Marquette University Athletics
Marquette-Appalachian State Game Notes
12/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 1999
Today?s Game Data
Site - Bradley Center (19,150)
Tipoff - 8:08 p.m.
Radio - Marquette Basketball Radio Network (Steve ?The Homer? True and George Thompson)
TV - None
Officials - Harrell Allen, Rick Byrum, Vinny Allen.
Probable Marquette Starters
G #10 - Cordell Henry (So., 5-9, 160, Chicago, Ill.)
9.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 spg
had season-high 14 points and 4 assists against WMU
G #4 - John Cliff (Sr., 6-2, 210, Decatur, Ill.)
14.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg
had season-high 19 points and career-best 6 assists last night
F #22 - Brian Wardle (Jr., 6-5, 212, Clarendon Hills, Ill.)
11.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 60.7 FG%
had 6 points and 1 offensive rebound in win yesterday
F #43 - Oluoma Nnamaka (So., 6-7, 213, Uppsala, Sweden)
11.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.0 bpg, 51.6 FG%
scored 11 points and had 8 rebounds, including 6 offensive, in Friday?s win over Western Michigan
C #35 - John Mueller (Jr., 6-11, 231, Cedarburg, Wis.)
5.0 ppg. 5.5 rpg
was 4-4 from free throw line last night
About Marquette The Golden Eagles improved to 3-1 on the season after last night?s 76-69 victory over Western Michigan.
Marquette?s rebounding effort has been one of the keys to the Golden Eagles? success this season. On the year, Marquette is winning the battle of the boards by a 45.0-33.3 rpg margin (+11.7 rpg).
The Golden Eagles also are playing tight defense, limiting their foes to 59.3 points and 34.5% shooting from the floor. Even more impressive has been Marquette?s perimeter defense, which allows the opposition to shoot just 16.7% (9-54) from long range. The Golden Eagles? opponents average just over 2.0 three-pointers a contest.
Three Golden Eagles score in double figures, led by John Cliff?s 14.3 ppg average. He also grabs 6.3 rebounds a game and has hit a team-best eight three-pointers. Cliff also is tied for the team assist lead at 3.0 apg.
Oluoma Nnamaka ranks second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and in rebounding (7.8 rpg). Nnamaka has grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, 54.8% of his total. He is shooting 51.6% from the floor.
Brian Wardle rounds out the double figure scorers with an 11.3 ppg average. He shoots a team-best 60.7% from the field.
Two of Marquette?s statistical leaders have not started this season. Jon Harris grabs 8.5 rebounds a game. He has had two double-digit rebounding performances this season, including 10 in last night?s win over Western Michigan.
John Polonowski has rejected seven shots through four games for an average of 1.8 bpg. He also is shooting 87.5% (7-8) from the charity stripe.
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 3-1/1st season
Tom Crean?s Career Record 3-1/1st season
About Appalachian State The Mountaineers advanced to tonight?s championship game with a 68-65 victory over Toledo last night. With the win, Appalachian moved to 3-2 on the season.
ASU?s high-scoring offense puts up 86.4 points a game, 14th best in the country. The Mountaineers rank 16th nationally in free throw percentage (76.6%) and 21st in three-pointers per game (8.6).
Four players score in double figures, paced by Rufus Leach?s 18.6 ppg. He has come off the bench in the first five games of the season and has hit 22 three-pointers. He also is perfect from the free throw line, hitting all nine of his attempts to date.
Cedrick Holmes is second on the scoring chart at 14.2 ppg and leads ASU with an 8.0 rebounding average. Holmes also shoots 58.0% from the field. Shawn Alexander (12.8 ppg) and Matt McMahon (11.4) also average double figures.
Tyson Patterson is tied for 10th nationally with a 4.0 steals average and he ranks 16th with a 7.6 assists average. Patterson chips in 7.2 points a game.
Appalachian State Coach Buzz Peterson In four seasons at the helm of the Mountaineers, Buzz Peterson has compiled a 57-30 record. His career mark is the same. Peterson graduated from North Carolina in 1986.
The Marquette-Appalachian State Series Marquette won the only previous meeting against the Mountaineers ??a 74-37 victory on Dec. 19, 1996. Chris Crawford, currently with the Atlanta Hawks, had 21 points and six rebounds. Aaron Hutchins turned in a double-double with 12 points and 12 assists. His seven steals tied a Bradley Center record. ASU was led by Junior Braswell?s 10 points.
Last Time Out The Golden Eagles withstood a late Western Michigan challenge and held on for a 76-69 victory last night in the first round of the Blue & Gold Coca-Cola Classic.
With 4:20 left in the first half, Marquette built a seven-point lead (37-30), the largest for either team, before Western Michigan narrowed the margin and trailed 41-39 at halftime.
The Golden Eagles opened an eight-point lead (60-52) with 8:21 left to play, before the Broncos put together another charge. WMU trimmed the gap to 67-65 with 3:19 remaining. John Cliff connected on a three-pointer at the 2:40 mark to put Marquette back on top 70-65 and the Broncos would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.
Marquette won the rebounding battle 41-29, the second time in as many games the Golden Eagles have enjoyed a double-digit rebound margin. Marquette also clamped down on WMU?s Tony Barksdale, who entered the game with the eighth-highest scoring average (23.5 ppg) in the country. Although he finished with a game-high 21 points, Barksdale did not score in the final 8:09 of the game.
Cliff led Marquette with a season-high 19 points and dished out a carer-high six assists. Oluoma Nnamaka chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds, including six offensive. Jon Harris had his second career-double-figure rebounding game with 10. John Polonowski had a strong outing with eight points, six rebounds and two blocks.
In addition to Barksdale?s 21 points, Robert Watson added 13 points and six rebounds.
The Polling Place
Dec. 3 College RPI 82nd
Dec. 4 Sagarin Ratings 82nd
Injury Update 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 four games of the season. He is averaging 8.5 minutes a game.
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 sprained his left ankle in practice on Nov. 25. He did not dress against Wofford, dressed, but did not play last night, and is questionable for this evening?s game.
A Familiar Place Marquette is making its 33rd straight, and 35th overall, appearance in the Classic championship game. Marquette has claimed the Classic crown 23 times in the 37-year history of the tournament, which is the third-longest regular-season tournament in the country.
Last night?s seven-point margin of victory was the closest first-round score since Marquette fell to South Carolina 63-61 in 1966. That also marked the last time Marquette dropped a first-round decision.
Oh Yes They Call It A Streak Marquette has made at least one three-point field goal in 322 consecutive games. The last game without a trey was against Wake Forest on Feb. 2, 1989.
Bench Production Through the first four games of the season Marquette?s bench is averaging 18.0 points and 16.3 rebounds. The reserves shoot 40% from the field, 30% from three-point range, and 54.8% 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).
Strange But True Marquette?s opponents have scored first in the first four games of the season.
Strange But True, Part Two For the second consecutive Saturday, Marquette is facing a squad from the Southern Conference. Last Saturday the Golden Eagles posted a 74-59 win over Wofford.
Marquette in the Bradley Center The Golden Eagles are in their 12th season in the Bradley Center. Marquette has a 131-50 all-time record, including a 3-0 mark this season, in the Bradley Center.
Marquette in the Milwaukee Arena The Golden Eagles will play two regular-season contests (Dec. 7 vs. Dayton, Dec. 29 vs. Coppin State) at the Milwaukee Arena.
The Arena served as Marquette?s home from 1950-51 to 1987-88. The Golden Eagles have played four games in their former home since then and are 4-0 in those contests.
Defending the Three-Pointer This season, Marquette?s foes are shooting a mere 16.7% (9-54) from beyond the arc.
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.
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 110 - 40 shy of 6th (Eford)
9. Brian Wardle 86 - 16 shy of 8th (Bargen)
Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
7. John Cliff 332 - 58 shy of 6th (Eford)
9. Brian Wardle 266 - 37 shy of 8th (Bargen)
Cliff Hanger Senior John Cliff is enjoying the best offensive production of his career. He is Marquette?s leading scorer with a 14.3 ppg average and has been the team?s top scorer in three of the first four games. Cliff entered the 1999-2000 campaign with a 5.6 ppg career average. The senior also grabs 6.3 rebounds, compared to his career average of 2.1 entering the season.
Brian?s Song Brian Wardle is shooting a team-best 60.7% (17-28) from the field this season. He is tied for second place on the team with an 11.3 ppg average.
Brian?s Song, The Sequel Brian Barone is averaging 3.0 assists from the back-up point guard position. He has been perfect from the free throw line (4-4) this season and had three steals, most by a Golden Eagle this season, versus Western Michigan on Dec. 3.
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.
He is averaging 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in the last two games. Against Western Michigan (Dec. 3), he was 4-4 from the free throw line.
Oh Henry Cordell Henry has scored in double-figures in three of the first four games of the season. He had a season-high 14 in the Dec. 3 win over Western Michigan.
On the season he averages 9.5 points and 3.0 assists a game.
The Versatile Mr. Nnamaka Oluoma Nnamaka is off to a fine start in his sophomore season. He is tied for second on the Marquette scoring chart at 11.3 ppg and ranks second with a 7.8 rebounding average. He also shoots 51.6% from the floor.
Nnamaka is showing his ability to grab offensive rebounds once again this season with 17, 54.8% of his total. Last year, 52.8% of his rebounds were off the offensive glass.
Chairman of the Boards Sophomore Jon Harris is dominating the glass for the Golden Eagles. He averages 8.5 rebounds a game and has two double-digit efforts through the first four games. He already has 34 rebounds this season. Last year, Harris grabbed a total of 66.
Toeing the Line Good things happen when John Polonowski makes a trip to the charity stripe. He is 7-8 from the free throw line and has made five straight over the last two games. Last season, he was just 3-5 from the free throw line.
Digging It David Diggs was 2-2 from three-point range and finished with a season-high six points against Western Michigan on Dec. 3.
He is shooting 75% (3-4) from three-point range, which is 15th best in the nation entering tonight?s game.
By the Numbers
Games Led in Scoring Cliff - 3, Wardle - 1.
Games Led in Rebounding Harris - 3, Cliff - 1.
Double-Figure Scoring Games Marquette - 10 (Cliff, Henry - 3, Nnamaka, Wardle - 2) Opponents - 11.
Twenty-Point Scoring Games Marquette - 1 (Wardle - 1). Opponents - 2.
Double-Figure Rebounding Games Marquette - 2 (Harris - 2). Opponents - 2.
Double-Figure Scoring-Rebounding Games Marquette - 0. Opponents - 1.
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:
Tuesday, December 14 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 televised contests:
Dec. 11 at Baylor MSC 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
A Marquette Welcome To ?Bill Dyer, Appalachian sports info director ?Mike Waddell, Appalachian Sports Network ?Paul Helgren, Toledo sports info director ?John Harris, Toledo Blade ?Mark Beier, Toledo Radio ?Jay Lehman, Toledo Radio ?Grant Lewis, Toledo Radio ?Scott Kuykendall, Western Michigan sports info director ?Robin Hook, Western Michigan Radio ?Bob Brink, Western Michigan Radio
Next Up for the Golden Eagles Following the conclusion of the Blue & Gold Coca-Cola Classic, Marquette hosts Dayton, fresh off an upset of #12 Kentucky, on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Milwaukee Arena. Action tips off at 7 p.m.
