Marquette's marvel

Getting his name right nearly as tough as guarding Wade

Dwyane Wade shunned the NBA for another season at Marquette. Marquette Sports Information

By Brett McMurphy, CNNSI.com

First off, let's get one thing straight about Marquette's superstar guard: it's D-w-y-a-n-e Wade. Not Dwayne, DeWayne or D. Wayne.

"It's very unique," Wade said. "I'm glad it's spelled that way. I haven't met anyone with it spelled that way. It is unique. It's always separated me from the other kids named Dwayne."

Wade's debut season at Marquette last year separated him from most of the nation's shooting guards.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder carried Marquette (26-7) to the NCAA tournament, while leading the Golden Eagles in scoring (17.8), rebounds (6.6), assists (3.4), steals (2.5) and blocked shots (1.1).

After briefly toying with the idea of leaving for the NBA, Wade is back for his junior season in which -- here's a scary thought -- he's going to be even better.

Much better.

"There were four areas [of improvement] we really wanted Dwyane to pin point," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "Perimeter shooting with range, offensive rebounding can get a lot better, and this is a guy that led us in rebounding, he needed to tighten up his ball handling and on the ball defense.

"I've seen great strides in those areas."

As a freshman, Wade was Marquette's best player. It's just no one outside the program knew it because as a partial academic qualifier, he could only practice all season.

CNNSI.com's Top Guards: • ACC: Julius Hodge, N.C. State • Big 12: Kirk Hinrich, Kansas • Big East: Brandin Knight, Pitt • Big Ten: Kirk Penney, Wisconsin • Pac-10: Jason Gardner, Arizona • SEC: Rashard Wright, Georgia More from CNNSI.com: • Mandel: A feel-good season • Button: Guard play key to title

Last year as a sophomore, though, Wade made a splashing debut. He burst onto the national season last November, earning Outstanding Player honors at the Great Alaska Shootout. In wins against Tennessee, Indiana and Gonzaga, Wade averaged 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

"Once we got back from Alaska," Crean said. "It all changed. Everyone knew he was a big factor."

Crean said a big change in Wade since last year is how he is analyzing his game.

"When Dwyane gets that accomplished, he'll grow even more," Crean said. "I think that will help in college and the next level."

With Marquette losing point guard Cordell Henry and forwards Odartey Blankson and Oluoma Nnamaka, Wade knows he has to shoulder even more of the load this season.

And he's ready to accept the challenge.

"I feel like this is the year for me to show a lot of people what I can do," Wade said. "Now that we have a young team, I can step up and be the leader. I can do a lot of different things they said I couldn't do last year.

"I like to prove people wrong."

Wade proved his worth to Conference USA's coaches, who voted him the league's preseason player of the year.

"Dwyane has received a lot of nice accolades obviously during last season and the offseason and I think Dwyane, above all else, knows that with those accolades comes the added responsibility of living up to them," Crean said.

Added Memphis coach John Calipari: "He's what sets Marquette a part. He is such a creative player who competes above the rim."

South Florida coach Seth Greenberg said Wade is "as complete a guard as there has been in this league.

"He's strong, quick, explosive and can shoot the ball with range," Greenberg said. "His body ... there's not an ounce of body fat on his body. He's very impressive. Thankfully we only have to play against him once."

Once and for all, Wade would like for everyone to spell his name correctly. Especially the folks at ABC/ESPN, who butchered his first name in consecutive games.

"People have always had trouble with "D-w-y" instead of "D-w-a," Wade said. "But I'm getting over it.

"There's nothing significant behind it. My grandma thought it was the way she wanted to spell it, named my father Dwyane and I got his name. I had nothing to do with it."

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