What is the greatest individual game performance since Wade?

[bamamarquettefan]

OK, I believe you have to consider Jae Crowder's performance yesterday as potentially the best player performance since Wade dominated #1 Kentucky.  I listed several stats for everyone including eFG%, which for those of you who don't follow is field goal percentage but you add an extra half shot made for every three-pointer made.  So Jerel McNeal went 9 for 10 against Cincinnati including 7 for 7 on treys so he basically went "12.5 of 10" for an 125% eFG%.  That was the most efficient performance, but at home against a weaker opponent.  Novak's 41/16 to kick off MUs inclusion in the Big East is the most overwhelming stat stuffer.  But the clutch games of James to beat Duke, McNeal to almost stun Stanford, and Hayward's performance against Utah State in a 1-point tournament game played in the 50s may have been the biggest impact one player had on a game.  But when you see how Jae's stats stack up and consider he did this matched up against the #2 NBA prospect in the nation, you have to consider it to.  Tell me if I'm missing one, but most of the other big point games were done on less than 50% shooting from the floor.  And of course:

3-29-03 Wade 29 pts, 11 Reb, 75% eFG%, 5-6 FT, 11/1/4 #1 Kentucky - I know, some would criticize him for having twice as many turnovers as they grilled DJO for today, but it was still a decent performance for our only win ever over a #1

[Eye]

I obviously voted Novak #1 on the poll (all 7 so far). But without thinking about it too much I'd have put McNeal vs. Cincy at #2 and Crowder yesterday at #3. Going back 20 years, I'd include Tony Miller vs. the Rodents in 94-95, Hutch at UL in '96 and Diener in the second round vs. Mizzou in the list. If thinking about '03 through Novak in '06, maybe Novak's game at UL in '05?

[bamamarquettefan]

I believe your logic is very sound in the order on your top 3.  McNeal vs. Cincy was by far the most efficient performance, I mean 7 of 7 on treys?  But because it turned into a blowout and was less pressure, I agree that you have to put Novak in the pressure of debuting in the Big East and maybe today because of such a tougher matchup on the road.  But hey, i just liked remembering all of these games and thanks for adding the other incredible outings!

[Brewtown Andy]

I went with the Novak game because it has the added weight of being a "Hey, what's going on in this conference?" game.

[KipsBayEagle]

I would put Mcneal against stanford in a losing effort.  He carried us through the 2nd half and ot if i remember correctly, and i recall him hitting 3 threes in a row in ot.  Still have nightmares of that lopez shot.

[brewcity77]

Had to vote Novak. I feel that performance set the tone for everything MU has done since. Being the gritty underdog that can compete with anyone, being one of the most consistent teams in the Big East, getting the unexpected guys drafted, it was a statement game that we've kept alive for seven years running.

[strotty]

Had to vote Novak. I feel that performance set the tone for everything MU has done since. Being the gritty underdog that can compete with anyone, being one of the most consistent teams in the Big East, getting the unexpected guys drafted, it was a statement game that we've kept alive for seven years running.

Get to bed. 

[muwarrior69]

Since Wade, Novak. However, I think the greatest individual game performance by an Marquette player was in 1976 when Butch Lee single handedly nearly defeated the USA in the olympics.

[tower912]

Dominic James to end the Valparaiso game. 

[dgies9156]

Since Wade, Novak. However, I think the greatest individual game performance by an Marquette player was in 1976 when Butch Lee single handedly nearly defeated the USA in the olympics.

ABSOLUTELY. We were the Olympic giants and Lee almost singlehandedly slayed Goliath

[Danny Noonan]

Dominic James to end the Valparaiso game. 

That was an outstanding performance in the 2nd half. Crean hugged DJ all the way off the court and Homer Drew was very classy and made an effort to get to DJ to congragulate him. When leaving Valpo's gym, I thought DJ was on his way to be an All-American and possible NBA lottery pick.

I picked Novak's Big East Opener but McNeal's Stanford game was a close second.

[bamamarquettefan]

With Novak's 41/16 vs. UConn getting about the same percentage as his FT% (91%), I took out that option to make it a little more interesting, and added JAmes vs. Valpo per suggestion.

[Stronghold]

What did James do in the Valpo game? 

[MUMac]

What did James do in the Valpo game? 

Scored the last 18 MU points, including the game winner.

[bamamarquettefan]

Dominic James to end the Valparaiso game. 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2006-11-27-roundup_x.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSHyRvkuCU

Thanks for reminding me of that one.  When I pulled up the article and clip of the final shot, I realized that game was the game after the Duke game I listed as perhaps the greatest performance since Wade/Novak.  No matter who you pick on this list, I doubt anyone could top those two games by James as the top back-to-back games played by a Marquette player without going back a long way.

Also, agree completely that Butch Lee’s game for Puerto Rico is the best game ever played by a player on the Marquette roster.

[Stronghold]

Is there a video of that game anywhere?

[Hoopaloop]

Novak by far.  Showed we could compete in the Big East and set the tone.  Why isn't that an option in the poll?

[tower912]

Read the entire thread, boiler. 

[Hoopaloop]

Read the entire thread, boiler. 

Changing polls midstream?  What is the point of having the poll?  Shouldn't the title then be changed to "WHAT IS THE 2ND GREATEST INDIVIDUAL GAME PERFORMANCE SINCE WADE AFTER STEVE NOVAK"   

[bamamarquettefan]

Changing polls midstream?  What is the point of having the poll?  Shouldn't the title then be changed to "WHAT IS THE 2ND GREATEST INDIVIDUAL GAME PERFORMANCE SINCE WADE AFTER STEVE NOVAK"   

Yes, I actually couldn't figure out how to change the subject itself, but Novak is the champion and everyone else is fighting for 2nd best game since Wade :-)

[jficke13]

Didn't Wesley go something like 12 for 12 from the floor in one game his senior year?

[brewcity77]

Get to bed. 

But that was when I got up

[bamamarquettefan]

Didn't Wesley go something like 12 for 12 from the floor in one game his senior year?

Good catch - I added his 10-10 against Rutgers in a tight 5-point win.

If anyone voting for another game has one in particular shoot it to me and I'll add it to the list.

[chapman]

Went with James against Valpo  Another great performance, probably the most memorable to me would be James at Pitt in '07.  Stats don't really say it, but it was gutsy: http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/pittsburg_01_21_07

[bamamarquettefan]

Went with James against Valpo  Another great performance, probably the most memorable to me would be James at Pitt in '07.  Stats don't really say it, but it was gutsy: http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/pittsburg_01_21_07

Great addition.  4 of 6 on treys, 7 of 8 from line, 5 assists to no turnovers and fouled going one on three to with less than a second left in ot to beat the no. 6 team on the road.  Wow, I'm considering changing my vote to that one!  I went to the game at Pitt when DJ was injured his senior year, and the fans were coming up to me and talking about that game and asking if he was going to be back.  Made an impression!

[MUDPT]

I loved this Dom game.

http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/pitt_02_15_08

2 for 11 from the field for 4 points, however 12 assists and ZERO turnovers.

Also the Cubi 6 for 6  3 game against Georgetown stands out.

[bamamarquettefan]

Yes, that 6 of 6 from beyond the arc may have saved the season in the 3-point win.  MU had lost 5 straight games to top 100 teams before that stunner, so it really may have saved the season and prevented us from having a gap in the invite streak.  Looks like I'm out of options though, so can't add it :-)

[4everwarriors]

Since Wade, Novak. However, I think the greatest individual game performance by an Marquette player was in 1976 when Butch Lee single handedly nearly defeated the USA in the olympics.

Rican agrees with you.

[muwarrior69]

Rican agrees with you.

To this day I don't know why he did'nt make the USA team.

[frozena pizza]

After seeing Gardner's game and stat line from last night I wanted to pull up this thread.  I think Ox's performance belongs in this conversation - maybe not #1 (I think Novak against UConn still has it), but worthy of consideration.  Pretty rare to see a player get 26 points without missing a FG attempt and 12-13 from the line, 8 boards with only 1 TO and ZERO fouls.  Add that this came against the #12 team in the country, ranked 8th in defensive efficiency, and you have a pretty memorable performance.  As a side note, reading all the frustration about DG on the Syracuse board really drove it home to me how dominant he was.

[MerrittsMustache]

After seeing Gardner's game and stat line from last night I wanted to pull up this thread.  I think Ox's performance belongs in this conversation - maybe not #1 (I think Novak against UConn still has it), but worthy of consideration.  Pretty rare to see a player get 26 points without missing a FG attempt and 12-13 from the line, 8 boards with only 1 TO and ZERO fouls.  Add that this came against the #12 team in the country, ranked 8th in defensive efficiency, and you have a pretty memorable performance.  As a side note, reading all the frustration about DG on the Syracuse board really drove it home to me how dominant he was.

To me, the most impressive thing was 26 points on just 7 FGA without making a 3 (3.7 PPS). He earned those points.

[Goose]

Went with Jae vs UConn

[seakm4]

I went with another game.

'Rel vs Bucky. 26 pts (of 61), 10/18 shooting, 2/3 from deep, 7 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals in a 3 pt win

only negatives of that is the 3 TO's, but he dominated them in a huge game.

[AirPunches]

Jae vs wvu was another good one. That was the game where a couple guys were suspended. He played 40 min, had 26 pts, and pretty much sealed up player of the year.

[RJax55]

Another Crowder performance to add was in the tournament last year against BYU.

Put up a line of 25 points, 16 boards, 4 assists and 4 steals. 10/20 from the field and 3/6 from the arc. Those are beast-mode numbers, especially for a tourney game.

[Golden Avalanche]

Regardless of opponent, I'm not sure many people here are grasping the immensity of scoring a team's final 18 points, including the game winning three pointer, in a road game.

Would give my left nut to have a PG like that again at Marquette.

[TheButlerDidIt]

Regardless of opponent, I'm not sure many people here are grasping the immensity of scoring a team's final 18 points, including the game winning three pointer, in a road game.

Would give my left nut to have a PG like that again at Marquette.

Haha. Just voted for that game before reading that this threaded started back in 2012. I remember listening to this game in my car trying not to drive off the road.