Shannon Ryan-Chicago Trib Article

[Lighthouse 84]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0226-marquette-basketball--20110225,0,5842958.story

Around this time every year, Marquette's practices take on a different tone — a louder one.

Blaring music, extra running, workouts before practice.

"In the season, you wouldn't expect that," guard Darius Johnson-Odom said. "Coach Buzz (Williams), he's a man who thinks you have to be tough to win any game."

While some teams are preserving their energy for postseason competition, Marquette is ramping up the intensity, hoping to remain off the NCAA tournament bubble.

The Golden Eagles (17-11, 8-7) may have done enough convincing with their cultivated toughness exhibited in Thursday night's 74-67 overtime victory at Connecticut.

While Williams doesn't discuss "the politics," as he calls bracketology, with his players, they knew beating Connecticut could be the road victory needed to burnish their resume.

But don't expect to hear any exhales coming out of Milwaukee.

"The only answer is you have to win," Williams said.

"As a team we don't know where we stand," added Johnson-Odom, who scored nine of his 17 points in overtime against the Huskies. "A lot of guys don't care where we stand. 'Let's win the rest of the games then none of that will have to be talked about.'"

With inspection, Marquette is one of the better bubble teams.

The Golden Eagles have no so-called "bad losses." Marquette currently is predicted to be a No. 10 NCAA tournament seed in Joe Lunardi latest mock draft for ESPN.com.

If Marquette and Cincinnati each earn a tournament berth that means 11 Big East teams will be competing.

As for the Golden Eagles' losses, all have been to teams that have been ranked this season and all but one has an RPI in the top 30.

Their average margin of defeat is 5.6 points, with seven games decided by two possessions or fewer. The Golden Eagles lost by five points to Duke, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Villanova. They lost by just one to Vanderbilt and Louisville.

"Does it mean we're overachieving?" Williams asked. "Does it mean we're underachieving? Does it mean coaching is not where it should be? You can look at it from wherever your perspective is. But what you can't question is the toughness and character of those guys who participated to be in that possession."

Closing out a game against Connecticut was a great triumph for Marquette's toughness. The Golden Eagles have games remaining against Providence on Sunday, Cincinnati on Wednesday and at Seton Hall on March 5 before the Big East tournament begins.

"We have work to do," Williams said. "I think our guys played with great resolve. Winning on that stage will hopefully give us confidence to propel us the rest of the way."