The pinned thread above wants you to vote for Dan Fitzgerald and his Marquette Alumni team on The Basketball Tournament (https://www.thetournament.com/teams/golden-eagles-alumni-marquette-alumni). I wanted to discuss who is on the team and which players from the past few years MU fans would want representing us.
VOTE HERE: https://www.thetournament.com/teams/golden-eagles-alumni-marquette-alumni
NBA players are obviously out, but I have to imagine anyone not playing professionally, playing in the D-League, or playing overseas would be eligible. Here's the current roster:
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- Dan Fitzgerald: Fitz is a 6'8" forward that was a reliable threat from range. Never averaged as many points as many might have hoped, but he was a guy who provided quality minutes off the bench and could score a bit and rebound. His best season for Marquette was averaging 7.4 ppg/3.9 rpg as a spot starter in 2006-07. Team captain.
- Jerel McNeal: Marquette's all-time leading scorer, the 6'3" guard posted averages of 19.8 ppg/4.5 rpg/3.9 rpg as a senior. Flirted with the NBA a few times but was never able to catch on.
- Trent Lockett: The 6'5" forward didn't score as prolifically at Marquette as he did at ASU (13+ ppg his sophomore/junior years) but he did a bit of everything for Marquette's Elite Eight team. He averaged 7.0 ppg/5.1 rpg/1.8 apg.
- Dwight Burke: The 6'8" forward/center is largely the forgotten man of the Three Amigos class. He averaged just 2.8 ppg/3.7 rpg as a senior, but provided minutes and defense on a team short on size.
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So who else would people want to see? Let's say an eight man roster, five starters and three bench players, but including the four current players. Here's my roster:
G Dominic James
G Jerel McNeal
G Vander Blue
F Lazar Hayward
F Davante Gardner
Bench: Trent Lockett, Dan Fitzgerald, Dwight Burke
A few tough calls. I'd love to see Buycks in there, but I think between those guards the ball-handling is covered. Everyone in the starting lineup can score, there are two explosive transition guys in Jerel and Van, and Lazar adds that grit, tenacity, and rebounding.
Others I considered were Dwight Buycks, DJO, Jamil Wilson, Chris Otule, David Cubillan, Maurice Acker, and Travis Diener. If TD wasn't helping out at MU, that'd be a very tough call between him and James.
What about George Thompson, Jim Chones, Bo Ellis, Butch Lee, Jimmy Mac. I know these guys are in their 50s and 60s but they are alums and probably could give those young guys a run for their money.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on April 16, 2016, 05:44:58 PM
What about George Thompson, Jim Chones, Bo Ellis, Butch Lee, Jimmy Mac. I know these guys are in their 50s and 60s but they are alums and probably could give those young guys a run for their money.
I hope this was a joke.
George is close to or is 70
A bit off topic,but I spotted Dan Fitzgerald out last night with Mike Kinsella and Todd Townsend and their wives/girlfriends at Cafe Hollander in Tosa. Perhaps Fitz was recruiting?
Quote from: muwarrior69 on April 16, 2016, 05:44:58 PM
What about George Thompson, Jim Chones, Bo Ellis, Butch Lee, Jimmy Mac. I know these guys are in their 50s and 60s but they are alums and probably could give those young guys a run for their money.
You think Jimmy Mac is in his 50s or 60s?!? His senior year at MU was 1993-94 for crying out loud.
Quote from: brewcity77 on April 16, 2016, 04:35:16 PM
- Dwight Burke: The 6'8" forward/center is largely the forgotten man of the Three Amigos class. He averaged just 2.8 ppg/3.7 rpg as a senior, but provided minutes and defense on a team short on size.
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He was forgotten because he was a very forgettable player.
is Novak still under contract? If not, he's the one I'd be recruiting!
Quote from: WarriorFan on April 17, 2016, 09:29:54 PM
is Novak still under contract? If not, he's the one I'd be recruiting!
Novak was on crutches at the banquet if I remember the pictures correctly. I don't think that's even in the realm of a possibility.
Spent a quick minute flipping through some of the other teams - looks like Davante is on Seven City Grain: https://www.thetournament.com/teams/seven-city-grain (https://www.thetournament.com/teams/seven-city-grain)
Can't spell it, but how about Oluoma Nnamak? Or get the guys I loved and hated in high school....John Mueller and Scott Merritt. Would be nice to have some height.
Ners was pretty good in high school. This team could use him.
Someone should put together an all MU transfer/decommit team.
Quote from: wadesworld on April 18, 2016, 10:40:23 PM
Someone should put together an all MU transfer/decommit team.
Cyclones Alumni, eh nah?