Seniors Lead Marquette into NCAA Tournament Matchup with New Mexico
As Marquette heads to Cleveland for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the seasoned Golden Eagles, ranked No. 7 in the South Region, are poised to face No. 10 New Mexico. With a record of 23-10, Marquette spent the entire season in the Top 25, maintaining the same starting five across all 33 games. Their collective goal remains unchanged since October: to extend their season to San Antonio.
Highlighting Marquette’s seasoned roster is guard Stevie Mitchell, a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, who will be tasked with defending New Mexico’s standout guard Donovan Dent, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, boasting an impressive 20.6 points and 6.4 assists per game.
The Golden Eagles’ offense is anchored by senior Kam Jones, averaging 19.3 points and imparting leadership in his 137th game. Complementing Jones is David Joplin, rounding out Marquette’s experience-laden group known as the "Guardians." This trio, under head coach Shaka Smart, hopes to leverage their past experiences in NCAA tournaments to advance further this year.
Smart emphasized the lessons learned from their previous tournament endeavors, highlighting both victories and setbacks. Marquette thrives on defense and minimizing turnovers, contrasting with the Lobos’ fast-paced offensive style. Richard Pitino, New Mexico’s coach and son of the legendary Rick Pitino, has a strategic edge, having eliminated Marquette from the Big East tournament just last week.
As the tournament unfolds, the winner of this Friday matchup is set for a potential clash with No. 2 seed Michigan State, a team that eliminated Marquette in last year’s tournament. With high stakes and seasoned talent on both sides, the stage is set for an exhilarating showdown.
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