Marquette Basketball

Florida is fake.

No team has been more dominant in the 2012 NCAA tournament than the Florida Gators.  But Marquette has no reason to fear the chomp.

Sure, Florida looked extremely impressive in the Big Dance’s opening weekend.  They flat-out slaughtered Virginia and a Norfolk State team that KO’d Missouri.  Scoring margins alone, though, aren’t enough to peg the Gators as true national championship contenders.

Going into the tournament, everyone knew that their offense was electric and that their defense was suspect.  Florida is living up to their reputation as a scoring machine, as they dropped 71 points on the Cavaliers and 84 on the Spartans.  But it’s the Gators' supposed improved defense that’s deceiving fans.

Holding anyone to 45 points is a remarkable feat, but the fact that it was the Cavs dampens the accomplishment.  Virginia is the 274th-ranked scoring squad in the nation.  It wasn’t the first time they were held under 50 points on the year.

And yes, Norfolk State beat Missouri, but massacring the No. 15 seed isn’t something to call home about.  After all, if Delaware State is capable of holding the Spartans to 50 points, then the Gators should be as well.

Virginia and Norfolk State were two offensively challenged basketball teams that didn’t have a shot against Bradley Beal and company.  Marquette, on the other hand, boasts the firepower to keep up with Florida in a shootout.

Led by Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, the Golden Eagles average 75.9 points per contest, good for 31st in the country.  Unlike the Gators, Marquette is a solid defensive unit as well.  They held run-and-gun Murray State to just 53 points after the Racers averaged 74.2 a game over the course of the season.

Despite Florida’s pair of overpowering performances, Marquette should still be the heavy favorite in their Sweet 16 matchup.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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Lots of people selected the lovable underdogs, Murray State, to pull the upset over Jae Crowder and Marquette.

Once again, Crowder and Co. proved the doubters wrong.

For the second straight game, Crowder easily recorded a double-double, powering Marquette past Murray State and into the Sweet 16. Since second-seeded Missouri was upset, the winner of Florida vs. Norfolk State will face Marquette in the Sweet 16. 

Marquette trailed 46-41 with 7:43 left, but the Golden Eagles turned it on near the end. Davante Gardner heated up, making layups and free throws, and his layup with 5:01 put Marquette up three.

Crowder also contributed, banking in a beautiful floater to cut Murray's lead to one and draining a three from the right wing to put Marquette up three. A Crowder free throw extended the lead to 55-48, and once Murray State got into fouling mode, Marquette sealed the 62-53 victory.

Even though the Golden Eagles shot just 38.2 percent, they were still able to fend off a strong Murray State team. Darius Johnson-Odom scored 17, but he shot terribly from downtown.

When Johnson-Odom is on top of his game, he's a dynamic guard who can drive, shoot and compliment Crowder very, very well. Those two can dominate a game when paired together.

In the Sweet 16, Marquette will either play a seventh- or a 15th-seeded team. Both are strong teams, as Florida has a dynamic duo of guards, but no team is as talented as Marquette. 

Marquette has played Norfolk State twice this season, winning both. In the first game, Crowder shut down Kyle O'Quinn, and he and Johnson-Odom dominated the Spartans, winning 99-68. In the second game, Crowder and the Eagles struggled, but held on for a close victory. 

Norfolk State has O'Quinn, who could create an interesting matchup with Crowder. Pendarvis Williams and Chris McEachin are good guards, but neither is as talented as Johnson-Odom. Norfolk State's defense isn't as strong as Marquette's, which held Murray State to 31.3 percent shooting.

The Spartans would create some matchup problems with Marquette, but the only reason they beat Missouri is because the Tigers have no size down low. Crowder and Jamil Wilson give Marquette that size, which should benefit the Golden Eagles greatly.

If Florida won, the Gators could give Marquette problems if they shot well, but Crowder would flat-out dominate down low. Either way, I see Marquette advancing to the Elite Eight, where they would likely play Michigan State.

It's pretty clear that Draymond Green carries the Spartans, and if Michigan State faced Marquette, it would be a great matchup between Green and Crowder. However, Michigan State has no one to match Johnson-Odom's ability, which would create problems for MSU.

I'd expect the Golden Eagles to cruise by Michigan State if this game happened.

If Marquette played Louisville, I'd expect Marquette to win as well. The teams split their two meetings this year, with Crowder struggling both times. However, Johnson-Odom has found success against the Cardinals.

Overall, I think Marquette is the strongest team left in their region. Both Johnson-Odom and Crowder will have opportunities to shine during the remainder of the tournament, and both can carry Marquette to the Final Four.

And both will carry Marquette to the Final Four. 

Murray State and Marquette will battle for a spot in the Sweet 16 on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are coming off comfortable opening-round victories, which should set up a terrific Round of 32 clash.

The Racers endured a shaky first half against Colorado State before taking control after the break en route to a 17-point win. They should feel great about the game because it's hard to imagine the Racers playing much worse, but they still managed to advance with relative ease.

Marquette torched BYU for 49 first-half points to build a sizable lead and then put it in cruise control for the second half. Four players scored at least 10 points, further illustrating the Golden Eagles' depth. They'll need to spread it around in what's setting up to be a close game on Saturday.

Where: KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

When: Saturday, March 17 at 5:15 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Listen: WNBS 103.7 FM (Murray State) or ESPN Radio 540 AM (Marquette)

Betting Line: Marquette -4.5

Key Injuries (via USA Today)

Murray State: No injuries to report

Marquette: Chris Otule (out, knee)

What's At Stake?

The NCAA tournament is plain and simple. Whoever wins will advance to the next round while the loser's season comes to an end. There are no computers setting up future matchups or meaningless bowl games to end. Win or go home.

Murray State wants to prove its 31-1 overall record is no fluke. The Racers did go 4-0 during the regular season against fellow tournament teams, including victories over Memphis and Saint Mary's, so the Golden Eagles can't take them lightly.

Marquette is also battling for respect. Despite finishing second in the Big East, the Golden Eagles have flown under the radar during the tournament buildup. A deep run would ensure they don't get ignored for much longer.

What They're Saying

Murray State guard Donte Poole said his team is out to prove something to casual college basketball fans who likely don't know much about the Racers, according to Colin Fly of the Associated Press.

"We don’t want to just be here to be here," said Poole, a senior All-OVC first-team selection. "We want to win games. Even though we’re a 6 seed, if we play someone higher or lower we still play like underdogs. We feel like we have a lot to prove to our fans and the people who have never seen us."

Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel passed along some thoughts from Cougars head coach Dave Rose about the all-around ability of Jae Crowder:

"That's a tough assignment," said BYU coach Dave Rose. "The toughest thing is, when you crowd him on the perimeter, he can get right by you. Then when they don't play through him, he is so aggressive on the weak side, trying to rebound the ball.

"The best way you probably could play him is not let him touch the ball. I would say ... good luck."

Most Important Player to Watch: Jae Crowder (Marquette)

If Crowder can garner that type of admiration from an opposing coach, you know he's a special player. The Big East Player of the Year is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and, perhaps most impressively, more than two steals per game.

Murray State doesn't have a player who can match up with him, so it will have to rely on a combination of Ivan Aska and Edward Daniel to slow him down. The Racers won't be able to stop him completely, but they can't allow him to dominate the game like he did on Thursday.

The magic numbers will be 20. When Crowder has reached or exceeded that point total throughout the season, Marquette is 12-1. When he doesn't, the Golden Eagles are a more modest 14-6.

Key Matchup: Isaiah Canaan vs. Darius Johnson-Odom

Canaan represents the heart of Murray State. So, it's no surprise the Racers struggled to find any offensive rhythm when he struggled in the first half against Colorado State. He can't afford to have any off nights or Murray State will be heading home.

The pressure isn't nearly as high on Johnson-Odom, who has more depth to protect him in case he struggles, but he's still a vital piece. The senior guard leads the team in scoring and is its main deep threat. He's also improved on the defensive end since arriving at Marquette.

Whichever guard is able to generate more opportunities early will give his team the edge. It should be a tremendous matchup, and certainly one worth tuning in to see.

Prediction

Marquette 71, Murray State 68

The Big East continues to be dominated by Syracuse basketball, but we will all know who Marquette is by the end of the conference tournament, and we will fear them. 

We have been told all week that the Big East is Syracuse, and then a bunch of programs that are just trying to vie for second place. 

That's some big talk when we all know full well that this is the time of year for upsets. The regular season is just a nice little warm-up to the pressure cooker of the Big East tournament and the subsequent big dance in the NCAA tourney. 

Syracuse is as deep as they come and have just one lone misstep to speak of, but Marquette is a battle-tested program that has been playing a solid brand of basketball all season. 

And it's time we woke up. 

Marquette comes in as the No. 9 team in the nation and will have a bye until Thursday night. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and had one giant hiccup in their loss to Cincinnati, but a reprieve of sorts when they closed out the season against Georgetown. 

Marquette plays an exciting brand of ball that includes a great wealth of passing and sharing of the rock. If there is one team to watch for entertainment purposes, you couldn't do much better. 

But they are more than show, because this team can ball and houses two of the better players entering tournament season. 

I love Jae Crowder and what he gives Marquette in a big man that can hit the boards and score, but you want a point guard that can deal with enormous pressure. 

Marquette has precisely the player this tournament demands in Darius Johnson-Odom. He is the reason I have Marquette pegged for a stirring weekend of basketball at Madison Square Garden, and a dark horse to do some tremendous damage deep into March. 

Johnson-Odom can ignite at any moment, filling the stat sheet with points. Marquette will live or die by his hands, and I have confidence this is his time to shine. 

This month breeds superstars. By the end of it we will know exactly who Johnson-Odom is, and we will certainly recognize Marquette as one of the top programs in the nation. 

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The Marquette Golden Eagles are the number two seed in the Big East tournament thanks to the play of their most dangerous player Jae Crowder. With a record of 14-4, Crowder and Marquette are in prime position to capture their first Big East title.

Crowder is a forward at 6'6" and 235 lbs. While he may lack height in getting rebounds or posting up, that doesn't stop him from become a force in the paint, as he averages 7.9 rebounds per game. However, Crowder has more to his game than just physical presence.

The Marquette senior is very versatile. Not only does he have the capabilities to get the tough rebounds, he can also step back and hit a three-pointer. He is a 36 percent shooter from downtown, which makes him a double threat. Defenders can't give him space or he can beat you with a three. If the defender plays him tight, he can drive to the lane and draw contact and go to the foul line.

What makes Crowder stand out above his Marquette teammates as the most dangerous player is his defense. He averages 2.4 steals and one block per game. He has just as much determination on the defensive side of the ball as he does on offense which is hard to find in players.

When Crowder doesn't have the ball in his hands he is still the most dangerous player on the court. He works very well off the ball and always finds the right spot to be in. Crowder is excellent at screens and helps his teammates get open looks. He is also good at rolling to the basket to get himself open for an easy basket or get in position for an offensive rebound.

Crowder does not have the greatest talent in the world. However, he does have intelligence. He always knows where he has to be and is very efficient with the ball. During transition opportunities, Crowder always sprints up the court and gets in the paint for an easy basket. In college basketball, having the will to win separates players from each or put them on equal terms with more talented players.

Crowder is rare talent in college basketball. He is a great scorer who also does the dirty work for the team. He does whatever he has to do to win and never gives up. That is what makes him the most dangerous Golden Eagle. He has too many ways he can beat you. As the Big East tournament gets under way, keep your eye on Crowder and what he does for Marquette.

It has been four years since the Marquette Golden Eagles won on their senior day.

Each year, players such as Wesley Matthews, Dominic James, Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler have dealt with the frustration and pain of losing their last home game in college. However, when Marquette (No. 8 AP/No. 7 USA Today) hosted the Hoyas of Georgetown (No. 11 AP/No. 12 USA Today) on Saturday, seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder set out to change all that, and change it they did.

The Golden Eagles hounded Georgetown, scoring 24 points off 14 turnovers and got to the free-throw line 45 times. The star duo of forward Crowder and guard Johnson-Odom combined for a total of 43 points with Crowder pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds along with recording five steals. With his 17 points in Saturday's game, Johnson-Odom has scored in double figures in every game he has played in this year, save the game against West Virginia two weeks ago when he was suspended for the first half.

Crowder's stat line of 26 points, 14 rebounds and five steals against the Hoyas may win him Big East Player of the Week honors for the third week in a row. 

With this 83-69 victory, Marquette finished the season undefeated at home in Big East play, locked up second place in the conference and finished with its best record (14-4) in Big East play since joining the conference in 2005.

The Golden Eagles' success this season is directly linked to the play of their two incredible seniors in Johnson-Odom and Crowder. Their leadership and stellar play this year has won them All-Big East first-team selections and placed both of them as front-runners for the Big East Player of the Year Award. Johnson-Odom leads the team and ranks second in the conference in scoring with 18.3 points per game while Crowder ranks third in the Big East and second on the team with 17.6 points per game. Crowder also ranks second in the Big East in steals, averaging 2.4 a game.

Marquette's tenacious transition offense and two star seniors have made the team a legitimate contender for the Big East Championship and dark horse candidates for a Final Four run. With Crowder being well known for causing matchup problems and Johnson-Odom being a consistent double-figures scorer, the tandem has led the Golden Eagles to a place among college basketball's elite.

Marquette also received good news with the entrance of forward Davante Gardner into the game on Saturday. Even though the big man's knee was still giving him some trouble, Gardner scored eight points and recorded eight rebounds in just 15 minutes of playing time. Gardner's scoring ability gives Marquette yet another weapon down low, and Marquette coach Buzz Williams no longer has to lean on forward Jamil Wilson, who has played well in Gardner's absence, to play big minutes and risk getting fatigued.

Another strong sign of Marquette's game is that the team can win games despite a lack of three-point shooting efficiency from time to time. Golden Eagles teams of the past few years have sometimes lived and died by the three ball, but after going just 2-of-12 from behind the arc against Georgetown, Marquette showed it is less reliant on outside shooting to win games, thus signifying it as an offensively balanced basketball team.

On the defensive side of the ball, Marquette presses opposing teams and forces them to turn the ball over using its speed to make up for its lack of size. The Golden Eagles use their trapping defense to generate their offense, which causes opposing teams to commit bad fouls while trying to slow down Marquette's players. The Golden Eagles lead the Big East in visits to the charity strike with 750 free-throw attempts.

With a balanced and potent offensive attack, a strong defensive press and fantastic senior leadership, there's no doubt the Golden Eagles are special. This team is the deepest the program has been in years, and from the starters to the bench, everyone contributes and everyone plays hard. In front of a sea of gold and blue, Marquette made its loyal fans proud and sent its seniors off the right way.

There is still more basketball to be played, but the Golden Eagles will be ready to dance, make no mistake about that.