Marquette University Athletics
Men's Basketball hosts #7 Cincinnati on ESPN
1/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Defending The Perimeter
Marquette has held its last five opponents to a combined 28-for-95 (29.5 percent) from three-point range.
Uniform Records
Through 13 games Marquette is 5-0 in white, 4-0 in gold and 2-2 in blue.
Marquette In The Polls
As a result of last year?s 27 wins and Final Four appearance, the Golden Eagles earned a year-end Top 10 ranking for the first time since 1978. MU finished sixth in the final ESPN/USA Today poll, and ninth in the Associated Press poll. The Golden Eagles were the only C-USA team to be ranked in all 19 of the AP?s 2002-03 polls. Dating back to February 5, 2002, Marquette has been ranked in 33 of the last 34 AP Polls.
Select Few In The Polls
Marquette was one of only 10 schools - Arizona, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Texas - to be ranked in all 19 Associated Press Polls last season.
On Track For 1,000 Points
If Travis Diener and Scott Merritt continue to hit their scoring averages of 17.5 and 11.5, respectively, for the remainder of the season, both could reach the 1,000 career-point mark. Through 13 games, Diener has 881 career points and Merritt has 851.
Marquette?s Double-Doubles
Scott Merritt?s 17 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday?s victory over Houston was his fourth double-double of the season. Merritt?s 18 career doubledoubles ranks him fourth among active players in C-USA. Travis Diener is the only other Golden Eagle to record a double-double this season. Diener?s 21-point and 10-assist effort at Arizona was his first this season and fourth of his career.
Diener In C-USA Play
Conference USA coaches shouldn?t be surprised by the play of Travis Diener thus far. Over his last five C-USA games - all Marquette victories ? Diener is averaging 16.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds, and has connected on 16-of-35 (45.7 percent) from three.
Zero Turnovers
Travis Diener?s zero turnovers at Houston on January 7 marked the 28th time in his career, including the fifth this year, he played without recording a turnover. Diener has played 25 minutes or more in 20 of his 28 turnover-free games.
70-Point Trend
Under Tom Crean Marquette is 59-11, including 47-7 since the beginning of the 2001-02 and 7-1 this season, when scoring 70 or more points. The Golden Eagles only loss this year when scoring 70 points or more was to Arizona, 85-75.
Downtown Duo
Travis Diener (37-of-79/46.8 percent) and Steve Novak (33-of-82/40.9 percent) combined have accounted for 70 of the Golden Eagles? 89 three-point field goals this season. At Arizona on December 13, the two connected on 11 of the team?s season-high 12 three-point field goals. Novak and Diener currently rank first and fifth, respectively, in career three-point field goal percentage at Marquette.
Numbers Don?t Lie
Tom Crean preaches defense, defense, defense, and for good reason. In Marquette?s 11 victories it has held opponents to 58.0 points and 39.0 percent shooting from the field. Contrast that with the Golden Eagles two losses, when opponents have averaged 74.0 points and shot 48.0 percent from the field.
Non-Conference Dominance
Marquette?s nine victories outside of Conference USA this season improved the team to 29-6 against non-conference opponents since 2001. The Golden Eagles victory over Sacred Heart on December 29th was their 24th-consecutive over non-conference opponents at the Bradley Center.
Marquette In C-USA
Marquette has won 16-of-17 at home and 13-of-17 on the road in Conference USA dating back to the 2001-02 season. Marquette?s 79-47 (.627) record in the eight-plus years of Conference USA?s existence is third-best overall in league history trailing only Cincinnati (101-25/.802) and Memphis (81-44/.648).
Marquette?s Best Starts In Conference Play
Marquette will be attempting to win three-straight to open conference play for only the second time in the school?s nine-year affiliation with Conference USA. The Golden Eagles only other 3-0 start in league-play came during the 2000-01 season.
Crean vs. Cincinnati In Milwaukee
The Golden Eagles are 3-1 (.750) against Cincinnati in Milwaukee under Tom Crean.
January 23, 2000 #1 Cincinnati 72, Marquette 60
January 10, 2001 Marquette 47, Cincinnati 44
February 2, 2002 Marquette 74, #4 Cincinnati 60
March 8, 2003 #8 Marquette 70, Cincinnati 61
Crean vs. Ranked Opponents
The Golden Eagles are 10-11 (.476) against ranked opponents, including 3-8 (.273) against the Top 10, under Tom Crean.
Crean?s Top 10 Victories
March 29, 2003 #9 Marquette 83, #1 Kentucky 69
March 27, 2003 #9 Marquette 77, #4 Pittsburgh 73
February 2, 2002 Marquette 74, #4 Cincinnati 60
All-time the Golden Eagles are 79-117 (.403) against ranked opponents, including 31-84 (.270) against the Top 10. Marquette?s last victory over a Top 10- ranked opponent was March 29, 2003, when it defeated No. 1 Kentucky, 83-69.
Bradley Center Advantage
The Golden Eagles have won 12-consecutive, 38-of-39, and are 60-9 (.870) overall at the Bradley Center under Tom Crean. Marquette is 189-60 (.759) all-time at the downtown arena.
Consecutive From Three
The Golden Eagles have converted at least one three-point field goal in 99 straight games. Under Tom Crean, MU has made at least one three-point field goal in 136 of 137 games. MU?s lone game without a three came against Wisconsin on December 23, 2000.
Below 60 Leads to Victory
When holding its opponents to 60 points or fewer, Marquette has won 15 consecutive, 33-of-34, and is 45-5 (.900) under Tom Crean. MU has held seven opponents to 60 or fewer this season, including its first two C-USA opponents (Houston - 52 & Saint Louis - 59). The Golden Eagles last loss when holding an opponent under 60 was February 26, 2002 at East Carolina, 51-46.
Stretch of Success
The Golden Eagles have won 64 of their last 79 (.810) games dating back to the start of the 2001-02 season.
Milestone Victory
Marquette?s victory over Houston last Wednesday was the 1,300th in the program?s 87-year history. The Golden Eagles are the 51st program in NCAA history and the third in Conference USA (Cincinnati, Louisville) to record 1,300 victories. Entering the season the program was 32nd overall among Division I schools with a .613 winning percentage.
Coming of Age
Freshman Dameon Mason had his most productive game to date in Saturday?s win over Saint Louis. Mason had nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in a career-high 26 minutes off the bench.
Century Club
Tom Crean needs six more victories to join Al McGuire (295), Bill Chandler (193), Hank Raymonds (126) and Mike Deane (100) as the only coaches in school history to win 100-career games at Marquette.
