Holy Cross-Marquette Preview

March 18, 2003

From the Associated Press

GAME: No. 14 Holy Cross (26-4) vs. No. 3 Marquette (23-5).
REGIONAL: Midwest, first round.
TIME: Thursday, 12:20 p.m. EST.
SITE: RCA Dome; Indianapolis.

A year older and a year wiser. The adage may ring true for both teams at the RCA Dome on Thursday when Marquette faces Holy Cross in a first-round NCAA tournament game.

The Golden Eagles had a disappointing flameout in the first round last year, losing 71-69 to Tulsa as a No. 5 seed. Star guard Dwyane Wade did not have a hand in the final shot despite going 8-for-13 from the field.

"I think everybody remembers that we went against a very tough team. We had a tough matchup," Golden Eagles coach Tom Crean said. "It's important that we understand we want to be there for a while. We can't dwell on that last game last year."

Marquette captured the regular-season Conference USA title this season but squandered a chance to secure a higher seed after losing to UAB in the C-USA tournament quarterfinals.

Still, Crean is happy with his team's status heading into this year's field of 65, noting, "I think the seeding was good. It could have gone either way, a two or a three seed. I can't argue with a three seed."

Marquette again is led by Wade, the reigning Conference USA player of the year and defensive player of the year. He averaged a conference-best 21.3 points and also was second in steals, eighth in shooting and ninth in assists.

Wade, though, struggled Thursday and committed 10 of Marquette's season-high 30 turnovers. However, the 6-4 guard does have help with a formidable frontcourt tandem of center Robert Jackson and forward Scott Merritt, who have combined to average 25.7 points and 14.2 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles have a potent perimeter combination in point guard Travis Diener and freshman forward Steve Nowak, who made 98 3-pointers between them.

Holy Cross is in the field of 65 for the third straight year and hoping this time it will finally bring down a big-name opponent. The Crusaders - who have won 12 straight - have proven a tough out the last two years, losing to perennial NCAA tournament powers Kansas and Kentucky by 11 and four points, respectively, as a 16th and 15th seed.

Ralph Willard's team has the bulk to counter Jackson and Merritt with center Patrick Whearty and forward Tim Szatko. Whearty was the Patriot League tournament MVP and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds in Holy Cross' 72-64 victory over American on Friday in the championship game.

"There's no more moral victories," said Whearty, who averaged 15 points and 7.3 rebounds in the three tournament wins. "We have some unfinished business."

The Crusaders have a balanced offense, with four players in the Patriot League's top 15 scorers. Also, point guard Jave Meade led the Patriot League in assists and steals while compiling a 2.6-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The winner of this game will play the winner of the Missouri-Southern Illinois game Saturday.

PROBABLE STARTERS: Holy Cross - F Szatko, C Whearty, G Brian Wilson, G Greg Kinsey, G Meade. Marquette - F Todd Townsend, F Merritt, C Jackson, G Diener, G Wade.

TEAM LEADERS: Holy Cross - Whearty, 12.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg; Meade, 6.0 apg. Marquette - Wade, 21.5 ppg; Jackson, 7.4 rpg; Diener, 5.7 apg.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Holy Cross - Automatic bid, Patriot League tournament champion. Marquette - At-large berth, Conference USA.

ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Holy Cross - 10-7, 11 years. Marquette - 28-23, 23 years.