The Marquette Guard Problem

If Marquette wanted to make a run at the bubble, it probably meant getting a marquee win against number four ranked Villanova on Saturday afternoon. Marquette had won 20 straight conference games at home, and Bradley Center figured to be rocking following the Golden Eagles big overtime victory on Monday night at Georgetown. After a spirited Marquette comeback to somehow force overtime, Villanova pulled away in the extra period winning the game, 94-85 dealing the Golden Eagles yet another defeat against an upper echelon team.

This is a classic game where the Wildcats had an answer for Marquette every time they tried to make it close whether it be a big three or Nova getting a key offensive rebound leading to them finding a way to separate themselves. Marquette tying the game at the end of regulation was the closest it had been since 22-21 favoring Villanova. Simply put, this game is a stellar example of why Marquette is an average basketball team compared to be an above average tournament-worthy team, and how Buzz Williams' mismanagement of this roster cost the team another win.

In the last couple years, Williams did a great job making the most of a marginal roster at times finding the right combinations of players to be great together. This year, Williams deals with injuries to Duane Wilson and others as well as Jameel McKay's transfer right before the season. Williams continues to play Jake Thomas and Derrick Wilson despite the evidence on the court showing these two players are eighth and ninth guys on tournament rosters while on a deep team, they are probably playing garbage time. Rasheed Wallace once said 'Ball don't lie', but apparently, Williams does not buy into that theory. 

Villanova always has a talented array of guards with the likes of Scottie Reynolds, Randy Foye, Allen Ray and others. They are good, but in no way are they good enough to outscore Thomas and Wilson by 64 points as James Bell had 30 points, Ryan Arcidiacono and Darrun Hillard II both had 20 points giving them 70 for the game. If you add Todd Mayo as Marquette's third guard, they still get outscored 70-24. That is completely inexcusable, and hopefully, the wake up call Williams needs to see the Golden Eagles need to do something else because this clearly is not working. Worst part of it all might be Thomas did not have a shot attempt until five minutes left in the game. Think about that for a second given what his role is on this basketball team. 

I would love to hear Williams explain why Jajuan Johnson, Deonte Burton, Mayo (Smaller scale) and John Dawson could do any worse. The more infuriating thing was Dawson played his ass off on Monday and keyed the comeback for Marquette yet he only played eight minutes on Saturday. Johnson did not even sniff the court while Burton's time continued to decrease as he only played five minutes. In the last four games, Burton is averaging 5.25 minutes a game while between December 1st-January 9th, Burton averaged 17.77 minutes a game. Did he pooped in the refrigerator at practice or what? None of this really makes sense. 

There is really no reason why Marquette could not basically just have a 'ride the hot hand' situation at guard. It does not matter who starts honestly, but rather, if a player is feeling it, keep them out there versus relying on Thomas and Wilson to make things happen on their own. Relying on those two is like hoping a seven-year battery will be able to start in a polar vortex... Doubtful.

Marquette faces an emerging Providence team on Thursday night whose guard play is one of the better in the Big East. Maybe it is not the players on the court rather the man whom patrols the sidelines that needs to be figure out a way to make these guards come alive because right now, it is not working.

Charlie.  

Faith in Marquette Renewed (For Now)

Sports fans need faith. They do not survive without faith. If there is no faith, it is an eternal attitude that everything will go wrong. I lost my faith in Marquette basketball with four minutes left to go in the game against Georgetown. I finally gave up. Butler game made me have one foot out the door, but I needed one more bad outing to convince myself all hope was officially lost with this Golden Eagles team. Marquette somehow found their way back to force overtime despite a couple bad officiating calls and won the game in overtime with unlikely contributors John Dawson and Steve Taylor Jr. delivering big games off the bench leaving Buzz Williams with an inevitable decision to make on Saturday.

Marquette trailed 60-53 with three minutes left to go in the game. This spot felt familiar as Marquette had many games where they fought to the wire, but in the end, they came up just short. It really started to feel like this team was living inside one big Linkin Park music video. Jake Thomas rattled home a 3-pointer which concluded his scoring and his weird day as Thomas had a good game with two mind-boggling three point attempts. It is the same sort of love/hate relationship with him as it was with Junior Cadougan. Thomas cut the lead to four, and things began to get interesting from there.

The teams would trade buckets down the stretch including a big Jamil Wilson dunk, a shot-clock violation that was not called on Georgetown rather reversed in the Hoyas favor and a foul call on Thomas where he clearly forced Markel Starks to travel or at least get a jump ball. Starks had a great night with 28 points, but he missed the most important shot of the night clanking the first free throw with Georgetown up only two opening the door for Marquette. Starks would convert the second free throw giving the Hoyas a three point advantage giving the Golden Eagles one final possession to win the game.

This is sort of an issue because Marquette does not really have that go-to scorer. Jamil brought the ball up and honestly think Jake Thomas might have been the option because Starks recovers quickly leading to Todd Mayo being wide-open for a three. Mayo went cold-blooded on everybody nailing the jumper and sending the game to overtime, the second straight extra period for the Golden Eagles. But in this one, Golden Eagles battled back to force it and rode the wave to victory versus the inverse last Saturday. While it is not saying much, this is the first signature win for Marquette in the 2013-2014. 

The two players opening up the most eyes were John Dawson and Steve Taylor Jr. Dawson, the freshman point guard from New Mexico did not really come in with much hype out of high school. He played nothing like a freshman on Monday night delivering 12 points including a big three in overtime to push Marquette to a seven point lead in the extra period. Dawson also committed his fourth foul with 13 minutes left in the game, and he played the duration meaning even with a tight officiating crew, Dawson ensured he did not pick up his fifth. This is a guy who can lead a team and deserves to be starting over Derrick Wilson. It appears the writing on the wall with Wilson only getting 12 minutes versus Dawson's 31, but you never know with Buzz.  

It has not been the greatest year for Taylor Jr. He dealt with a knee injury, and lost his starting spot after the first two games because of it. He came up big in his first real minutes since November having 14 points and eight rebounds. Taylor Jr. made aggressive moves to the basket. He did not play afraid. Too many times Marquette plays scared, and Taylor Jr did not play that way. He took it right to a big front line of Georgetown and did with success. If he can give Marquette a solid 20 to 25 minutes with this production, this becomes a different team.  

Marquette battled back to win this game. Even at 8:00 pm tonight, if you were to tell me this team would pull off this win in that fashion, I would call bullshit. This was a great win for them and something they can build on. Marquette welcomes number four Villanova to town Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats are coming off a 28-point home loss. They will be ready to make statement. But you know what? For the first time in a long while, the faith I have Marquette will be ready to handle it is strong.  

Charlie.