Men's Basketball Faces Louisville in Final Road Test

Feb. 28, 2006

MILWAUKEE -

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Now 14 games into the conference season with two left to play, it might seem like a time to look back and see what's been accomplished by a young Marquette basketball team that sits at 9-5 in BIG EAST play and on the verge of earning a coveted first round bye in the upcoming league tournament.

Positioning for the conference tournament and reflection on a season that has been successful is not something head coach Tom Crean is willing to do, however. He thinks its still to early to look at positioning and reflection. His one-game-at-time mantra that he has preached all season holds true even more as the season nears conclusion. Marquette visits Louisville on Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. (CST) in a game televised on WMLW Ch. 41 and is the sole focus for the Crean-led team.

"The best thing we've done as of late, and when I say as of late, we've done it throughout conference, is that we really lock in. These guys are locked into this game," he said. "It's so important to get better. We aren't playing for this or playing for that. We're playing to improve. It sounds kind of corny, but that's the only way to do it. If you start putting too many things in front of a team as young as this, you are making a grave mistake, which is something I'm not going to do."

Even though it is not brought to the attention of the team, the squad still has the opportunity to be one of the top four teams in regular season league play, something that is an accomplishment considering the league's coaches predicted Marquette 12th, the last spot to qualify for the post-season tournament.

But to move up into that prestigious bye position, Marquette must take care of business on the floor and that starts with Louisville. The Golden Eagles and Cardinals have a long history. However, recent success has leaned in the favor of Marquette, despite two losses last season. In games in which both Crean and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino have faced each other, Marquette owns a 6-3 advantage.

Despite the two-to-one Marquette wins ratio, the success of Pitino is something that the Marquette players don't take lightly.

"He's definitely a coach we respect. He's probably going to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame," senior Steve Novak said. "I'm not going to walk over and ask for his autograph, but we know that he knows what he's doing in terms of coaching and he always has his teams ready to play."

While Novak may have seen Pintino's name inked on record books, it is his own name that he might be looking at soon. The senior forward already owns MU records for career free throw percentage and three point field goals made, but he's four three point field goals away from passing Ray Allen as the BIG EAST single season leader in three-point field goals.

"I'm not really thinking about records," Novak added. "I'm not thinking about having to make four in the next game or anything like that. Obviously its awesome to be in company with a guy like Ray Allen, but I'm really just going to do everything it takes to win the game."

Novak is also on the verge of becoming the single season record holder in NCAA history in free throw percentage. Novak has made 98.6 percent of his free throws and has made 105 of his last 106 attempts, dating back to last season.

As Novak stated, Louisville will be ready to play, if previous MU/U of L meetings are indicative. This year's meeting takes place at Freedom Hall, one of the rowdiest venues in the BIG EAST.

"I think its hard to get the young guys ready for this until they are there, but they've been in enough places to know what a hostile environment is like," Novak said. "We'll talk to them about it when we watch film, but getting out on the court will be the best thing for them."

Marquette will have to contend with senior guard Taquan Dean, who the backbone of the Louisville offense. He missed three games over a stretch earlier in the season, but since his return, he has averaged 18.4 points, 3.4 assists and shot 45.0 percent from three point range (36-of-80). He scored 25 points in the Cardinals' loss to West Virginia on Saturday, going 5-of-9 from three.

Dean's recent average is better than his season average of 16.3. He's topped the 20 point mark four times since his return from injury.

Dean's long ball threat is well known. He joins Novak as one of six active players -- and one of three BIG EAST players -- to top 300 career three pointers.

Louisville will be hampered by the loss of center David Padgett, who will miss the remainder of the season due to knee surgery. Padgett averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game prior to his surgery. He has missed the last two Louisville contests.

Padgett's role is filled by Brian Johnson, a freshman who averages 2.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

"I think it's important that we get the ball into the paint. Whether its off the pass or the dribble or post, that is important. But that is important all the time," Crean said. "They have a lot of athleticism in their front line. They are going to cause issues down low because of their ability to jump up, block shots and cause havoc."

Dean is supported in the starting lineup by junior Brandon Jenkins' 11.8 points per game and sophomore Juan Palacios' 10.1 points per game.