"It was like I was playing for three years with a blanket on my head," Matthews said. "I knew I could do more to help."
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Tom Crean Era!
That is pretty stinging...much like this one...
But Wesley Matthews saw some merit in the possibility that Buzz Williams' fresh approach has been a factor in Marquette's rise.
"I think, in the previous years, we overlooked stuff and we had a few letdowns," Matthews said Thursday.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/depaul/chi-24-depaul-wesley-matthews-majan24,0,3730079.story
Wesley Matthews leads Marquette against DePaul
Marquette guard Wesley Matthews is getting a chance to show his skills
By Shannon Ryan | Tribune reporter
8:40 PM CST, January 23, 2009
MILWAUKEE -
Wesley Matthews glared hard at absolutely nothing as he walked off the court in Anaheim.
A few seconds before, he swore in frustration. A few seconds before that, Stanford's Brook Lopez ended Marquette's postseason dreams with a last-second overtime basket in the Sweet 16.
Matthews' heart was as heavy with pain as his stare indicated. But his gut was empty.
"I just felt dead inside," Matthews said. "I got sick of it."
The phrase three-guard offense is linked to Marquette as much as its blue and gold uniforms. Dominic James is the spunky point guard. Jerel McNeal is the hard-nosed defender.
Matthews, at 6 feet 5 inches, was more of a mystery man whose name was harder to come up with, like the Beatles' George Harrison.
"It was like I was playing for three years with a blanket on my head," Matthews said. "I knew I could do more to help."
Matthews' credentials and name recognition have surged. He leads No. 11 Marquette (16-2, 5-0 Big East) with 19.1 points per game, nearly an eight-point increase since last season, and shoots 52.9 percent.
"He's probably the most unselfish player I've been around," coach Buzz Williams said. "He has allowed us to be in a lot games we probably shouldn't be in because of our size deficiency."
Matthews presents an additional problem for DePaul (8-11, 0-6) on Saturday at the Bradley Center.
His eyes probably will wander during a timeout to the place they always go. The right end of the bench, five rows up.
Pam Moore, his mother, sits there.
Matthews' devotion and appreciation for her is revealed on his left shoulder, where a tattoo of a basketball and the words "Dynamic Duo" honors their relationship.
Moore's name is not mentioned as often as Matthews' father, although she was the driving force behind her son's basketball career. Wes Matthews was a 6-1 guard at Wisconsin who played nine NBA seasons, including one with the Bulls.
"I have my mom's speed and my dad's first step," Wesley said. "Not bad."
His parents met at Wisconsin, where Wes starred and Pam became a track standout in the 400 meters, even setting a world record on a relay team.
They split when Wesley was a child. Wes Matthews was not an integral part of his son's life because of his professional obligations, but their relationship is growing.
"He's leaning on me more and asking me more," Wes Matthews said from Atlanta, where he trains high school players. "Who can tell him more about basketball than his father, who played?"
Moore held two jobs, including a late-night shift as a bar manager, and still took Wesley to every soccer tournament and basketball practice.
"My whole goal in life with Wesley is help him do his best at what he's capable," Moore said.
Wesley became Wisconsin's "Mr. Basketball" during a breakout senior season at Madison Memorial High School. Moore scoured recruiting Web sites and asked college coaches pointed questions to make sure Wesley found the proper fit.
Many in his hometown expected Wesley to follow his parents' footsteps and enroll at Wisconsin. Marquette was close to home, yet provided freedom to become an individual.
After three seasons as a productive yet unheralded guard, he's thriving in what he calls a "freelance" position in Williams' system.
"I don't want to have any regrets this year," Matthews said.
sryan@tribune.com