Big East Shines and MU analysis

[DJO's Pump Fake]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=4978606

Player to watch: Jimmy Butler. A solid sub last season, the junior college player has stepped into the void in the backcourt. He's averaging 15 points per game, but even better, he's shooting 54 percent from the floor.

Stat of note: Once a hard-luck team -- the Golden Eagles lost their first five league games by a total of 11 points -- Marquette managed to reverse its luck and its fortunes. Four of the Eagles' final five games went into OT. Marquette lost only one.

Reason to care: Another surprise team, the Golden Eagles have survived the graduation of their vaunted guard triumvirate and emerged on the other side. Marquette is in right now, but with a loss in the regular-season finale to Notre Dame, not exactly in with a gusto.