Marquette University Athletics
Men's Basketball Visits Charlotte
1/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Guarding The Three
Prior to Southern Miss? 8-for-14 (57.1 percent) effort on Friday night, Marquette had held its previous six opponents to a combined 36-for-116 (31.0 percent) from three-point range. In its 11 wins, Marquette has held opponents to 32.8 percent shooting from three, while in its four losses opponents have connected on 44.8 percent from long range.
Uniform Records
Through 15 games Marquette is 5-1 in white, 4-0 in gold and 2-3 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. Marquette has been ranked in 33 of the last 35 AP Polls dating back to February 5, 2002.
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 12.1, respectively, for the remainder of the season, both could reach the 1,000 career-point mark. Through 15 games, Diener has 916 career points and Merritt has 883.
Marquette?s Double-Doubles
Scott Merritt?s 17 points and 10 rebounds at Houston on January 7th was his fourth double-double of the season and 18th of his career. Merritt?s?s 18 career double-doubles rank him fourth among active players in C-USA. Travis Diener?s 21-point and 10-assist effort at Arizona was the Golden Eagles only other double-double of the season. It was Diener?s first of the season and fourth of his career.
Diener In C-USA Play
Establishing himself as one of the top point guards in the nation, Travis Diener has done it all for Marquette early-on in C-USA play. Through four conference games, Diener is averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and has connected on 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from three.
No Turnovers
Travis Diener?s zero turnover effort on January 7 at Houston marked the 28th time in his career, and the fifth this season, he didn?t record a turnover in a game. Diener has recorded 66 assists and only 16 turnovers over his last 10 games.
70-Point Trend
Under Tom Crean Marquette is 59-12, including 47-8 since the beginning of the 2001-02 and 7-2 this season, when scoring 70 or more points. The Golden Eagles two losses this year when scoring 70 points were to Arizona and Cincinnati.
Downtown Duo
Travis Diener (45-of-94/47.9 percent) and Steve Novak (38-of-93/40.9 percent) combined have accounted for 83 of the Golden Eagles? 105 three-point field goals this season. Through four Conference USA games the two have connected on 25 of the Golden Eagles 30 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 four losses in which opponents have averaged 79.0 points and shot 48.1 percent from the field.
Marquette vs. Charlotte
Marquette is 10-11 (.476) all-time against Charlotte, but has won three straight in the series, including a sweep of last year?s two meetings. The Golden Eagles have dropped eight-of-nine in the series on the road. Tom Crean is 4-4 (.500) against Charlotte, including the program?s lone road victory over the 49ers, 67-64, on January 18th of last year.
Rare Occurrence
Only three times in Tom Crean?s tenure have the Golden Eagles lost three straight games. The Golden Eagles last three game losing streak occurred during Crean?s second year from February 24 to March 3, 2001, when Marquette lost to Louisville, Houston and Charlotte to close out the regular season. Marquette?s other three-game losing streaks under Crean occurred during his first season (1999-2000) from January 23 to 29 (Cincinnati, Saint Louis, Charlotte), and March 4 to 15 (Tulane, Houston, Xavier).
Marquette In C-USA
Marquette has won 16-of-18 at home and 13-of-18 on the road in Conference USA dating back to the 2001-02 season. Marquette?s 79-49 (.617) record in the eight-plus years of Conference USA?s existence is third-best overall in league history trailing only Cincinnati (103-25/.805) and Memphis (82-45/.646).
Bradley Center Advantage
The Golden Eagles have won 38-of-40 and are 60-10 (.857) overall at the Bradley Center under Tom Crean. Marquette is 189-61 (.756) all-time at the downtown arena.
Consecutive From Three
The Golden Eagles have converted at least one three-point field goal in 101 straight games. Under Tom Crean, MU has made at least one three-point field goal in 138 of 139 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 81 (.790) games overall, and 29 of their last 36 (.806) in C-USA, dating back to the 2001-02 season.
Coming of Age
Freshman Dameon Mason made his first collegiate start in Friday?s loss to Southern Miss. Mason played a career-high 31 minutes and responded by scoring a career-high and team-leading 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Mason put together his most complete game to date in the Golden Eagles CUSA home opener against Saint Louis. In 26 minutes off the bench, Mason had nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Illinois-native is averaging 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds over his last three games.
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.
Diener Among Nation?s Leaders
In the most recent NCAA weekly statistical report (January 12), Travis Diener?s 6.1 assists per game was good enough for 22nd in the nation.
