Marquette University Athletics
No. 17-Ranked Marquette Basketball Team Hosts Dayton
12/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2001
Marquette Hosts Dayton
Following a championship performance in last weekend's Blue and Gold Coca-Cola Classic, the Marquette men's basketball team looks to continue its winning ways Wednesday evening (Dec. 5) when it hosts the Flyers of Dayton. Game time is 8:00 p.m., and the contest will be played at the Bradley Center.
Following the encounter against the Flyers, Marquette hosts Fordham this Saturday (Dec. 8) starting at 1:00 p.m.
Records
Marquette heads into the game sporting a 7-0 record, the best seven-game start by a Golden Eagle team since 1997-98 when that team raced to a 10-0 mark. MU is ranked No. 17 in the nation in this week's Associated Press poll, its highest showing in that poll since February of 1993, and No. 21 in the USA Today/ESPN poll.
The Golden Eagles captured their third straight Blue and Gold Coca Cola Classic last weekend, defeating Texas Southern, 76-40, in the opening round before topping Sam Houston State, 77-58, in the championship tilt.
Senior Cordell Henry was named the Classic's Most Outstanding Player after shooting 56.2 percent from the floor (13-23) and totaling 29 points, eight steals and six assists over the weekend. Joining Henry on the All-Tournament team were sophomore Dwyane Wade and freshman Todd Townsend. Wade averaged 18 points and five rebounds in the two contests while Townsend recorded 20 points and four boards during his first two collegiate starts.
Dayton meets Marquette with a 3-2 mark after an 85-41 win over Morehead State last Saturday night (Dec. 1) that snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Coaches
Marquette head coach Tom Crean (Central Michigan, '89) is in his third season at the helm of the Golden Eagles' program and owns a school and career record of 37-28. In games played in Milwaukee, Crean stands 26-10 (25-8 at the Bradley Center, 1-2 at the U.S. Cellular Arena).
Prior to being named MU's head man, he spent four years as an assistant at Michigan State and helped that program to a record of 88-41. Crean, who was MSU's associate head coach during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns, helped the Spartans to the 1998 and 1999 Big Ten titles and a spot in the 1999 NCAA Final Four.
Oliver Purnell (Old Dominion '75) is in his eighth season as head coach of Dayton and brings a school record of 113-101 into the game. He has guided the Flyers to three seasons of 20 or more wins including a 21-13 mark in 2000-01. In 14 years as a head coach, Purnell is 214-176. Purnell has had head coaching stints at Old Dominion (1991-92 through 1993-94) and Radford (1988-89 through 1990-91).
Series Notes
Marquette posts a 20-12 advantage in the all-time series against Dayton that saw the first game played during the 1966-67 season. However, UD has won the last three meetings including a 61-60 decision last season at Dayton. In the last game played in Milwaukee (Dec. 7, 1999) , the Flyers edged Marquette by a 63-60 margin.
Marquette Ranks High In C-USA Stat Categories
Marquette finds itself at the top or near the top in a number of C-USA team statistical categories. Through games played Dec. 3, the Golden Eagles were No. 1 in scoring margin (+19.9) and turnover margin (+6.43) and held down the No. 2 position in scoring defense (57.6) steals (10.71 spg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.19). Marquette stood No. 3 in both three-point field goal percentage (.409) and field goal percentage defense (.384).
Scouting Dayton
Dayton is averaging 69.4 points per game while opponents are scoring at a 58.4 per-game clip. The Flyers have connected on 44.7 percent of their field goal attempts while limiting opponents to just 37.1 percent. UD claims four players who are scoring in double digits led by sophomore guard Ramod Marshall who is tossing in 14.3 points per contest. Junior forward Brooks Hall, 6-foot-6, ranks No. 2 on the club in points (11.0 ppg) while sophomore center Sean Finn, 6-foot-11 ranks third in scoring (10.2 ppg) and No. 1 in rebounds (8.0 rpg).
Marquette Tidbits
Marquette has outscored the opposition in 12 of 14 halves this season ... The Golden Eagles have held 34 of their last 36 opponents to less than 50 percent from the floor ... MU is 5-0 this year when registering 15 or more assists, 18-3 during Crean's tenure as head coach ... Following Saturday's game against Fordham, MU hoop fans can catch the Golden Eagles' women's squad at the U.S. Cellular Arena when they battle LaSalle starting at 4:00 p.m. ... Marquette enters play tonight allowing opponents just 54.3 points in four home contests while allowing a paltry 33.3% from the floor ... In the last three games, MU is shooting 50.5 percent (88-of-174) from the field compared to the opposition's mark of 40.5 percent (56-of-138) ... Marquette has forced five opponents to turn the ball over 20 or more times this season ... Marquette has led at halftime in five games this year ... MU is averaging 35.1 points during the first half of play and 42.9 points during the second half.
