Marquette University Athletics
Marquette-Hampton Game Notes
12/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 1999
Today?s Game Data
Site - Milwaukee, Wis. ? Bradley Center (19,150)
Tipoff - 7:07 p.m.
Radio - Marquette Basketball Radio Network (Steve ?The Homer? True and George Thompson).
TV - MSC (Pat Hughes and Al McGuire).
Officials - Tom O?Neill, Bill Conner, Steve Olson.
Probable Marquette Starters
G #10 - Cordell Henry (So., 5-9, 160, Chicago, Ill.)
9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 73.7 FT%
had 8 points and 4 rebounds at Baylor (Dec. 11)
G #4 - John Cliff (Sr., 6-2, 210, Decatur, Ill.)
14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 72.7 FT%
had 15 points and tied team season high with 4 steals at Baylor (Dec. 11)
F #22 - Brian Wardle (Jr., 6-5, 212, Clarendon Hills, Ill.)
13.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 55.1 FG%
had 29 points, including 19 straight, versus Baylor (Dec. 11)
F #42 - John Polonowski (Sr., 6-8, 235, Rockford, Mich.)
5.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg
made second straight start at Baylor (Dec. 11) and had 2 defensive rebounds
C #35 - John Mueller (Jr., 6-11, 231, Cedarburg, Wis.)
6.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 52.8 FG%
scored career-high 12 points, including 10 in first half, at Baylor (Dec. 11)
About Marquette The Golden Eagles have not played since a 72-68 overtime loss on Dec. 11 at Baylor. Marquette is 4-3 on the season.
Marquette looks to snap a two-game losing streak tonight. Defense has been key to the Golden Eagles? success this season. Marquette is holding its foes to 60.4 points a game and 36.8% shooting from the floor. The team?s perimeter defense has been stifling as well, holding the foes to 25.3% from long range.
The Golden Eagles outrebound the opposition by a 41.1-33.9 margin. Marquette has won the battle of the boards in five of the first seven games of the season. Baylor is the only team to outrebound Marquette. The Golden Eagles tied Minnesota in the battle of the boards on Nov. 23.
John Cliff tops the Golden Eagles with a 14.6 ppg average. He has made 14 three-pointers, best on theteam and also grabs 4.9 rebounds a game.
Brian Wardle is coming off a 29-point effort at Baylor and his scoring average now stands at 13.4 ppg. Wardle is second on the squad with eight three-pointers. He shoots a team-leading 55.1% from the floor and 47.1% from three-point territory.
John Mueller has scored in double figures in two of the last three games, including a career-best 12 at Baylor. He averages 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds and shoots 52.8% from the floor.
Jon Harris holds the top rebounding average on the team at 7.0 rpg. Cordell Henry has dished out a team-high 24 assists for an average of 3.4 a game. He also averages 9.3 points and shoots 73.7% from the free throw line. Brian Barone has registered a team-high 11 steals.
Marquette Head Coach Tom Crean Tom Crean was named Marquette?s head coach on March 30, 1999. He is in his first season as a head coach after serving as an assistant for 10 seasons. His coaching resum? includes stops at Michigan State (1989-90), Western Kentucky (1990-94), Pittsburgh (1994-95) and most recently again at Michigan State (1995-99).
He is a 1989 graduate of Central Michigan. Crean is assisted by Tim Buckley, Dwayne Stephens and Darrin Horn.
Tom Crean?s Marquette Record 4-3/1st season
Tom Crean?s Career Record 4-3/1st season
About Hampton The Pirates are 0-4 on the season and have been idle since a 102-46 loss to Virginia on Dec. 10 at home. Hampton already has a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game under its belt, dropping a tight 70-69 decision to Norfolk State on Dec. 8.
Hampton averages 64.0 points and shoots 38.5% from the floor. The Pirates have committed 78 turnovers, for an average of 19.5 a game.
The Pirates? lineup will be bolstered tonight by the addition of three transfers. LaSean Howard (Syracuse), Mohammed Woni (Clemson) and Marseilles Brown (Richmond) will make their first appearances of the season this evening.
A quartet of Pirates scores in double figures, led by Tommy Adams? 12.8 ppg average. He also averages team highs of 3.0 assists and 3.3 steals. Adams has made seven three-pointers, most on the squad.
Cleveland Davis ranks second on the team with an 11.0 ppg average and also grabs 5.0 rebounds. Tarvis Williams chips in 10.5 points and a team-best 8.8 rebounds a contest. Williams also has blocked seven shots (1.8 bpg).
Doug Belton rounds out the double-digit scorers with a 10.0 ppg average.
Hampton Head Coach Steve Merfeld In three seasons at Hampton, Steve Merfeld has compiled a 22-35 record. His career mark is the same. Merfeld is a 1984 graduate of UW-La Crosse.
The Marquette-Hampton Series This is the first meeting between the two teams. Hampton is the second first-time opponent on the Golden Eagles? 1999-2000 schedule. Wofford was the other.
Statistical Comparison
Marquette Hampton
Scoring 64.9 ppg 64.0 ppg
Scoring Margin +4.5 ppg -14.0 ppg
Rebounding 41.1 rpg 39.8 rpg
Reb. Margin +7.2 rpg -7.7 rpg
FG% 42.6% 38.5%
Opp. FG% 36.8% 42.5%
3FG% 29.2% 29.9%
FT% 56.6% 54.4%
Last Time Out The Golden Eagles dropped a 72-68 overtime decision at Baylor on Dec. 11.
After falling behind 15-6 six minutes into the game, Marquette regrouped and used a 20-10 run over the next 12 minutes to post a 26-25 lead, its first of the game. The Golden Eagles built that lead to 30-25 with under a minute left and took a 30-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the second half, Marquette held the Bears to just three field goals in the first eight minutes and built its lead to 41-34. Marquette had another seven-point advantage (44-37) with 8:39 remaining, but the Bears scored 12 straight points to go back on top 49-44 with 4:30 left to play.
Brian Wardle took over on the offensive end of the floor and led Marquette?s comeback with 16 consecutive points, including two three-pointers in the final 11 seconds of regulation. His trey with three seconds left sent the game into overtime with the score knotted at 57-57. DeMarcus Minor, a teammate of Wardle?s on Marquette?s 1997-98 squad, scored the final six Baylor points in regulation.
Wardle started the overtime with another three-pointer and Cordell Henry sank a pair of free throws that gave Marquette two three-point leads early in the extra period. After a 63-63 tie, Baylor used a quick 5-0 spurt to pull away from the Golden Eagles, who would get no closer than three points the rest of the way.
Baylor shot 45.6% from the floor, including 42.9% from three-point range, and outrebounded Marquette 45-37. Baylor outrebounded Marquette 32-18 in the second half and overtime. The Bears are the first team this season to beat Marquette on the boards.
Wardle led all scorers with 29 points, 23 coming in the second period and overtime. John Cliff had 15 points and four steals. John Mueller established a career high with 12 points, scoring 10 in the first half.
Tevis Stukes topped Baylor with 17. Minor added 16 and five assists. Ben Echols posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Polling Place
Dec. 20 College RPI 90th
Dec. 20 The RPI Report 99th
Dec. 20 Sagarin Ratings 122nd
Injury Update Oluoma Nnamaka is expected to miss the next three weeks with a stress fracture in the second bone of his left foot. Through the first five games he averaged 9.6 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Junior Greg Clausen underwent surgery on Oct. 29, to repair a torn medial meniscus in his left knee. He missed both exhibition games, but has seen action in the first seven games of the season. He turned in his best performance of the campaign against Dayton (Dec. 7) with six points, on 3-4 shooting, and six rebounds.
Krunti Hester, the lone freshman on this year?s squad, has been hampered by a right ankle injury. He has not played this season
Bart Miller returned to action a Baylor (Dec. 11) after missing the previous four games with a sprained left ankle. He suffered the injury on Nov. 25.
Oh Yes They Call It A Streak Marquette has made at least one three-point field goal in 325 consecutive games. The last game without a trey was against Wake Forest on Feb. 2, 1989.
The streak has been in jeopardy in the last three games. The Golden Eagles have not hit a first-half trey in the last three contests.
Bench Production Marquette?s bench is averaging 14.4 points and 14.7 rebounds. The reserves shoot 38.5% from the field, 17.6% from three-point range, and 46.9% from the free throw line.
Marquette?s best scoring performance from its bench was in the season opener against Chicago State (Nov. 20) with 29 points. The reserves have pulled down a season-high 19 rebounds on two occasions - versus Chicago State (Nov. 20) and against Western Michigan (Dec. 3).
The Golden Eagle bench was held without a field goal at Baylor (Dec. 11). The Marquette reserves have not made a three-pointer in the last three games.
Is There a Pattern? In Marquette?s three losses, the opponents have shot better than 40% from the field and have each blocked five shots.
Taking Care of the Rock Over the past five games, the Golden Eagles have been taking better care of the ball. After committing a season-high 24 turnovers at Minnesota (Nov. 23), Marquette reduced its turnovers in the next five outings. Here?s the breakdown:
Nov. 27 Wofford 20
Dec. 3 Western Michigan 20
Dec. 4 Appalachian State 18
Dec. 7 Dayton 16
Dec. 11 Baylor (OT) 13
Protecting the Lead Marquette is 4-1 when leading at halftime. The Baylor game (Dec. 11) was the first time the Golden Eagles lost after holding the lead at the break.
Around the Block Marquette has not blocked a shot in the last two games. The Dec. 7 game against Dayton was the first time in 83 games that Marquette did not block a shot.
For Starters Marquette has used three different starting lineups this season.
The most common group of starters, used in four games, was Cordell Henry, John Cliff, Brian Wardle, Oluoma Nnamaka and John Mueller. John Polonowski moved into the starting lineup, replacing the injured Nnamaka, in each of the last two contests.
Marquette in the Bradley Center The Golden Eagles are in their 12th season in the Bradley Center. Marquette has a 132-50 all-time record, including a 4-0 mark this season, in the Bradley Center.
Marquette has not played in the Bradley Center since beating Appalachian State in the championship game of the Blue & Gold Coca-Cola Classic on Dec. 4, a span of 16 days.
Marquette in the Milwaukee Arena The Golden Eagles will play one more regular-season game in the Milwaukee Arena. Marquette hosts Coppin State at the Arena on Dec. 29.
The Arena served as Marquette?s home from 1950-51 to 1987-88. The Golden Eagles have played five games in the Arena since then and are 4-1 in those contests. The Dec. 7 loss to Dayton snapped Marquette?s four-game winning streak, which dated back to the 1994-95 season.
Defending the Three-Pointer This season, Marquette?s foes are shooting a mere 25.3% (24-95) from beyond the arc. Baylor hit 6 of 14 long-range shots for 42.9%, the best by a foe this season.
Minnesota was 0-5 from three-point territory on Nov. 23, the first time in 75 games a Marquette opponent failed to connect on the long-range shot.
Streaks ?n? Stuff
Consecutive Games Played - Greg Clausen - 63
Consecutive Starts - Brian Wardle - 14
Consecutive Double-Figure Scoring Games - John Cliff - 4
Consecutive Games with a Three-Pointer - John Cliff - 12
The Last Time a Golden Eagle Scored 20+ Points - Brian Wardle (29) vs. Baylor (OT) - Dec. 11, 1999
The Last Time a Golden Eagle Had 10+ Rebounds - John Mueller (10) vs. Appalachian State - Dec. 4, 1999
The Last Time a Golden Eagle Had a Double-Double (Points-Rebounds) - John Mueller (11-10) vs. Appalachian State - Dec. 4, 1999
The Last Time a Golden Eagle Had 10+ Assists - Marcus West (11) vs. Dayton - Dec. 21, 1997
The Last Time an Opponent Scored 20+ Points - Tony Barksdale (21) - Western Michigan - Dec. 3, 1999
The Last Time an Opponent Had 10+ Rebounds - Ben Echols (13) - Baylor (OT) - Dec. 11, 1999
The Last Time an Opponent Had a Double-Double (Points-Rebounds) - Ben Echols (10-13) - Baylor (OT) - Dec. 11, 1999
The Last Time an Opponent Had 10+ Assists - Edwin Young (10) - Dayton - Nov. 28, 1998
Climbing the Career Charts John Cliff and Brian Wardle rank among Marquette?s top career three-point shooters. Here?s a look at where they stand on the career statistical lists:
Three-Point Field Goals
7. John Cliff 116 - 34 shy of 6th (Eford)
9. Brian Wardle 90 - 12 shy of 8th (Bargen)
Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
7. John Cliff 349 - 41 shy of 6th (Eford)
9. Brian Wardle 275 - 28 shy of 8th (Bargen)
Cliff Hanger Senior John Cliff is enjoying the best offensive production of his career. Cliff entered the 1999-2000 campaign with a 5.6 ppg career average. He is Marquette?s leading scorer with a 14.6 ppg average and has been the team?s top scorer in four of the first seven games. He has drilled 14 three-pointers, most on the team this season. Cliff has connected on a three-pointer in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season.
The senior also grabs 4.9 rebounds, compared to his career average of 2.1 entering the season.
Oh Henry Cordell Henry has scored in double-figures in four of the first seven games of the season and ranks third on the squad with a 9.3 ppg average.
He has dished out four assists in each of the last four contests and has made six consecutive free throws over the last three games.
Henry was named the MVP of the Blue & Gold Coca-Cola Classic (Dec. 3-4) after averaging 14.0 points and 4.0 assists.
Brian?s Song Brian Wardle is shooting 55.1% from the field this season. He ranks second on the team with a 13.4 scoring average.
Wardle was unstoppable in the second half of the Baylor game (Dec. 11). He scored 16 straight points in the final 8:39 of regulation and hit a three-pointer to open the overtime period. He finished with 29 points, the seventh time in his career he surpassed the 20-point plateau. Wardle set or tied career highs in field goals (12), field goals attempted (21), three-pointers (4), and minutes (38) in that game.
Brian?s Song, The Sequel Brian Barone has a team-high 11 steals to his credit this season. He recorded four, tied for most by a Golden Eagle this season, against Dayton on Dec. 7. He also dishes out 2.4 assists a game.
Barone is 6-6 from the free throw line this season. He was limited to 14 minutes at Baylor (Dec. 11) as a result of a bout with the flu.
The Man in the Middle With Greg Clausen still recovering from Oct. 29 knee surgery, John Mueller is getting the bulk of the minutes at the center position.
Mueller has established his career high in points in two of the last three games. He notched 10 first-half points at Baylor (Dec. 11) and finished with a career-best 12 before fouling out.
He recorded his first double-double with 11 points and a career-best 10 rebounds against Appalachian State(Dec. 4). That was the first time in six games that a Golden Eagle had a double-double.
On the season Mueller is shooting 52.8% from the field and averaging 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. In the last three games, he is shooting 61.1% (11-18) from the field.
Taking the ?O? Out of Offense Oluoma Nnamaka, one of Marquette?s most versatile players, will be sidelined for the next three weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot. Through the first five games, he averaged 9.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists a contest.
Nnamaka had shown his ability to grab offensive rebounds once again this season with 21, 52.5% of his total. Last year, 52.8% of his rebounds were off the offensive glass.
He tied his season high with 9 boards against Appalachian State on Dec. 4.
Chairman of the Boards Sophomore Jon Harris is dominating the glass for the Golden Eagles. He is averaging 7.0 boards a game. Harris already has 49 rebounds this season. Last year, he grabbed a total of 66.
Checking the Conference USA Stats
through Dec. 19 games
Team
Scoring Offense 12th - 64.9 ppg
Scoring Defense 3rd - 60.4 ppg
Scoring Margin 8th - +4.4 ppg
Field Goal % 10th - 42.6%
Field Goal % Defense 2nd - 36.8%
3-Point Field Goal % 12th - 29.2%
3-Point Field Goal% Def. 2nd - 25.3%
Free Throw % 12th - 56.6%
Rebounding 2nd - 41.1 rpg
Rebounding Margin 5th - +7.3 rpg
Assists 9th - 14.43 apg
Blocked Shots 10th - 2.14 bpg
Steals 10th - 7.00 spg
Individual
Scoring Cliff - 15th - 14.6 ppg, Wardle - 21st - 13.4 ppg
Rebounding Harris - 10th - 7.0 rpg
Field Goal % Wardle - 9th - 55.1%
3-Point Field Goal % Cliff - 12th - 34.1%
Free Throw % none
Assists Henry - 11th - 3.43 apg
Blocked Shots Polonowski - 10th - 1.14 bpg
Steals Barone - 13th - 1.57 spg
By the Numbers
Games Led in Scoring Cliff - 4, Wardle - 2, Henry - 1.
Games Led in Rebounding Harris - 3, Mueller - 2, Clausen, Cliff, Wardle - 1.
Double-Figure Scoring Games Marquette - 18 (Cliff - 6, Henry, Wardle - 4, Mueller, Nnamaka - 2).
Opponents - 21.
Twenty-Point Scoring Games Marquette - 2 (Wardle - 2).
Opponents - 2.
Double-Figure Rebounding Games Marquette - 3 (Harris - 2, Mueller - 1).
Opponents - 4.
Double-Figure Scoring-Rebounding Games Marquette - 1 (Mueller - 1).
Opponents - 3.
Tune in to the Golden Eagles Steve ?The Homer? True and George Thompson are in their ninth season on the Marquette Basketball Radio Network.
Milwaukee's WISN AM 1130 is the flagship station of the Marquette Basketball Radio Network. The network includes the following affiliates:
WFAW AM 940 (Fort Atkinson)
WRJQ AM 1050 (Appleton)
WCLO AM 1230 (Janesville)
WOMT AM 1240 (Manitowoc)
WRJN AM 1400 (Racine)
WBWI FM 92.5 (West Bend)
Marquette broadcasts all of its men's basketball games around the world on the Internet. The games will be broadcast on Broadcast.com. All men's games are broadcast live and at no cost to the listener.
The Tom Crean Show on Radio 1130 WISN Marquette head coach Tom Crean and Steve ?The Homer? True will talk Marquette basketball on Crean?s weekly radio show from 7:30-8 p.m. on Radio 1130 WISN, the flagship station for Marquette basketball broadcasts. Here?s a list of dates for The Tom Crean Show:
Monday, January 10
Monday, January 17
Monday, January 24
Monday, January 31
Monday, February 7
Monday, February 14
Monday, February 21
Monday, February 28
Monday, March 6
Channel Surfing Sixteen Marquette basketball games will be televised this season. Below is a list of Marquette?s remaining televised contests:
Dec. 20 Hampton MSC
Dec. 23 at Wisconsin MSC
Jan. 8 at Cincinnati MSC
Jan. 12 at DePaul MSC
Jan. 23 Cincinnati ESPN2
Jan. 26 at Saint Louis MSC
Jan. 29 at UNC Charlotte ESPN Regional
Feb. 2 at Southern Miss MSC
Feb. 13 at Louisville ESPN2
Feb. 24 at South Florida ESPN
Feb. 26 Memphis ESPN Regional
March 1 UAB MSC
March 4 at Tulane MSC
Let?s Go Surfin? Now Up-to-the-minute information on Marquette basketball can be found at: www.gomarquette.com
For current information on Conference USA, check out this website: www.c-usa.org/index2.htm
Next Up for the Golden Eagles Marquette plays at Wisconsin in the 106th meeting between the two teams on Thursday, Dec. 23. Action at the Kohl Center gets underway at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on MSC.
