margin: +1.2
Turnover margin: -0.8
Assist-to-turnover ratio: 1.13:1
Assist-to-FG ratio: 0.56:1
The Players
Starters
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
1 Dominic James
(5-11, 185 lb., JR) 29.6 mpg 13.5 ppg, 4.3 apg 2/1 A/T .667 FT
Comments: Leading scorer for Marquette's fast-paced attack has played through a variety of injuries and appears to be in postseason form; not a great 3-point shooter, but when it rains it pours, including a 5-for-8 performance against Villanova.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
2 Jerel McNeal
(6-3, 200 lb., JR) 29.9 mpg 13.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg 66 steals .667 FT
Comments: A quick and aggressive defender who leads the Big East in steals; he's dangerous at both ends of the floor and a key part of MU's fast-break offense; like James, most effective off the dribble as opposed to shooting the 3.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
3 Wesley Mathews
(6-5, 215 lb., SO) 28.5 mpg 11.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.7 apg .776 FT 60 TO
Comments: Less heralded than his backcourt mates, but the best shooter of the three. He consistently scored in double figures in the Big East and also showed explosiveness with 22 points against Georgetown.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
4 Lazar Hayward
(6-6, 225 lb., SO) 25.2 mpg 13.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg .479 3PT 49 TO
Comments: An inside/outside threat, at 6-foot-6 he's the closest thing the Golden Eagles have to a physical post presence. He leads the team in rebounding and is also their best 3-point shooter.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
5 Ousmane Barro
(6-10, 235 lb., SR) 19.6 mpg 5.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg .548 FG .656 FT
Comments: The other half of a thin frontcourt; good on the defensive end blocking shots and grabs his share of rebounds on the offensive glass.
Rotation
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
G David Cubillan
(6-0, 175 lb., SO) 19.0 mpg 6.3 ppg, 1.8 apg .362 3PT 23 TO
Comments: Can score and dish equally well, and with Marquette's up-tempo style of play provides depth in the backcourt.
F Dan Fitzgerald
(6-9, 220 lb., SR) 14.7 mpg 4.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg .377 3PT 10 TO
Comments: Doesn't get as many rebounds as you'd think for the second tallest guy on the team; good for a 3 a game.
G Maurice Acker
(5-8, 165 lb, SO) 13.1 mpg 4.4 ppg, 1.9 apg .400 3PT 29 TO
Comments: His drop off in minutes in the second half of the Big East schedule may be more a by-product of Tom Crean wanting to keep the starting trio on the floor as much as possible than a reflection on his play; another deep threat.
F Dwight Burke
(6-8, 250 lb., JR) 11.9 mpg 2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg .617 FG .529 FT
Comments: A big body down low who is good on the offensive glass and adds depth to the frontcourt.
Season notes
High point On Jan. 12, Marquette had five players score in double figures on their way to a 92-66 win over Notre Dame -- the most lopsided win in the rivalry's 88-year history. The Golden Eagles' quickness led to 17 steals and 20 fast-break points.
Lowlight On Feb. 9, the same ND team the Golden Eagles had beaten by 26 points a month earlier outlasted them, 86-83, in South Bend. The loss dropped Marquette to 1-4 on the road in the Big East and raised questions about whether it could win a tough road game.
Most Revealing Moment On Feb. 25, Marquette overcame a hostile Villanova crowd as well as a seven-point halftime deficit to win, 85-75. It was the Eagles' fifth straight win and third straight conference road win, and showed they could win a big game away from home.
Did You Know? Tom Crean's 2002-03 team with Dwayne Wade won four games on its way to the Final Four. But the Golden Eagles under Crean have lost in the first round in their other three trips, including last year's loss to Michigan State.
Scouting report
Offensive Preference Run, run, and then run some more. Marquette's three-guard attack relies heavily on the transition game and creating fast-break opportunities. When they're in the half court, they rely on their guards to penetrate and create in the lane, but they also have deep threats around the perimeter.
Defensive Philosophy A quick, aggressive defense that concentrates on forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. The Eagles lead the Big East in steals, averaging more than nine a game and they're also tops defending the 3.
Secret Strength For a team that plays as fast as they do, the Eagles take care of the ball. They have the second best turnover margin in the Big East, at +4.5.
Achilles' Heel Guards' free-throw shooting. James and McNeal both shoot under 67 percent from the line and went a combined 9-for-18 in the 70-68 overtime loss to Georgetown.
Will Lose When ... They face a dominant big man or McNeal and James try to do too much from beyond the arc. The Eagles are 1-5 against Padgett, Harangody, Hibbert and Thabeet, and in their seven regular-season losses, the backcourt duo is shooting 21.7 percent (10-for-46) from 3-point range.
Famous Last Words Another team that's playing its best basketball at the right time. The Eagles closed the regular-season slate winning six of their last eight. Their small, quick attack succeeded in a tough and physical Big East. When they get teams to play their running style, they usually leave them behind.
Tournament History
64-team era
NCAA appearances: 8
Seed average: 6.5
Highest seed: 3
Lowest seed: 12
Biggest upset: 1994 vs. No. 3 Kentucky
Most upsetting: 1996 vs. No. 12 Arkansas
Overall
NCAA appearances: 25
All-time record: 32-26 (.552)
Best finish: 2003, Final Four ********Ummmm, excuse me?********
Coach's NCAA record: Tom Crean (4-4, .500)
