The Basketball Tournament: Marquette Roster

[brewcity77]

The pinned thread above wants you to vote for Dan Fitzgerald and his Marquette Alumni team on The Basketball Tournament. 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.

[muwarrior69]

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.

[TallTitan34]

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.

[PBRme]

George is close to or is 70

[BrewCity83]

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?

[HutchwasClutch]

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.

[HutchwasClutch]

• 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. 

[WarriorFan]

is Novak still under contract?  If not, he's the one I'd be recruiting!

[JakeBarnes]

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.

[MUFlutieEffect]

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

[AZMarqfan]

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. 

[cheebs09]

Ners was pretty good in high school. This team could use him.

[wadesworld]

Someone should put together an all MU transfer/decommit team.

[KampusFoods]

Someone should put together an all MU transfer/decommit team.

Cyclones Alumni, eh nah?

[wadesworld]

Cyclones Alumni, eh nah?

Haha well played.