Mar 15, 2024; New York Metropolis, NY, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles guards Kam Jones (1) and Stevie Mitchell (4) react in the course of the second half towards the Windfall Friars at Madison Sq. Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Photographs Marquette spent the complete season within the High 25, used the identical beginning 5 for all 33 video games, and can journey to Cleveland for the primary spherical of the NCAA Match with the identical aim the staff had in October: Finish the season in San Antonio to extend the tip of the season so long as attainable.
The Golden Eagles (23-10) are the No. 7 seed within the South Area and can open Friday night time towards No. 10 seed New Mexico (26-7) in a showdown with star energy.
Marquette guard Stevie Mitchell is one among 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Participant of the Yr Award and expects the task of Donovan Dent, the Mountain West Convention Participant of the Yr. Dent ranks within the high 15 nationally in scoring (20.6 factors per recreation) and assists (6.4).
“We’ll get down into the nitty-gritty by way of this might be our final time placing on a Marquette jersey when the sport will get a bit nearer,” Mitchell mentioned.
The Golden Eagles are filled with expertise, led by their very own offensive star in Kam Jones. He’ll take the court docket for the 137th time and averaged 19.3 factors, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and earned second-team All-American honors.
And David Joplin, who completes Marquette’s “Guardians,” is the opposite senior with greater than 134 school video games beneath his belt.
All three got here to Milwaukee to play for coach Shaka Sensible and expertise the NCAA Match. They’ve performed six video games in three years and can make their fourth consecutive tourney look this week.
“I gave them a homework task after we bought again (from the Large East event),” Sensible mentioned. “I mentioned I would like you to find out the chance of a participant or a staff going to 4 straight NCAA Tournaments.”
“Having been by way of the twists and turns of the NCAA Match, I feel each the wins we’ve had and in addition the losses we have had — six video games within the final three seasons for our seniors — have taught us quite a lot of classes,” Sensible mentioned. “Taught these guys quite a lot of classes.”
Marquette values protection and possessions, whereas the Lobos need to pull the pin and let it fly. The ace up Mountain West Coach of the Yr Richard Pitino’s sleeve early within the week might be his father, Rick Pitino, the lively wins chief in males’s basketball with 884. The St. John’s head coach eradicated Marquette from the Large East event final weekend and performed the Golden Eagles thrice this season.
“He texted me proper when it occurred (on Choice Sunday), the scouting report. I am like, loosen up. I do not want that proper now,” Richard Pitino mentioned.
Generally dad and mom know finest. On this case, dad was 3-0 towards Marquette this season with wins by six, two and 16.
Richard Pitino is aware of from watching every installment of the Marquette-St. John’s sequence this season the Golden Eagles do not flip the ball over. Jones, a sturdy 6-foot-5 guard with vary, is among the many finest within the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Jones had 32 factors in his closing house recreation earlier this month, an extra time loss to St. John’s.
As a staff, Marquette ranks thirtieth in Division I with a 1.49 assist-to-turnover ratio. Dent averaged just below three turnovers per recreation but additionally accounted for greater than 30 % of the Lobos’ whole offense with 680 factors and 212 assists this season.
The winner of Friday’s recreation possible can have a date with coach Tom Izzo and No. 2 seed Michigan State on Sunday within the second spherical.
In 2023, the then-seventh-seeded Spartans eradicated No. 2 Marquette within the second spherical, 69-60.
–Discipline Stage Media
