MU Opens Maui Jim Maui Invite Monday Vs. VCU
11/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Marquette University men's basketball team (1-1, 0-0 BIG?EAST) continues its season at the 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational at 1:30 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 20 when the squad faces VCU (2-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) in the opening round. ESPN2 will feature the national television broadcast, with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) calling the action. Depending on Monday's result, MU will take on either Cal or Wichita State on Tuesday afternoon.
Marquette Makes Third Trip To Maui
Marquette is returning to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational for the third time, having most recently competed in the 2012 event.
The Golden Eagles are 4-2 in their previous action, highlighted by a run to the championship game in 2007. MU was edged by No. 13 Duke, which featured Steve Wojciechowski on the coaching staff, 77-73 in the title matchup. In 2012, Marquette fell at the buzzer to Butler before claiming wins over Mississippi State and USC to finish fifth.
Wojciechowki earned MVP accolades in 1997 after leading the Blue Devils to the title as a senior. He is the first MVP to return as a head coach. Associate head coach Brett Nelson was a freshman at Florida in 1999.
Roster Transition Still A Work In Progress For Young Team
While the Golden Eagles are entering their fourth season under head coach Steve Wojciechowski, the team still finds itself working through the final stages of the transition (only one senior - Andrew Rowsey).
For the first time, the roster is completely comprised to players recruited by Wojciechowski and his staff. However, only two of those individuals (Haanif Cheatham and Matt Heldt), own more than one season of experience in a Marquette uniform. Sophomores Sam Hauser and Markus Howard were significant contributors in their respective debut campaigns, but only Cheatham has more career starts (60) among the returnees.
Of teams in all of NCAA?Division I with one-or-fewer seniors, only seven (Kentucky and Auburn lead with 12) have a larger total of freshmen and sophomores. Marquette's roster features nine players who are either in their first or second seasons of eligibility and five teams have 10.
Marquette's quartet of departures (Luke Fischer, Jajuan Johnson, Katin Reinhardt and Duane Wilson) left with it a wealth of playing experience, having accounted for 328 total appearances and 184 starting assignments.
Rowsey's Career Offensive Success Difficult To Match
While guard Andrew Rowsey is only in his second season with the Golden Eagles, his overall collegiate success on the offensive end is difficult to match.
Among active players, Rowsey is tied with Central Arkansas' Jordan Howard (older brother of MU's Markus Howard) for the national lead in 3-point field goals made (286). An all-conference performer his first two years at UNC Asheville, Rowsey netted 208 treys with the Bulldogs before finishing among the league leaders (71) in 2016-17 with Marquette.
