Marquette University Athletics
Men's Basketball Takes on Louisville
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Marquette In C-USA
Marquette has won 19-of-23 at home and 15-of-24 on the road in Conference USA dating back to the 2001-02 season. The Golden Eagles? 34 conference victories since 2001 are the third-most and their 84 victories in the eight-plus years of Conference USA?s existence are fourth-best overall, trailing Cincinnati (110), Memphis (93) and Charlotte (86).
Diener In Select Company
Based on CBSSportsline.com statistical rankings for March 5, Travis Diener and Idaho State?s Marquis Poole are the only players in Division I currently averaging 18.0 or more points and 5.9 or more assists. Diener is currently averaging 18.7 points and 5.9 assists, while Poole is averaging 18.6 points and 6.3 assists.
Merritt As Of Late
Senior Scott Merritt is averaging 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds over the last three games. In helping lead Marquette to two victories in its last three games, Merritt is shooting a team-best 58.6 percent and recorded a career-high 15 rebounds against South Florida on February 26. Merritt has recorded 16 offensive rebounds in the last three games, his best three game stretch of the season and 21 percent of his season total to date. Merritt recorded his 19th career double-double, fourth most among active CUSA players, on Feburary 26 against South Florida (17 pts./15 rebs.).
Downtown Duo Closing In On Record
Travis Diener (74-of-164/45.1 percent) and Steve Novak (74-of-176/42.0 percent) have accounted for 78.7 percent (148-of-188) of the Golden Eagles? threepoint field goals this season. Novak and Diener currently rank first and fifth, respectively, in career threepoint field goal percentage at Marquette.
Diener and Novak are both one shy of tying the Marquette single-season record for three-point field goals, of 75, set by Robb Logtermann during the 1993-94 season.
Three-Point Records
Travis Diener?s 74 three-point field-goals are the most-ever recorded by a junior at Marquette. The previous record was 65, set by Aaron Hutchins during the 1996-97 season.
Steve Novak?s 74 three-point field-goals are the most-ever recorded by a sophomore at Marquette. The previous record was 73, set by Anthony Pieper during the 1994-95 season.
Diener In The Last Seven Games
Travis Diener has scored 20 or more points in five of the last seven games, including 30-point efforts against DePaul (2/7) and East Carolina (3/3). Diener is averaging 23.9 points, 4.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, as well as shooting 49.0 percent (25-of-51) from three and 90.2 percent (41-of-50) from the free-throw line over the last seven games.
Diener Is C-USA?s Top Scorer and Distributor
Travis Diener leads Conference USA in scoring average (18.7) and assists per game (5.9), for all games played.
Marquette Leads C-USA In Three-Point Field-Goal
Marquette leads Conference USA in three-point shooting percentage for all games played and conference games only. Overall the Golden Eagles are shooting 40.0 percent from three, and 40.8 percent through 15 conference games. Twice previously, in 1995-96 and 2002-03, Marquette has finished as Conference USA?s top three-point shooting team.
Mason As A Starter
In 12 games as a starter, freshman Dameon Mason is averaging 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and shooting 45.1 percent from the field. Mason?s 5.5 rebound average is second to Scott Merritt (7.2 rpg) during that time.
Marquette When Scoring 70 Points Or More
Under Tom Crean Marquette is 64-16, including 52-12 since the 2001-02 season, when scoring 70 or more points. The trend has reversed itself a bit this year as the Golden Eagles are just 12-6 when scoring 70 or more points.
Numbers Tell The Story
In Marquette?s 16 victories it has held opponents to 60.9 points and 41.0 percent shooting from the field. Contrast that with the Golden Eagles? 10 losses in which opponents have averaged 80.3 points and shot 47.9 percent from the field. Marquette has given up 80 points or more in eight of its 10 losses.
Stretch of Success
The Golden Eagles have won 69 of their last 92 (.750) games overall and 34 of their last 47 (.723) in C-USA dating back to the 2001-02 season.
The Last Meeting - Marquette 77, (4) Louisville 70 - January 31, 2004
Led by Steve Novak?s career-high 31 points and eight three-point fieldgoals, Marquette brought an end to Louisville?s 16-game winning streak, 77-70. The Golden Eagles played one of their best defensive games of the season, holding the Cardinals to a season-low 14.7% from three-point range (5-of-34) and 32.8% overall from the field. The victory was Marquette?s fifth in the last six games with Louisville and its third straight at Freedom Hall.
Second Best Road Victory All-Time
Marquette?s victory over No. 4 Louisville on January 31, was only its second all-time over a Top 5-ranked opponent on the road. The Golden Eagles? other road victory over a Top 5-ranked opponent came on January 7, 1997, when they won at No. 4 Iowa State, 67-64.
Novak Has Career Day At Louisville
Steve Novak established new career-highs for points (30), three-point fieldgoals (8), three-point field-goal attempts (13), field-goals (9), field-goal attempts (16) and minutes (37) in Marquette?s victory over Louisville on January 31. Novak came up one three-point field-goal shy of the all-time Marquette record for threes made in a game, set by Mark Anglavar against Butler on February 1, 1990.
Novak?s eight three-point field-goals were the most ever by a Golden Eagle in a Conference USA game.
Marquette vs. Louisville
Marquette is 22-31 all-time against Louisville but has won five of the last six. The schools split last season?s two meetings, with each winning on the other?s home court. Tom Crean is 6-4 against Louisville, including a 2-2 record at the Bradley Center.
Century Club
Tom Crean needs one more victory 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 games at Marquette.
Bradley Center Advantage
The Golden Eagles have won 41-of-45 and are 63-12 (.840) overall at the Bradley Center under Tom Crean. Marquette is 192-63 (.753) all-time at the downtown arena.
