Marquette University Athletics
Marquette vs. Milwaukee Postgame Notes & Quotes
11/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2008
- Marquette is now 36-0 during its all-time series with Milwaukee - a series which began during the 1916-17 season. It's the second-longest active win streak by an NCAA Division I team over another opponent (Syracuse has won its last 42 meetings with Colgate).
- Only the second time in the 92-year history of the basketball program that Marquette has scored 100-or-more points in back-to-back contests. MU defeated Chicago State 106-87 this past Monday. The last time a Marquette squad reached the century mark in consecutive games was the 1954-55 season.
- Tonight's victory marks win No. 1,400 for Marquette. MU becomes just the 50th men's basketball program in NCAA history to reach the 1,400-win milestone.
- Second half opened with a 10-0 MU run, extending the Golden Eagles' lead to double digits for the first time in the game.
- James became the fourth player in MU history to record over 500 career assists with a season-high eight assists vs. Milwaukee. James now has 504 career assists after tonight's win.
- MU had at least four players score in double figures for the third time in as many games this season led by Senior guard Wesley Matthews and Junior forward Lazar Hayward, who both netted 25 points.
- Junior forward Lazar Hayward recorded his seventh career double-double, and second this season, with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
- Senior guard Jerel McNeal had a season-high five steals.
MU Head Coach Buzz Williams:
"I think that we made it abundantly clear as an institution that we are praying for and have great thoughts for Coach Jeter and his family. I have great respect for him as a coach and even more with how he is trying to handle this in the right way. I think it says a lot about his team and his institution.
From the seven minute mark in the first half until halftime they scored seven points. I thought in the other than the last seven possessions when we fouled seven straight times, from a defensive standpoint I think that it was the best that we have played. It's the best game that I have seen from Dominic James, I thought that he ran the team with great poise, while at the same time always engaging his defender every single possession. I think that when he plays like that and Wes continues to play the way that he has been playing, I think that changes the culture or the dynamics of our team. I thought Dominic was really, really good.
We spend a lot of time in practice and in tape and everything that we do getting paint touches. In the second half, I think we had 37 points in the paint. The thing is that number is skewed with how we talk about the paint touches. I am not so concerned with how many points we score in the paint as I am with about how many possessions during the game that the ball touches the paint, prior to a shot. I don't know that I said anything at halftime that I don't normally say every single day in practice. I thought we executed a lot better in regards to the number of paint touches compared to our number of possessions."
On Wesley Matthews
"I can't compare what Wes was last year because I spent an inordinante amount of time last year on the road recruiting so I wasn't around every day at practice. I made every game but sometimes I flew in right before the game. Wes is as good of a practice player as I have ever seen in my 15 years. That is not just offense but he has great juice from start to finish on both ends of the floor, every single day. I will put him with the post guys, I will put him with the guards. I think that perfect practice ends up being revealed during the game."
Senior guard Jerel McNeal:
On the proficiency of the offense:
"I think more than anything I think it has to do with contributing to this team. While it may not seem like it at the time, a lot of our baskets are created by our defense and I think that when we are getting defensive stops and when we are getting first shot rebounds we are one of the hardest team in the nation to guard. Once we get stops defensively we are getting ourselves an opportunity at the other end, very quickly. Besides defensively, I think it is the maturity, just knowing a good shot from a great shot and coach always talks about a perfect possession and passing up a quick, easy shot to get a better one, which may be a layup or a completely uncontested one. It is maturity and our defensive abilities.
I know we go through lulls in the game where we are not as good defensively and that is something that we have to change in a hurry. It is something that we need to come out at a high level defensively, and maintain that throughout the game. That is the main goal of the team. We put together some good possessions defensively and that is where we took off."
