CNNSI.com - 2000-01 Men's NCAA Basketball Preview - CNNSI.com's Marquette preview

	CNNSI.com
	Preview Home
	Latest College Basketball News
	Conference Previews
	Team Previews
	Women's Preview
	Team Pages
	Polls
	Stats

EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001

CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Multimedia Central
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
Work in Sports

CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
Television
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages

COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore

Marquette Golden Eagles

Finding some points is a key concern

Last season

15-14, 8-8 C-USA (NIT first round, lost to Xavier)

Coach

Tom Crean (2nd season, 15-14)

Projected starting lineup

G Cordell Henry, 5-10, Jr.
Part of an experience core that could surprise in the American Division, PG Henry averaged 9.1 points with 102 assists.

G Brian Wardle, 6-5, Sr.
Outstanding three-point shooter (50-125) who led Golden Eagles in scoring (16.6) in an offense that worked to get him shots.

C Scott Merritt, 6-10, Fr.
Maybe the key to this team’s improvement, the heavily recruited Merritt should add inside punch, something lacking a year ago.

F Oluoma NNamaka, 6-7, Jr.
Athletic but sometimes erratic, NNamaka averaged an up-and-down 8.5 points while shooting .497. An outstanding offensive rebounder (3.4).

F Jon Harris, 6-7, Jr.
Must improve his scoring ability (3.6), but Harris is a superb rebounder, averaging 6.5 in just 24 minutes a game.

Top guy off the bench

C John Mueller, 6-10, Sr.
The starter last season, Mueller (4.7 rebounds) may be more effective with less demanded of him.

Key games

South Alabama (Nov. 14). Important because it kicks off preseason NIT, a chance for early recognition.
Wisconsin (Dec. 23). In-state, non-conference battle for bragging rights.
at DePaul (Jan. 6). What a way to open the league season.

Outlook

Marquette returns only one double-figure scorer (Wardle) from last season...but part of the problem last season was that the Eagles had only two guys in double figures. Marquette needs to get more out if its post players, and if Merritt can take some pressure off the backcourt, a move up is possible. But they look like fifth place right now.

--Stan Olson