Better Than Advertised

     Do not lie to yourself. If you predicted before the season started that Marquette would start 3-0 in conference than you should start looking up times for the confession session at whatever religious structure you preach at.

     If you predicted that Marquette would have beaten a ranked Georgetown team, Pittsburgh on the road, and Connecticut than you are just kidding yourself.

     A team that came into the season without a true scoring threat has found one in the ever inconsistent Vander Blue. Davante Gardner has transformed into a solid rock down low that has college basketball fans comparing him to the late great Robert “Tractor” Traylor.

     To fill the enormous void Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom left after being drafted, Coach Buzz Williams has formed the deepest team the program has had since the early 2000s. Everyone from the gritty veteran Chris O'Tule to the youngster Steve Taylor Jr has contributed. Even a once non-existent presence on the floor from California is playing key minutes for the Golden Eagles.

     Juan Anderson, the sophomore from Oakland, has fit in well in his new role as a starter. His defense has improved drastically and he is proving doubters wrong with his occasional offensive outbursts. I would be the first to admit it: I absolutely saw no purpose in putting Anderson on the court. You could even label me as the leader of the "Cut Juan Anderson" movement. After watching the first fifteen games this season, I've had a change of heart.

     A guy whose production his freshman year was comparable to Marquette fanatic Hall of Famer Rob Frozena, has transformed into an athletic defender who provides key help defense.

     Do not get me wrong, this is not a championship team. For every strength this team has, they have a weakness.

     For every big shot Junior Cadougan makes, he throws a ball twenty rows deep. For every step back jumper Jamil Wilson makes, he misses the next three. The defense shuts down the most elite opponents but, as seen in the last 1.2 seconds of regulation against Pittsburgh, they could let up a crucial three pointer.  

     At times this team looks like a Sweet Sixteen contender and at other times they look like one that would be lucky to make the NIT (just see the Wisconsin-Green Bay game box score).

     Trent Lockett looks at times like an intoxicated college freshman on a Friday night that strayed off to 23rd and Wells, not knowing where they are. Then there are the issues off the court.

     Can there be one year where nobody violates a "team rule"? That lack of discipline at times shows itself on the court. Luckily this team is led by one of the best coaches in the country.

     With Buzz at the helm the sky is the limit for this group of overachieving players. It will be a roller coaster ride, but the Golden Eagles can build off of this early season success that NOBODY predicted would happen.