Before concentrating on this season, please allow the Marquette Golden Eagles a few more moments to savor their breakthrough effort, which included a Conference USA regular-season championship and the school's first Final Four appearance since Al McGuire's celebrated championship in 1977. OK, time's up.

"It was special," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "The memories will continue forever. But we have to turn the page. Every season is new, with its own set of circumstances."

It will be nearly impossible to replicate last season's dramatic run without the services of all-everything guard Dwyane Wade, who left early for the NBA draft and was selected No. 5 overall by Miami, and polished center Robert Jackson. But in four seasons, Crean has built Marquette's program to the point where it should annually contend for C-USA titles and Sweet 16 berths.

FRONTCOURT

Senior Scott Merritt, who was Crean's first big-name recruit in 1999, finally asserted himself and began playing up to his potential. Sometimes miscast as a center and forced to defend the opponent's top interior player, Merritt greatly benefited from Jackson's presence.

Merritt appeared more comfortable at his natural position, power forward, and answered with 17 double-figure scoring games. He became a bigger factor on the glass, especially offensively, and might become one of C-USA's better frontcourt players.

Merritt has the flexibility to play center. That position, however, could fall to junior college transfer Marcus Jackson, a space-eater who signed with Georgia but was released from that commitment following a coaching change. Jackson, the first junior college player signed to Marquette by Crean, has been described as a Dennis Rodman-type who defends ferociously and lives to grab a rebound.

Marquette has options elsewhere in the frontcourt. Junior Todd Townsend started every game last season at small forward, but his production slipped in the second half, partially due to a shoulder injury. The Golden Eagles must find a place for Steve Novak, C-USA's top 3-point shooter (50.5 percent).

Senior Terry Sanders could play more of an offensive role. Crean has been pleased with Sanders' energetic contributions off the bench. Freshman James Matthews, a 6-foot-8 bruiser, and 6-10 sophomore Chris Grimm also should figure into the rotation.

BACKCOURT

Point guard Travis Diener blends in around campus. You'd never guess he was a basketball player, with his average build and baby-faced manner. Those looks are deceiving. In fact, Diener was as valuable as Wade and Jackson last season. "All he does is win, his whole life," Crean said. "People make a big deal out of him not looking the part or whatever, but he's as intense a competitor as you'll find."

Diener is a shooting point guard, capable of the highlight-reel dish or keeping a defense honest from the 3-point arc, where he shot 40.2 percent in C-USA games last year. His leadership has never been more important.

Sophomores Joe Chapman and Karon Bradley, who became more than bit players last season and impressed Crean with their defensive play, will get looks to fill Wade's spot in the backcourt. Highly touted freshman Dameon Mason could be the long-range answer, while Carlton Christian, another first-year player, has dazzled with athleticism and versatility. Crean will emphasize flexibility and depth, so the position could be shared until one player clearly emerges.

Freshman Brandon Bell has good bloodlines. His brother, Charlie, was a starting guard on Michigan State's 2000 NCAA championship team. The younger Bell should be a good apprentice to Diener. If he's much more than that right way, he could allow Diener to play some shooting guard.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Last season's happy story didn't end so happily. Marquette was steamrolled by Kansas, 94-61, in the national semifinals. Afterward, Crean was rumored to be a player for the big-time jobs at Kansas and Illinois. Those assumptions were incorrect. Crean signed a contract extension at Marquette, adding some stability to what had become a coaching transition game in the past decade.

Crean proved you can get big things done at Marquette. And now he's going to prove it can be done consistently. An immediate Final Four return might be wildly optimistic, but Crean had doubters last season.

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