The
Golden Eagle
Hardwood Heroes
a n m d o d J O i m m n y o b s u n t ler are... h o J s u i D ar
Golden Eagle
2 Tribune
Thursday, November 4, 2010
facing the unknown
By Andrei Greska
andrei.greska@marquette.edu
The more things change, the more they stay the same. At least that’s what it seems like for the Marquette men’s basketball team. Flash back to Nov. 2008. An unknown, unproven coach in Buzz Williams inherits a team that had made the NCAA Tournament three consecutive seasons and included the “Big Three.” Would the team mesh with its new leader? Could the previous successes be repeated? Jump forward a year to Nov. 2009. The “Big Three” were gone, and with them went 60.3 percent of the team’s offense. People knew Lazar Hayward was a decent player, but would he be enough to carry a team predicted to finish 12th in the Big East? Snap to the present. For the third consecutive year, there are more questions surrounding the Marquette men’s basketball team than answers. Last season’s unquestioned leader, Hayward, is a first round draft pick playing professionally for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Who will take over his production and alpha male role? As Williams himself said, “Hindsight is always 20/20.” “Every year is a fresh start,” Williams said. “All of us are going to
Player Bios
have to be more than we’ve ever been.” So what exactly do we know about this year’s squad? Senior forward Jimmy Butler and junior guard Darius Johnson-Odom will be the go-to guys. This dynamic duo exceeded all expectations last year and raised the bar considerably with their performances. They will be expected to lead both on and off the court this season. We also know this team will be tough, an emerging staple of Williams’ teams. As ESPN commentator Len Elmore liked to say last year, the Golden Eagles were “junkyard dogs,” fighting for every rebound and loose ball. “We want to come out and fight,” Butler said. “We don’t care if you’re No. 1 in the nation or if you’re No. 236. We do what we do, and that is fight hard.” That’s about all we know for certain though. So what do we think we know? Junior college transfer Jae Crowder will be the new Hayward. That is not to say Crowder will be the prolific scorer or leader last season’s captain was. Much like Hayward though, Crowder plays bigger than his 6-foot-6-inch frame would lead you to believe. Both are mature beyond their years, well spoken and
likely soon to be fan favorites. “I want to bring that toughness,” Crowder said. “I can be a mismatch for a lot of people.” We think freshman guard Vander Blue will play a key role this year. The Madison, Wisc., native impressed national pundits with his tenacious defense in the summer’s 2010 FIBA Americas U-18 Championship. He may not put up big points this year, but he will make his presence felt. What don’t we know? A lot. Every season begins with more questions than answers. Can the point guards this year be as efficient as last year’s? Is sophomore guard Junior Cadougan back to his promising self after last season’s early injury? Will the freshmen have an impact? Can redshirt sophomore center Chris Otule be the big man down low that Marquette thirsts for? Will sophomore forward Erik Williams earn more consistent minutes? Can the Golden Eagles make it past the first weekend of the tournament for the first time since Dwyane Wade was king of the campus? So many questions, so few answers. Would you have it any other way?
Meet your friendly neighborhood hardwood heroes
Jimmy Butler, senior forward Powers: Proficient utility man and team leader who can rebound and score in traffic. Showed flair for late-game heroics, knocking down two buzzer-beaters last season. Kryptonite: A bit undersized to bang in the post, but his pitbull mentality makes up for it. Junior Cadougan, sophomore guard Powers: A born floor general with the vision and composure to be an elite point guard. After greatly improving his conditioning, he’s poised for a breakout year. Kryptonite: Injuries are an issue after he missed nearly entire freshman season with an injured Achilles’ tendon. Rob Frozena, senior guard Powers: Experienced bench player with a sweet shooting stroke. Has the ability to run the offense fluidly if called upon. Kryptonite: Doesn’t have the athleticism to compete in the Big East and won’t play many minutes this year. Jae Crowder, junior forward Powers: A big, physical forward in the same mold as Lazar Hayward. National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year last season at Howard College. Kryptonite: He might struggle initially when dealing with some of the Big East’s bigger post players. Jamail Jones, freshman forward Powers: One of the best pure athletes and leapers in his recruiting class, he had a couple highlight reel dunks that made SportsCenter when he was in high school. Kryptonite: Much like Blue, the jury will remain out until he steps on the court. Erik Williams, sophomore forward Powers: He averaged more than six blocks a game in high school, so you know the athleticism and length are there in excess amounts. Kryptonite: His skills haven’t caught up to his natural talent yet. In limited minutes last year and didn’t really seem to have a position or an understanding of his role.
Darius Johnson-Odom, junior guard Powers: Plays above the rim and behind the arc with elite athleticism and skill. Think Dominic James, but with a jumper not broken like an old washing machine. Kryptonite: Despite immense talent, he lacks the ideal height for a wing player. Joe Fulce, senior forward Powers: Amazing athleticism and jackrabbit hops. He could be an impact defender and shot-blocker. Kryptonite: He hasn’t been consistent, showing flashes of talent and then disappearing for long stretches. Doesn’t have much of a perimeter game. Dwight Buycks, senior guard Powers: Good athlete with solid all-around skills who can play multiple positions. Exceptional rebounder for a smaller guard and is a ball hawk on the defensive side. Kryptonite: After averaging 17.5 points per game in junior college, he underwhelmed as a scorer last season. Vander Blue, freshman guard Powers: Perhaps Marquette’s most talented recruit since Dwyane Wade. Tremendously skilled and athletic, with the perfect body for a wing player. Kryptonite: Only time will tell if he’s as good as advertised. Limited playing time may hinder him initially. Davante Gardner, freshman forward Powers: At 290 pounds, there’s a lot of weight — figuratively, in this case — to become the post player Marquette has desperately needed the last few season. Kryptonite: There some kind of a curse inflicting recent Golden Eagle big men. So he’s got that going against him. Chris Otule, junior center Powers: He’s the only player on the roster with ideal height for a post player at 6-feet-11-inches. His conditioning is top notch heading into the year. Kryptonite: Injuries are a huge concern after missing much of the last two seasons. Offensive skills are limited. Reggie Smith, freshman guard Powers: The third prized member of Marquette’s top-15 recruiting class, according to Rivals.com, Smith is a dynamic scorer who will bring depth to the back court. Kryptonite: At only 6-feet tall, Smith is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body.
Team Mastermind By Michael Nelson michael.e.nelson@marquette.edu
Cover photo by Ryan Glazier. Photo Illustration by Jordyn Nevers, Graphic by Kat Lau
In two seasons at the helm of the Marquette men’s basketball program, Buzz Williams’ squads have made two NCAA appearances, finished fifth in the Big East each year, and averaged 23.5 wins against only 11 losses. “The players probably would have won about 60 games if I hadn’t been their coach,” Williams s a i d about his t i m e at Marquette. “Our success will always be because of our players, and our failures will always be because of me.” Williams said the players deserve all the credit because they’re the ones who do the work. Williams, who drinks a lot of sweet tea, used a reference to the beverage to make his point. “It’s not the sugar that makes the tea sweet, it’s the stirring,” Williams said. “And the guys doing the stirring are back there (points to players waiting to take the team photo).” Recruits from former coach Tom Crean have been at the heart of the team’s success the last two seasons. This season the team is compiled solely of Williams’ recruits, which doesn’t change Williams’ expectations of his players. “I don’t like to call them my
Greska
Nelson
guys,” Williams said about this year’s squad compiled of just his recruits, “because I coached Lazar (Hayward), (David Cubillan), (Maurice Acker), (Jerel McNeal), and Wes (Matthews). I coached all those guys like they were my guys. I loved those guys on the same level that I love those guys (his current players).” Redshirt sophomore Chris Otule said Williams’ mentality differs from many coaches
across the country. “When you get here, you find out that his main goal is not about basketball, but he wants to make sure you left here a man,” Otule said. “He wants to make sure you can handle certain situations in life. Buzz is all about prepping you to get through life.”
Schmidt
LoCicero
Tribune 3
Golden Eagle
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Williams sometimes cares too much about his players and their whereabouts. “He treats us like his kids, so he’s constantly checking up on us,” senior forward Jimmy Butler said. “It’s to the point where it’s like, ‘Buzz, man, we’re okay.’” Williams runs his team as a strict captain, often starting practice at odd times like 5:02 p.m. rather than 5 p.m. “It’s to make sure we understand that every little detail counts,” Butler said. “You can get there as early as you want to, but be ready to go at 5:02. Don’t be late to anything because if you’re late to something in the real world you never know if you’d have that job anymore.” Now that Williams has three years as a Division I head c o a c h u n d e r his belt, coaching one season at Division I New Orleans before Marquette, he said the games move slower, which allows him to see them better and be a better coach. Williams said he’ll always want his players to be tough mentally and physically, something that will never change. “It’s hard to be around me and not have a chip on your shoulder, and if for some reason I perceive that you don’t have a chip on your shoulder, I’ll help you create one,” Williams said.
Strotman
Kvartunas
It’s a situation that tests the moxie of every team in college basketball: time running short, game tied. Tim It’s what Seeman Marquette faced in its first round NCAA Tournament game against the Washington Huskies last season. Like so many Golden Eagle games before it, the last possession decided the outcome. Washington scored with 1.7 seconds remaining. Lazar Hayward’s half-court heave deflected sorrowfully off the back of the rim. Season over. For fans, it felt like getting pepper-sprayed and brought back the burning sensation of last-second losses to West Virginia and DePaul earlier in the season. It had to have felt worse for the team. Regardless, players still use the experience as they prepare for the upcoming season. Senior forward Jimmy Butler, who Washington forward Quincy Pondexter flew by on the decisive play, said the experience will drive him to give his all every time he takes the court in 2010. “I wouldn’t want my senior year to go out like that,” he said. To say you’re driven and to actually be driven are two different things, but I believe in coach Buzz Williams’ ability to make sure his players do what they say. His obsession with extracting a person’s character within the program ensures that. One thing’s certain in 2010: This Marquette team will need all the character — and points — Butler and junior guard Darius Johnson-Odom can spare this season because there’s a hole the size of Brazil for the two to fill, both in terms of leadership and production. “A lot is dependent on me and DJ (Johnson-Odom) doing a lot of different things, and I think he’s capable of it, and I think I’m capable of it,” Butler said. I think they’re capable, too, but the rest of the Golden Eagles’ capability is hazier than a late-night meal at Marquette Gyros. “The guys we’ll really count on on a daily basis have never had to produce at the level they’ll have to produce,” Williams said. The graduation of silently reliable Maurice Acker makes uncertainty at the point the biggest
concern. Marquette finished in the top-10 in the country last season in assists, turnovers, assist-to-turnover ratio and three-point shooting percentage — stats Williams said were key to the unexpected success of last season — and Acker played arguably the biggest role in attaining those numbers. The ability of sophomore guard Junior Cadougan, who missed substantial time last year with an Achilles injury, and freshman Reggie Smith to keep that Toyotalike efficiency going is essential. The young ball-handlers will also force Williams to be more cognizant of his point guards’ mentalities, something he never had to worry about with veterans Acker and Dominic James keeping the position rock-solid the last two seasons. “I’ll have to let (Cadougan and Smith) know I’m right there with them when they struggle,” Williams said. Luckily, the young guards will have All-Big East caliber players — Butler and Johnson-Odom — running with them, which will alleviate some of the pressure that builds up in a hostile Big East arena. “We’re all going to try to be leaders, and we’re all going to push each other at the same time,” Cadougan said. I’m also excited to watch dreadlocked junior forward Jae Crowder. With his unique combination of size and quickness, he earned junior college player of the year honors and led Howard College to the National Junior College Championship championship last year. He’ll have to keep filling the stat sheet for his new team to get where it wants to go. Jumping from junior college to Division I can be like stepping into an alternate basketball dimension where the players are faster and the fans are nastier, and I expect some growing pains. But eventually, the game will slow down for him, and Crowder’s athleticism will take over. The loss to Washington was just the latest revelation of character for this Marquette team and the latest opportunity for it to improve. If the team’s talent and character can mix the way I’m anticipating, the rest of the Big East better look out this season. tim.seeman@marquette.edu
Killian
staff Picks
Seeman
Whatever you do, never count out Buzz Williams’ team of scrappy underdogs. Last season they shocked the Big East by earning a six seed in the NCAA Tournament, and this year could be a page out of the same book. Look for the Golden Eagles to be dancing in March.
GOLDEN EAGLE
4 Tribune
By Michael LoCicero michael.locicero@marquette.edu
With two consensus top-55 freshman recruits, according to Rivals. com, as well as the reigning National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year, coach Buzz Williams’ third recruiting class has fans abuzz about what might become of this gifted group. Although Williams has shown a tendency not to play freshmen as frequently as upperclassmen and junior college recruits in his first two years — last season the four true freshmen tallied only 360 minutes combined — it will be difficult to keep freshman guard standouts like Vander Blue and Reggie Smith off the court this year if this talented class has anything to say about it. Blue was rated as high as No. 24 in the country, on Rivals.com, and expects to be in the running for the starting point guard position along with sophomore Junior Cadougan, according to Williams. “I don’t really know where coach (Williams) will have me play,” Blue said. “The only thing I know is that it’s already a lot of fun, and I hope I can help the team out any way I can.” Williams said Blue will get the opportunity to contribute on the court. “Vander, as well as all the other new guys we have this year are going to have their ups and downs, but he’s going to get a chance to play some quality minutes,” Williams said. The freshman competed with
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Impact Rookies the USA Basketball U18 National Team over the summer and led the team to a gold medal with a personal tournament-best 13 points in the championship game against Brazil Meanwhile, junior college transfer forward Jae Crowder comes to Marquette with the title of National Junior College Athletic Associa-
at Marquette Madness when he led all players after the first round in votes during the dunk contest. Smith, who might be 6-feet tall if he’s lucky, has dynamic athletic ability similar to former point guard Dominic James that had fans on the edge of their seats during Madness. “I love Reggie (Smith),” Williams said. “I like that he can change the pace “It’s a brand new challenge for offensively and defensively.” me, but I have the confidence The remaining to help this team .” recruits, freshmen forwards Jamail -Jae Crowder Jones and Davante Gardner, seem to be tion Player of the a bit further away from Year after leading making an impact than the other Howard College to the three. NJCAA National Champion“Davante (Gardner), when you ship last season. Crowder averaged first look at him, you wonder if he 18.9 points, nine rebounds, 2.5 as- will ever contribute to our team,” sists and 2.4 steals per game. Williams said. “But when you see The 6-foot-6-inch Crowder will him play, you see him get a little betbegin his Golden Eagle career with ter every day, and he’s miles ahead two years of eligibility and will play of where he was when he got here a role similar to that of forward La- this summer.” zar Hayward, being expected to Williams said Jones is a great athguard other teams’ bigs. lete who played on a fantastic high While Crowder was the best school team. player in the junior college ranks, he “He just needs to gain some believes it’s unfair for fans to expect weight and be in the right spot on unreasonable things from him this the court, which I’m confident he year. will,” Williams said. “Division I ball is a lot different While Williams has proven over than JUCO ball,” Crowder said. his first two years that he is un“It’s a brand new challenge for me, likely to play freshmen over more but I have the confidence to help this experienced players, these five new team, and I know that my maturity players have the talent to play some will be able to help us out.” valuable minutes for Marquette this Smith showed off his athleticism season.
Blue, Jones, Smith and Co. have big shoes to fill. Marquette has a proven history of rookies playing a large role their first year in.
Doc Rivers 1980-’81 434 pts. 14.0 ppg 112 aissists 60 steals
Dwyane Wade 17.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg Sporting News 3rd team All-America
Dominic James
Big East Rookie of the Year Big East All-Rookie Team 15.3 ppg 167 assists
By Michael LoCicero michael.locicero@marquette.edu
perience than those two. Cadougan’s 12 games as a freshman make him the most experienced point guard on the team. “I think I really started to come on well late last year, and I’m feeling great and playing without restrictions,” Cadougan said.
Devastating injuries last season frustrated one Marquette player who has been injury plagued since stepping foot in Milwaukee, and derailed the highly anticipated debut of another before the season even began. Redshirt sophomore center Chris Otule and sophomore guard Junior Cadougan were unable to contribute to last season’s “ I’m feeling great surprising fifth place and playing withBig East finish and out restrictions.” NCAA Tournament - Junior Cadougan berth due to foot injuries. Cadougan missed the first 18 games of last season after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon in September and was “That never the same player. He wasn’t was expected to challenge Maurice necessarily the case Acker and David Cubillan for a spot when I was on the floor last in Marquette’s backcourt last season. year.” “Junior is one of the hardest workOtule has had his career marred ing people I’ve met, and he was dev- by injuries to his feet and has yet to astated when he couldn’t contribute show off his impressive 6-foot-10last year,” coach Buzz Williams said. inch frame that wowed the coaches “His rehab went great, and he’s back in high school. to 100 percent and ready to show the Otule missed the first 10 games of fans how dynamic he can be.” his freshman season and the final 31 Cadougan will have to contend games of last year, but showed flashwith highly touted freshmen like es of improvement, averaging 3.7 Vander Blue and Reggie Smith for points and 2.0 rebounds per game in minutes, but has a year more of ex- the opening tilts of the season.
“He’s been through a lot as a person and as a player in his time here at Marquette,” Williams said. “He has encountered things and heard words that he never heard until he got here.” While many people have been disappointed with Otule in his two seasons at Marquette, Williams stressed the need to be patient and the fact that he is improving. “Three years into it, relative to the points and rebounds that he has produced, it hasn’t been enough,” Williams said. “But in my heart, I believe he is coming. You can see flashes of it in practice, and I really think its coming.” Otule may never be a player like Hasheem Thabeet was for Connecticut or Luke Harangody was for Notre Dame, but he expects to produce and help the team the best way he can. “I’ve been injured two years in a row, and I have a good feeling with how the rehab has gone that I’m going to help this year,” Otule said. “The only time I feel the injury is after a hard workout, but my body has responded a lot better than I expected.” Cadougan and Otule will be expected to rely on their experience both on and off the court this season and hope to prove to fans that they are ready to be a part of the tradition of Marquette basketball.
Trib File Photos; Doc Rivers photo courtesy Marquette Athletics
Ballad of the comeback kids
MEN’S BIG EAST PREVIEW
By Mark Strotman mark.strotman@marquette.edu
Pittsburgh: Bringing back four starters from a 25-win team is usually a good measure for success the following season. That’s exactly what coach Jamie Dixon’s squad will do as it aims for their first Big East crown since 2004. Senior guard Ashton Gibbs, last season’s Most Improved Player in the Big East, will lead the Panthers along with guard Brad Wanamaker and senior center Gary McGhee.
Villanova: The Wildcats will look to rebound from a disappointing finish to 2009, and they have just the team to do it. Senior guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher will lead an ultra-talented squad that will be able to hang with any team in the nation. Also, their elite recruiting class from 2009, including All-Big East Rookie Team member Maalik Wayns, has a year of experience under its belt and should contribute in a big way.
Georgetown: Despite losing All-Big East First Team forward Greg Monroe, the Hoyas return three key seniors in guards Chris Wright, Austin Freeman and forward Julian Vaughn, and are one of the deepest teams in the Big East. Junior guard and former McDonald’s All-American Jason Clark could have a breakout year, and freshman phenom Nate Lubick, a 6-foot8-inch power forward, should ease the loss of Monroe, making the Hoyas a surefire tournament team in 2010.
SIDEKICKS West Virginia: Losing Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks to the NBA makes things difficult in Morgantown, but junior Kevin Jones is ready to step into a full-time leadership role along with junior Darryl Bryant and senior Joe Mazulla. The Mountaineers are young, but head coach Bob Huggins always has his team ready.
Louisville: The Cardinals lost two important members of last year’s team in center Samardo Samuels and point guard Edgar Sosa, but this young squad is full of talent and athleticism that should have them in the thick of things come March. Sophomore Peyton Siva will be called on to take over for Sosa, while junior Jared Swopshire and sophomore Rakeem Buckles man the paint. Louisville does not have the talent they had last season, but never count out a Rick Pitino-led team.
APPRENTICES St. John’s: If there’s one team who could really make a jump in the Big East standings this season, it’s the Red Storm. Led by new head coach Steve Lavin, they return seven of their top nine leading scorers, including the three-headed senior guard combo of D.J. Kennedy, Paris Horne and Dwight Hardy. If the Red Storm can rebound, they could be a big surprise in the Big East.
Connecticut: Junior star Kemba Walker is the only returning player who averaged more than five points per game last season, so the Huskies will need players to step up if they want to return to the NCAA Tournament. Guard Jerome Dyson and forward Stanley Robinson both graduated, leaving Walker in charge. Sophomore forward Alex Oriakhi has plenty of promise, while new forward Roscoe Smith, guard Jeremy Lamb and guard Shabazz Napier make Connecticut a make-or-break team in the Big East.
Seton Hall: Much like St. John’s, the Pirates are flying under the radar this year and, with plenty of experience on the roster, could surprise some people in the Big East. Their top four scorers from a year ago return, including scoring machine Jeremy Hazell. Forwards Jeff Robinson and Herb Pope will hold things down defensively, but question marks in the backcourt could hurt them down the stretch. Cincinnati: After losing guards Deonta Vaughn and Lance Stephenson to graduation and the NBA draft, respecitvely, the Bearcats will have to regroup, but they still bring back a decent amount of firepower. Junior forward Yancy Gates could be a first team All-Big East contributor, and there’s enough raw talent on the roster to make things interesting. Whether or not they can come together and play as a unit is debatable entering the season.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kemba Walker, SG, Connecticut: Walker made the jump from role player to household name in the Big East last year after seeing his points per game increase from 8.9 to 14.6 and his assists from 2.9 to 5.1. With a young Huskies team to lead, expect both of those numbers to go up once again as the 6-foot-1-inch junior makes his case for Big East Player of the Year.
Kris Joseph, PF, Syracuse: It’s hard to gain notoriety playing behind Big East Player of the Year Wes Johnson, but Joseph will finally get the spotlight all to himself this season for Syracuse. With his lanky 6-foot-7-inch frame, Joseph can bang inside and also drive to the bucket, leading the team in free throws attempted last season. He’s a future NBA player and is ready to go from supporting cast to main act in 2010.
Marquette: Injuries to freshman point guard Junior Cadougan and sophomore Chris Otule hurt the Golden Eagles’ depth last season, but with those two now healthy, Buzz Williams’ bunch should once again compete for a top five finish. The team brings in a top-20 recruiting class led by Vander Blue, while senior Jimmy Butler and junior sharpshooter Darius Johnson-Odom will continue their solid play to help Marquette once again fly under the radar. Notre Dame: Losing senior forward Luke Harangody to graduation will certainly hurt the Fighting Irish in 2010, but they did manage to go 3-2 without their star last season. Maybe a bigger loss will be last season’s court general Tory Jackson, but players like Tim Abromaitis and the addition of Purdue transfer Tim Martin should have them fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
ZEROES
South Florida: After losing one of the conference’s best players in guard Dominique Jones to the NBA draft and guards Mike Mercer and Chris Howard to graduation, the Bulls are looking at a paper-thin frontcourt. Luckily, forwards Augustus Gilchrist and Jarrid Famous return and should lead the attack on offense. However, a lack of depth and experience in the backcourt will make it a rough season for coach Stan Heath and the Bulls. Rutgers: New coach Mike Rice has his hands full in his first season at Rutgers. Defensive force Hamady Ndiaye graduated, and last year’s top two leading scorers transferred — guard Mike Rosario to Florida and center Gregory Echenique to Creighton. Sophomore guard Dane Miller gives the group some reason for hope, and senior power forward Jonathon Mitchell should hold his own in the post.
Providence: No one had a worse offseason than the Friars, who dismissed leading scorer Jamine Peterson and will be without four other players from last year’s team due to further dismissals and transfers. Coach Keno Davis also made headlines after refusing to let incoming freshman Joseph Young out of his National Letter of Intent. Senior guard Marshon Brooks and sophomore guard Vincent Council, the team’s third and fourth leading scorers in 2009, will try to salvage the season. DePaul: Losing stars Mac Koshwal and Will Walker will not make anything easier for a Blue Demons team that won just one Big East game last season, one year after failing to record a conference victory. The future looks brighter after hiring former Clemson coach Oliver Purnell this offseason, but 2010 should be another pitiful season. Senior guard Mike Stovall, who averaged seven points per game last season, is the leading scorer of all returning players.
THREE GAMES TO WATCH West Virginia at Pittsburgh, 2/24/11: The
Backyard Brawl added another chapter to its historic rivalry last season when the No. 23 Panthers knocked off the No. 4 Mountaineers, 78-75, in three overtimes. Senior guard Brad Wanamaker poured in 24 points in the win. A year later, West Virginia will look to extract revenge at home in a matchup of Big East powerhouses.
VS.
Syracuse at Pittsburgh, 1/17/11: Early in the Big East season we’ll find out who is the cream of the crop out East when these two teams battle it out. Both projected as top-15 teams, they’ll face off in Pittsburgh on ESPN Big Monday in what should be a great matchup. Pittsburgh won last year’s matchup 82-72 in the Carrier Dome.
VS.
Ashton Gibbs, PG, Pittsburgh: Gibbs is the best player on the best team in the conference, and last year’s most improved player in the Big East should continue to improve and become one of the best point guards in the nation. After averaging 15.8 points and 1.9 assists last season, the point guard will look to round out his game and lead the Panthers to a Final Four appearance.
Marquette at Villanova, 2/2/11: If you like nailbiters, look no further than this matchup. The last five contests between these two teams have been decided by a total of 16 points, including a pair of two-point Villanova wins last season. Expect much of the same from these quickly forming rivals this season.
VS.
Photos via hoopsinthesun.blogspot.com, sportsillustrated.com, and Marc Squire/ Getty Images
HEROES
Syracuse: The Orange might be the deepest team in the Big East, and also the most talented. Despite losing forward Wes Johnson and guard Andy Rautins to the NBA draft, they bring back last season’s Big East Sixth Man of the Year in Kris Joseph and guards Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche. Throw in a top-five recruiting class consisting of seven-footer Fab Melo and combo guard Dion Waiters, and coach Jim Boeheim’s squad should find itself near the top of the Big East once again.
With springs in his shoes and thunder in his heart, Marquette’s fearless leader vanuishes a foe via tomahawk jam.
and when thunder doesn’t get the job done, number 33 brings the lightning, delivering coldblooded buzzer-beaters in rapid fashion.
Story by Andrei Greska Graphics by Sara Miletic and Lauren Grimshaw The clock is winding down. The game and season are on the line. It all comes down to one shot. Who gets the rock? Who else but ‘Robbin,’ aka Jimmy Butler, a senior forward from Tomball, Texas. Butler hit a pair of game winners last season, once at Connecticut and then again at St. John’s, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He has proven he can handle the pressure. There’s only one difference this year, though: It’s his call whether he wants the shot. “I want the ball,” Butler said with a grin. Whereas last year Butler was a part of Lazar Hayward’s team, he and junior guard Darius Johnson-Odom will be the alpha dogs on this squad. “I expect to carry a big load,” Butler said. “I definitely think a lot is dependent on me and DJO (Johnson-Odom) to do a lot of different things. I think he’s capable of it. I think I’m capable of it.” On the court, this duo will have the pressure of being the focus of the opponent’s defense. Butler averaged 14.7 points-per-game while Johnson Odom added 13 points- pergame. Together they accounted for 37.7 percent of the offense last season and 72.4 percent of the points scored by players returning this year. While they had the aid of a future first round draft pick and two three-point shooting weapons to spread the floor last year, they will have to create for themselves this season. “I think this year, it’s not going to be as easy,” Butler said. “I’m going to have to show people that I can actually shoot the ball and open up the court for myself.” Butler was the seventh most efficient offensive player in the country last year, according to
the Pomeroy Rankings. He did so by getting to the line over and over and over again. Butler made 184 freebies, good for third place on Marquette’s alltime single season list. Not to be outdone, JohnsonOdom’s outstanding three-point shooting earned him plenty of accolades. His 47.4 percentage from beyond the arc is fourth best on Marquette’s all-time single season list, and his 73 three-pointers tie him for second all-time by a sophomore in a single season. As much as is expected from the tandem on the court, even more is expected off of it. “I got a lot of young guys behind me,” Johnson-Odom said. “I think I’m going to have to put those guys on my shoulders at times. Teach them our roles, and teach them stuff on and off the court, which is going to help them during the season.” Coach Buzz Williams expects a lot more from Johnson-Odom this season but feels his star guard is on the right path. “The growth that he has had off the floor, is going to help him on the floor more than the billion jumpers that he has shot this summer,” Williams said during the team’s media day. “I’m really proud of how he has grown up. He’s been a really good leader for our team. He’s a really good person.” As sophomore forward Erik Williams said, “It’s not a secret who’s going to be putting the ball in the basket.” The challenge this talented duo will face is not putting up individual stats but leading the team to collective glory. “I just want to win. I don’t care how many points I average or rebounds or assists,” Butler said. “All I’m trying to do is, hopefully, help us win a few games this year.”
when the stakes are high and the outlook is bleak, they shine through in heroic splendor. they are the big east’s dynamic duo...
A prime example of power and grace, number 32’s trusty sidekick is venomous and versatile in her assault of adversaries
Beautifully deadly, they are terri mitchell’s spectacular wonder women... A master of illusion and trickery, the team’s elusive point guard is here one moment, then - POOF! she’s gone.
Story by Trey Killian Graphics by Sara Miletic and Lauren Grimshaw Angel Robinson carried the Marquette women’s basketball team on the court last season. The team’s overall performance, however, did everything but leave the fans on cloud nine. Robinson, who enters her senior year 13th in scoring in Marquette history, put up decent numbers for the Golden Eagles. She averaged a team-best 11.9 points, hauled in 4.5 rebounds per game and set a career high with 4.7 assists per game in 2009-’10. She extended her consecutive starting streak to 72 games and solidified her status as a true workhorse, logging 32.8 minutes a game. But her impressive statistics have been marred by the Golden Eagles’ lackluster play the past two seasons. The team finished 10th in the Big East last year, and the odds are certainly stacked against the women if they want to improve drastically in perhaps the nation’s best conference. Success in the Big East is contingent on the overall strength of a team, and with that comes the need for the emergence of other players to shoulder some of the weight of Robinson’s burden. “Angel’s been really focused on building up the young players, and it’s been fun to watch,” said coach Terri Mitchell. But every Super Woman needs a sidekick, and last season’s trials may have heralded the arrival of a new star in sophomore Sarina Simmons. An All-Big East Freshman Team selection, Simmons has shown she has the talent to play “Robin” to Robinson this season. She averaged 7.2 points per game and pulled down 5.3 rebounds, good for second best on the team.
Simmons grew up fast making the transition from high school to the collegiate level of play. She will look to take a leadership role and share her experiences with the six freshmen joining the team this year. “My focus with them was to tell them the truth about how hard it is, and how much work and time they have to put in and how draining it’s going to be sometimes,” Simmons said. Robinson acknowledged Simmons will play a crucial role this season and is confident she has the ability to be a cornerstone for the team. “Sarina is crazy athletically, and we just have to get her to fight more,” Robinson said. “If she brings what she did her freshman year and just does what she can, we’ll help her with the rest.” Simmons is quick to recognize Robinson as the clear-cut leader of the team, but she appears to be ready to accept her role as an integral part of her supporting cast. “Angel has been our consistent leader,” Simmons said. “She’s doing a great job of leading and keeping everybody together and holding everybody accountable for themselves.” Simmons has been no slouch in the offseason, working most specifically on her presence as a post player — a vital role with the transfer of the team’s leading rebounder and second leading scorer, Jessica Pachko, to Xavier. “With us getting a new post coach, I’ve been working a lot on getting open and staying open, and on my post game,” Simmons said. “I’ve also been staying true to the other areas of my game to stay versatile.”
WOMEN’S BIG EAST PREVIEW
By Mark Strotman mark.strotman@marquette.edu
HEROES Connecticut: The Huskies shouldn’t miss a beat this season despite losing the Associated Press Player of the Year in center Tina Charles. One big reason is the return of the Big East Preseason Player of the Year: senior forward Maya Moore, who led the Big East in scoring a year ago with 18.9 points per game. Notre Dame: Sophomore guard Skylar Diggins, one of the best young players in the country, attempts to make up for the loss of three starters from last year’s Fighting Irish team. With arguably the top recruiting class in the Big East coming in, including McDonald’s All-American freshman guard Kayla McBride, they will have some of the best talent in the conference.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers lost no starters from last season and will have one of the more veteran-oriented teams in the Big East. Led by senior guard Liz Repella, who averaged 13.9 points per game last season, they could be the one team with a legitimate chance to knock off Connecticut in 2010. Georgetown: Sophomore guard Sugar Rodgers, the reigning Big East Freshman of the Year, will team up with senior guard Monica McNutt — the team’s best outside threat — and redshirt sophomore forward Amanda Reese, who is finally healthy, inside to compete in the Big East. The talent is there, but the real question is how the loss of forward Jaleesa Butler, the team’s leading rebounder last season, will hurt the Hoyas inside.
APPRENTICES Marquette: With six seniors and six newcomers, including five freshmen, it will be interesting to see how coach Terri Mitchell handles this squad. Senior guard Angel Robinson, the team’s leading scorer at 11.3 points per game last season, will be the key to running Marquette’s offense, while sophomore forward Sarina Simmons will be expected to carry a bigger workload.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers’ roster consists of only freshmen and seniors, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how they will perform in 2010. Senior forward Chelsea Cole and redshirt senior guard Jania Sims, who both earned All-Big East Honorable Mentions last season, will lead the charge, along with highly touted 6-foot-3-inch freshman center Kyra Dunn.
Syracuse: Losing forward Nicole Michael, Syracuse’s all-time leader in points and rebounds, will be impossible to replace, but the Orange have one of the deepest teams in the Big East. Senior guards Erica Morrow and Tasha Harris will keep the backcourt steady, while junior forward Troya Barry looks to replicate Michael’s presence from a year ago. Providence: The Friars lost four key contributors from last season and will need to find a spark if they want to repeat the success of their best season since 1992. Senior guard-forward Mi-Khida Hankins averaged 11 points and 5.3 rebounds last season and will lead a strong freshman class in 2010.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Photos via larrybrownsports.com, thehoyacom, and kentucky.com
Skylar Diggins, Guard, Notre Dame: Not to be outdone by Rodgers, Diggins, the 2009 Gatorade National High School Female Athlete of the Year, will lead a Notre Dame team with high expectations. She averaged 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.6 steals. She was the first Notre Dame freshman to lead the team in scoring in 17 years and will have her name in the running for the John Wooden Award in 2010.
Maya Moore, Forward, Connecticut: With the graduation of center Tina Charles, the top team in the nation will look to Moore as its new leader. The 6-foot Moore has racked up just about every individual award possible, including the John Wooden Award in 2009, given to the most outstanding player in college basketball. She could cement herself in women’s college basketball history if she is able to lead the Huskies to their third straight NCAA Championship. Sugar Rodgers, Guard, Georgetown: As a freshman, Rodgers averaged 17.6 points and was named an All-American Honorable Mention in 2009. With such high expectations, the sky’s the limit for the sharpshooter, who poured in a league-high 83 three-pointers last season.
THREE GAMES TO WATCH
Louisville at Connecticut, 1/15/11: The Huskies made easy work of Louisville last season, going into Lexington and pummeling the Cardinals 84-38. However, this season could be a different story as the battle of the freshmen takes place. Both teams recruited top five classes this season, according to HoopGurlz, and will count on their diaper dandies to come up big.
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SIDEKICKS Louisville: The Cardinals’ frontcourt will be as strong as any team’s in the conference with junior forward Monique Reid and senior center Keisha Hines attacking the glass. They combined to average 16.1 rebounds per game in 2009, and this season should be much of the same. With junior guard Becky Burke and the No. 8 recruit, according to HoopGurlz, in freshman Shoni Schimmel in the backcourt, the Cardinals will have a very balanced attack in 2010. DePaul: The Blue Demons will be one of the top offensive teams in the country this season, returning all five starters as well as senior guard Deirdre Naughton, who tore her ACL early last season. Naughton (15.5 points per game in 2008-’09) and fellow senior guard Sam Quigley (13.1 points per game last season) will form a lethal scoring attack in the backcourt, while junior forward Keisha Hampton holds down the paint inside (13.8 points per game last season).
Rutgers: Redshirt junior guard Khadijah Rushdan can do it all for the Scarlet Knights, who will look to return to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth straight season. The losses of guard Brittany Ray — the team’s leading scorer last season at 14.2 points per game — forward Myia McCurdy, and center Rashidat Junaid will make that a challenge. But two highly touted freshmen, forward Briana Hutchen and guard Daisha Simmons, could have an immediate impact.
ZEROES South Florida: This season the Bulls’ depth will depend heavily on its youth, with one of the team’s only two returning starters being a member of the All-Big East Freshmen Team a year ago. In addition, the team picked up National Junior College/Community College Player of the Year Andrea Smith (18.1 points per game) and her talented sister Andrell, both junior guards. South Florida will also be able to use junior forward Daleisha Carn, who sat out last season after transferring from Alabama.
Cincinnati: Guard Kahla Roudebush and forward Michelle Jones, two of Cincinnati’s all-time greats, graduated from a team that lacks experience in many areas. Freshman guard Kayla Cook should have an immediate impact for the Bearcats, and senior point guard Shareese Ulis is one of the most efficient players in the Big East, but it probably won’t be enough this season.
Marquette at Connecticut, 12/9/10: The Huskies came into the Al McGuire Center last season and embarrassed the Golden Eagles 6843, but Marquette did hold Maya Moore to just four points and was only outscored by one in the second half. With no Tina Charles in the mix, who scored 23 points in the win last season, could a potential upset be brewing? Miracles do happen.
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St. John’s: Junior forward Da’Sheana Stevens was an Associated Press AllAmerican Honorable Mention last season and could be in line for more hardware if she continues to produce like she did last year. Averaging 14.3 points and 7.6 rebounds in 2009, both of which led the team, Stevens will be the engine for the Red Storm, who look to repeat last season’s program-best 12 Big East wins. It was the second time the program won 12 games in Big East play.
Villanova: The Wildcats lost three of their top five scorers, including guard Maria Getty — the team’s leading scorer at 11.6 per game — and the inside presence of forward Shannon Elliott to graduation. This leaves the Wildcats as a much younger team, with just two seniors on the roster. Sophomore forward Laura Sweeney was named to the All-Big East Freshman Team last season and will need to continue her progression if Villanova is to compete this season. Seton Hall: After winning just one Big East game a season ago, Seton Hall lost its head coach and three starters from that team as well. Anne Donovan, former coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty, was brought in to right the ship. The early results have been positive: Her 2010 recruiting class was ranked No. 24 in the nation by HoopGurlz. With just one senior and eight underclassmen, it could be a long season for the Pirates.
Georgetown at Notre Dame, 1/18/11: It’s not all about Connecticut in the Big East. This matchup will pit two of the conference’s, if not the nation’s, best young players against each other. Georgetown’s Rodgers and Notre Dame’s Diggins are guaranteed to put on a show, as two of the best teams in the Big East square off. Last season, Rodgers poured in 24 points off the bench in a 76-66 victory over the Fighting Irish, while Diggins struggled with nine points in the loss.
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Golden Eagle
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tribune 9
The old soldiers fight back By Trey Killian
robert.killian@marquette.edu
The thrill of the postseason leaves an indelible mark on the mind of an athlete. Once it is reached, it can make every year without a strong showing in the postseason tournament a disappointment. The senior class of the Marquette women’s basketball team has not forgotten its 2008 campaign that resulted in a WNIT championship.
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iana McMorris, forward Jocelyn Mellen and guard Courtney Weibel will aim much higher this season. Coach Terri Mitchell knows her team has struggled since that championship season, but feels there is truly something special about this senior class. “The NIT has been nice, and it’s taught us how to win and how to play in the postseason,” Mitchell said. “There is urgency this year to go to the NCAA tournament.
It got a taste of what it’s like to play deep into the “win or go home” atmosphere that tournaments bring. The seniors on this year’s squad were just freshmen on that team, however, and over the past two seasons they have come up short, failing to go further than the third round of the WNIT. As they look to leave their final mark on school history, guard Angel Robinson, forward Jasmine Collins, forward Paige Fiedorowicz, guard Tatiy-
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I feel like it would be a great injustice to these seniors and what they’ve brought to the program if they didn’t get to go out with a postseason.” Robinson believes her fellow seniors will lead the Golden Eagles to victory as a collective unit. “All of our seniors have been stepping up,” Robinson said. “Everybody knows their role and has something different to bring than I do as leaders.”
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FRESHMEN
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SENIORS Graphic by Bridget Gamble/ bridget.gamble@marquette.edu
The six returning seniors have had three years to bond and discover each other’s strengths and weaknesses. “Out of all my four years, I would say that this team has the best chemistry,” Fiedorowicz said. “I think we are really quick. We are smaller than the usual Big East team, but an advantage to that is our ability to get down the court faster than other teams.” Weibel will contribute a pure shooting ability that was on full display at Marquette Madness. She hit 17 three-pointers in a row and almost reached a total of 30 in one minute to rout men’s team star junior guard Darius Johnson-Odom. McMorris is coming off her best offensive season, in which she scored a career best 5.8 points per game and pulled down 2.8 rebounds per game. Mellen and Collins will look to play a much larger role this year, as they have yet to reach their peaks. Their play will no doubt be a key component toward the fortunes of this year’s squad. Mitchell understands the drive this group of women obtained from the team’s success early in their careers and knows they want to instill a similar attitude among the young faces of the team. “It’s important that they pass on a legacy to those young players so that they also can experience it and never look back,” Mitchell said.
Fiedorowicz front and center By Joe Kvartunas
Tribune file photo
joseph.kvartunas@marquette.edu
During her junior year, Fiedorowicz once again appeared in 32 games, averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She was second on the team in free throw percentage, at 83.3 percent. Though unspectacular, her solid numbers have always shown her to be a key role player on the team.
The Marquette Golden Eagles’ front court has seen trying times recently. With two of their top post players, Jessica Pachko and Georgie Jones, transferring in the past 12 months, the undersized team may have trouble competing physically in the tough Big East Conference. But there is still a strong, experienced ath“SHE HAS A BRILLIANT lete banging around BASKETBALL MIND AND IS in the paint in the form AN EXCELLENT LEADER.” of senior Paige Fie- KATHERINE PLOUFFE dorowicz. The 6-foot senior forward, a product of Johnsonburg, Ill., was a three-sport athlete in high school. She was an Associated Press First Team All-State basketball selection in 2007 and left Johnsonburg High as the all-time career scor“Paige (Fiedorowicz) has aling leader of both the men’s and ways been someone we can count women’s basketball teams. Her freshman year at Marquette on as far as scoring, getting rewas plagued by injuries, but she bounds, so I’m excited to see still managed to appear in 27 what she can do this year,” said games, averaging 6.5 points and senior Tatiyiana McMorris. “I’m pretty sure she’s going to be very 4.2 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Fiedorowicz successful.” But with Pachko — last year’s appeared in 32 games, making 15 starts. She was fourth on the team second leading scorer — gone, in scoring, averaging 5.6 points Fiedorowicz will likely have to take on a new role with the team per game.
and become more of an offensive threat to lead the relatively young Golden Eagles front court. “I like the players we have,” Fiedorowicz said. “Practice so far has been good. We are very fast, and quickness will definitely be our biggest asset down low.” One of the players helping Fiedorowicz in the low post will be freshman Katherine Plouffe. Although Plouffe was a guard in high school, coach Terri Mitchell has already pegged her as a starting low-post player. Plouffe will look to Fiedorowicz to help her with the transition into the post. “Paige is a fantastic player,” Plouffe said. “She has a brilliant basketball mind and is an excellent leader. We certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without her.” With strong inside play, the NCAA tournament may be within reach for the first time since 2007. “Winning the NIT was great,” Mitchell said. “It taught us how to win, but now we want to make it back to the NCAAs.” Reaching the NCAA tournament is certainly Fiedorowicz’s goal. “Making the NCAAs is what drives us, what motivates us,” Fiedorowicz said. “It’s the goal that we as seniors have yet to accomplish. We are hungry for it, even more so than when we were freshmen.”
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10 Tribune
confidence. The swagger has returned. “We don’t have that cloud hanging over our heads anymore,” Mitchell said. “We’re done talking about the past.” So let’s talk about the future then. This team has the makings of a contender, no doubt about that. Senior guard Angel Robinson is unquestionably one of the most complete players in the conference and, obviously, as she goes, so will the team. She’s coming off a bit of a letdown season, averaging 11.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds a game. But that’s just a testament to how great everyone knows she can be. A fantastic passer with Houdini-like speed — just when you think you’ve got her covered, POOF!, she’s gone — Robinson is a born floor general. If there’s one thing last year revealed, it’s that she’s better served as a facilitator than a scorer, as she shot only 36.1 percent from the field. She’s more Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan. One of the players who can carry some of the offensive workload is senior forward Paige Fiedorowicz. Despite averaging only 17.3 minutes a game, she posted pretty exceptional numbers and shot a high percentage from both the floor and the free throw line last season. With forward Jessica Pachko hightailing it out of town like Butch Cassidy, Fiedorowicz is now the team’s only legit backto-the-basket player. She will be called upon to carry much of the scoring burden that Pachko dropped on the team’s shoulders. It really is no coincidence Robinson and Fiedorowicz are both battle-tested, world weary veterans, remnants of that magical 2008 team, leftovers from a time when things were better and pastures were greener. This is their team now. The burden of change, of revenge, of glory, falls squarely on their shoulders. It’s finally time for Robinson and company to come out of hiding, to come out of the forest, and back into the forefront of the Big East where they belong. “You’re going to see a team on a mission,” Mitchell said. The road to redemption starts Saturday.
Revenge of the Fallen
By Joe Kvartunas joseph.kvartunas@marquette.edu
After winning the Women’s National Invitational Tournament in 2008, the Marquette women’s basketball team was nationally ranked and expected to have a big season in 2008-’09. For two consecutive years, however, the Golden Eagles have not met expectations and have fallen short of reaching the NCAA Tournament each season. Marquette finished with identical 17-16 records the past two years, finishing 9th in the Big East in 2009 and 10th in the conference last year with a 6-10 record. The underwhelming performances have been particularly bitter due to the level of talent on those teams. Both teams featured
a unanimous preseason All-Big East Team selection, with guard Krystal Ellis getting the nod in 2008 and guard Angel Robinson in 2009. To add to the disappointments, instability in coach Terri Mitchell’s team is beginning to surface. Center Georgie Jones left the program early last season due to undisclosed “personal reasons,” according to the Marquette Athletic Department. After the season, forward Jessica Pachko also left Marquette, transferring to Xavier. The loss of the 6-foot-2-inch Pachko leaves a major hole in Marquette’s inside game. Pachko, who would have been a junior this year, was the second leading scorer last season, averaging 10.4 points per game. She was also the team’s leading rebounder, with 6.3 per game. It was a full
rebound better than the next highest player, current sophomore forward Sarina Simmons. When asked about the recent transfers, Mitchell responded, “We haven’t really thought about it because they are not here. We wish them well, but they decided that they didn’t want to be a part of this family, so we haven’t really talked about them. That just means more opportunity for other people.” Pachko’s transfer also came as a surprise to her teammates. “We were all shocked by losing Jess,” said senior forward Paige Fiedorowicz. “She was a good player, but we have to move on.” Mitchell made it clear there would be several players filling the hole left by Pachko, most prominently Fiedorowicz. Playing alongside her will usually be Simmons and freshman forward Kathrine Plouffe. The 6-foot-3-inch Plouffe played guard in high school in Alberta, Canada, and will now make the transition to forward. The team hopes to utilize her quickness as an asset against the larger, slower forwards in the Big East. When asked about filling the shoes of Pachko, Plouffe stated, “To be honest I haven’t really thought about it. I know she was a great player, and I definitely need to step up my game.” The turnover in players also creates a disparity in the classes. The Golden Eagles only have one junior on the roster, junior college transfer forward Andi Oordt, who is hurt to start the season. It hurts the team’s depth during the season and makes it difficult to recruit even classes in the future. The heat is turned up at the Al McGuire Center. Mitchell and the Golden Eagles have their work cut out for them as they try to right the ship and breathe some life into the stagnant program.
erik.schmidt@marquette.edu
staff Picks Slow and steady. That seems to be the mantra of this year’s team, who will make the WNIT after losing in the first round last season. Will the Golden Eagles return to their former glory? It’s possible. But at the very least, Terri Mitchell’s squad will take a step in the right direction.
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Photo courtesy Marquette Athletics, Graphic by Kat Lau
Revenge is never a straight line. It’s a forest. And like a forest, it’s easy to lose your way, to Erik forget where Schmidt you came in. And once you’re lost, it’s almost impossible to find your way out. Right now, the Marquette women’s basketball team is good and lost. It has been for two years. It was the disheartening injuries, the mental shakeups and the conjoining team chemistry and rhythm problems that did them in. It was the losing that kept them there. But if coach Terri Mitchell has it her way, this team is about to find its way quickly. “We need to draw a line in the sand and just get it done,” Mitchell said. “We’ve done as much talking as we can physically do. Now it’s just a matter of producing.” Mitchell has an edge about her this season. You can see it in her eyes. You can hear it in her voice. The team has it too. It knows its window for redemption is closing fast, and it’s making Mitchell and the six seniors hungry for some postseason pie. One of sports’ hard-earned lessons is to never underestimate someone with nothing to lose. It’s like backing a scared animal into a corner. It doesn’t matter if it’s Godzilla or a prairie gopher. The thing is going to fight for its life and unleash hell. And that’s what the Golden Eagles are this season: cornered. After winning the 2008 WNIT Championship and emerging as one of the nation’s brightest young teams, they fell from grace like Lucifer’s coalition, wasted the senior year of program scoring leader Krystal Ellis and disappeared into obscurity within the leviathan that is the Big East. But now they’re surrounded by the failings of their past and the uncertainty of their future. They’re cornered by the doubters, naysayers and haters. And they look angry. That championship is a distant memory, a speck in Marquette’s rearview mirror. Ellis is a relic, a grim reminder of squandered opportunity. Time has healed the injuries, practice has restored the
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Golden Eagle
Tribune 11
road to redemption
By Mike Nelson michael.e.nelson@marquette.edu
It has been four years since Marquette’s women’s basketball team made the NCAA Tournament and three years since it has made it past the second round of the WNIT. While two of its top three scorers from last season are gone and no one returning averaged more than 12 points per game, coach Terri Mitchell is confident this team can end the NCAA Tournament drought because of the way the six seniors have stepped up. “If they were to say one thing and then go onto the practice court and they were just okay practices, then I’d say, you know, we’re not there yet,” Mitchell said. “But to watch them dive on the floor, knock people over and do whatever it takes to win and compete, it’s sending a huge message to our younger players about what it takes (to win).” Marquette finished 10th in the Big East last season (17-16, 6-10 Big East). Senior guard Angel Robinson (11.9 points per game last season) returns
as the team’s leading scorer and ball distributor (4.5 assists per game) from last season. Last year’s second-leading scorer, forward Jessica Pachko (10.4 points per game), transferred to Xavier. Former guard Lauren Thomas-Johnson (8.2 points per game) graduated. Senior guard Tatiyiana McMorris said Robinson will be under a lot of pressure to be the offensive leader of the team with the second and third options from last year gone. “We can’t put the whole season on Angel’s shoulders,” McMorris said. “We know she’s our leading scorer and that she’s going to do whatever it takes for us to win, but she needs help.” Help may come in the form of two freshmen, guard Mercedes Griffin and forward Katherine Plouffe. Mitchell said Griffin is the fastest player she’s had at Marquette in her 15 seasons. Griffin outruns Robinson up and down the court, something Mitchell said has never been done in Robinson’s previous three years. Plouffe lacks the big build that would allow her to battle
with other tall players in the Big East, but she is taller than Pachko, which will add height rather than bulk to Marquette’s interior, McMorris said. Mitchell announced that as of Oct. 15 Plouffe was a starter on this team. The Golden Eagles proved last season they could win at home (12-4), but had difficulties winning on the road (3-10). Senior forward Paige Fiedorowicz said the team needs to have extra focus on the road this year. “When you’re on the road, it’s a different atmosphere,” Fiedorowicz said. “We just had a lot of close games. We didn’t go in there thinking anything like, ‘We’re going to lose.’” With five freshmen and a junior college transfer who have never played in a Big East road game, the pressure is on the senior class to lead by example for the underclassmen, McMorris said. An improved road record may have been the difference between the WNIT and NCAA Tournament last season, and a similar situation could arise this season if the road woes continue.
Jasmine Collins, senior forward Powers: Collins knows her role on the team — sparingly-used frontcourt reserve — and plays it with no complaints. Kryptonite: Simply put, she just doesn’t have the skills to see the floor for more than six minutes per game. Courtney Weibel, senior guard Powers: Whenever Marquette needs a crucial threeball, Weibel is always ready to drill it. Kryptonite: Her game is more predictable than an Arizona summer. Of her 84 career field goals made, 82 of those have been from three-point range. Mercedes Griffin, freshman guard Powers: She’s faster than Joey Chestnut at Thanksgiving dinner and she’s got the athleticism to be a lockdown defender. Kryptonite: As with any freshman player, her lack of experience will make her rookie season tough. Katherine Plouffe, freshman forward Powers: One of the tallest players on the team with the skill set of a shooting guard, creating huge mismatches. Kryptonite: Won’t get many chances in the backcourt, so she’ll depend on her embryonic post game to contribute early in her Golden Eagle career. Tatiyiana McMorris, senior guard Powers: Provides solid leadership when she’s running the Marquette offense. Led the team in in three-point field goal percentage at 34.3 percent last season. Kryptonite: Napoleonic size makes it tough to be anything besides a ball distributor and three-point shooter. Angel Robinson, senior guard Strengths: The Golden Eagles depend on Robinson for everything: scoring, rebounding, defense, leadership and heart. She provides all that and more. Weaknesses: As the team’s top player, Robinson sometimes puts too much responsibility on herself offensively. Sarina Simmons, sophomore forward Powers: A dual offensive threat, she led the team in rebounding, tracking down five boards per game last season. Kryptonite: Could stand to add to her post game after spending much of her basketball-life as a ball handler.
Player Bios
Meet your friendly neighborhood hardwood heroes
Katie Young, freshman guard Powers: This Kenosha, Wis., native lends her 5-foot11-inch frame to solidify Marquette’s perimeter defense. Kryptonite: She’s still improving her game and might need a year or so to be fully prepared for a rigorous Big East season. Courtney Thomas, freshman forward Powers: Thomas will help keep the glass clean for Marquette and can defend any position on the floor. Kryptonite: Like Milwaukee roads in July, her offensive game is under construction. Her jump shot needs the most work. Jocelyn Mellen, senior forward Powers: Solid frontcourt reserve who uses her 6-foot3-inch frame to pitch in defensively and on the glass. Kryptonite: Trying to bounce back from a knee injury she suffered in 2008 that derailed her career following a promising redshirt sophomore year in 2008-2009. Gabi Minix, freshman guard Powers: Well-rounded combo guard with scoring potential and a good passing eye. Kryptonite: It’ll be tough to find the floor for extended periods of time with returning standouts entrenched in the Marquette backcourt. Paige Fiedorowicz, senior forward Strengths: Established herself as Marquette’s primary post-up threat last season and will have even more responsbility with Jessica Pachko’s departure. Weaknesses: For all her offensive acumen, her lack of height in the paint can be problematic on defense. Andi Oordt, junior forward Powers: Transfered from the junior college equivalent of UConn, Kirkwood Community College, so she knows how to win. Kryptonite: She’ll have to adjust from playing teams in in a small conference to the juggernaut Big East.
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