MU To Face Ole Miss In Paradise Jam Semifinal Matchup
11/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2011
The No. 21/19 Marquette University men's basketball team continues play at the 2011 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam with semifinal action against Ole Miss on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Fox College Sports will feature the television broadcast, with Steve Physioc (play-by-play) Larry Conley (analyst) and Laura McKeeman (sideline) calling the action. FSN Wisconsin will air Sunday's matchup, as well as Marquette's game on Monday to conclude the tourney.
Blue Leads MU To Victory In Tourney Opener
Sophomore guard Vander Blue made his first seven shots en route to a career-best 26 points in the tourney-opening win over Winthrop on Friday night.
The Madison, Wis., native finished 7-of-9 from the floor and 10-of-13 (also career highs for makes and attempts) from the charity stripe. He was 2-of-2 from long distance, including a key four-point play to close the first half that doubles MU's lead entering the intermission. He played 30 minutes and also chipped in three rebounds and an assist in his third start of the campaign.
Offensive Attack Producing Early In 2011-12
Marquette's offensive attack is producing at a high level early in 2011-12, averaging 95.0 points per outing through the team's first three outings.
The Golden Eagles defeated Winthrop 95-73 on Friday night, marking the third-straight game MU has surpassed the 90-point plateau. The last time the team accomplished that feat came in the opening three contests of the 2008-09 campaign, the first season under head coach Buzz Williams. That season, MU downed Houston Baptist (95-64), Chicago State (106-87) and Milwaukee (100-80).
Marquette is currently shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 74.1 percent from the free throw line.
Johnson-Odom Finds Shoooting Touch Early
Early in 2010-11, guard Darius Johnson-Odom struggled to find his shooting touch from the field.
Through three game as a junior, the Raleigh, N.C., native knocked down just 36 percent of his shots from the field overall and 25 percent from behind the 3-point line.
He has jumped out to a quick start in 2011-12 and currently tops the roster with 20.0 points per outing. He is shooting 60.0 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from long distance. He has also attempted a team-high 23 free throws (17-of-23).
Johnson-Odom is currently 36th all-time at Marquette with 1,086 points.
Plenty Of Minutes To Go Around In Opening Weeks
Head coach hasn't had the benefit of a deep bench in his first three years as head coach, but that trend appears to be changing in 2011-12.
Through the first three games this season, each of the 10 players to see action on the court is averaging at least 14.0 minutes per game. Senior forward Jae Crowder has seen the most game action, but he is only in the lineup for 27 minutes per game in the team's three outings.
The Golden Eagles have featured the same starting lineup (Junior Cadougan, Vander Blue, Darius Johnson-Odom, Crowder and Chris Otule) in each of the three games.
