DJ is the "Player to Watch" according to Dana O'Neil

[greenman]

I have a feeling he is going to be HUGE tomorrow.

Dominic James, Marquette
The battle to rest in New York is almost as fierce as the battle to get to New York. Since the Big East expanded its tournament to include first-round games in 1983, only one team has won the championship without the benefit of a first-round bye. Gerry McNamara's pixie dust led Syracuse to the unprecedented title two seasons ago.

After a sluggish league start left them for conference roadkill, the Golden Eagles are in the fight, a half game behind Connecticut and Notre Dame for the fourth and final bye spot. Marquette has just two league games left to claw for the spot, Saturday's tip with conference-leading Georgetown (2 p.m. ET) and the season ender at Syracuse (March 8, ESPN, 4 p.m. ET).

Blessed with a trio of talented guards, the Golden Eagles remain Dominic James' team. The former Big East Rookie of the Year has played like a postman this season. Neither flu nor sprained wrist nor balky ankle has kept James from the court. Two games ago, James twisted his ankle badly enough that he wondered if he would even play in a pivotal game against Villanova. Thirty-three minutes, 25 points, 6 steals, 5 3s and 4 assists later, both he and coach Tom Crean had the answer.

The injuries have turned down the wattage on James' numbers this season, but there is no question of his value. During the Golden Eagles' current five-game winning streak, James' handprint has been everywhere. If he's not scoring (against Villanova with 25, Rutgers with 13 and St. John's with 19), he's directing the offense. He scored just four points against Pittsburgh but made up for it by dishing out 12 assists.

Marquette will need James on both ends of the floor against the 10th-ranked Hoyas. Containing Jessie Sapp and Jonathan Wallace will be every bit as vital as scoring against Georgetown's stingy defense.

-- Dana O'Neil, ESPN.com