In the comedy classic “Wayne’s World,” Alice Cooper famously described Mil-e-wauk-eh as “what Native Americans called ‘The Good Land.’” Whether applying to the Greek Freak or Shaka Smart’s squad, the description most definitely applies to the local hoops scene.
The Golden Eagles own sharpened talons and are fully prepared to claw their way to Glendale, no matter the draw. But how far will they go?
The wager ...
Marquette Golden Eagles advance to Final Four (+450, DraftKings)
Examining the overall landscape, they’re one of 10 teams, per KenPom, that rank top-25 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Going beyond the superficial, they’ve also performed well away, evidenced by their 8-5 record in road-neutral affairs to date. Yes, one of those games came against dungeon dweller DePaul, but with marquee road/neutral triumphs against Illinois, Kansas, St. John’s and Villanova, Marquette has handled business against several notable opponents.
Balanced, experienced and poised, the Golden Eagles have the makeup of a deep-run contender.
Digging deeper, Marquette showcases a dynamite backcourt. Tyler Kolek is arguably the smoothest point guard in the country. His ability to drive, create and finish is downright seductive. Through Feb. 29, he ranked top-3 nationally in assist rate while also slashing 53.2 percent from two, 40.0 percent from three and 88.0 percent from the stripe. With Kam Jones, who nets over 40 percent from distance, operating as a stellar flank, the 1-2 punch is often lethal.
Also, balling big man Oso Ighodaro, sharpshooting wing David Joplin and defensive ball hawk Stevie Mitchell add upside. They each are a major reason why Marquette ranks top-12 nationally in both two-point percentage offense and turnover percentage defense.
Candidly, sizable frontcourts do present a problem (No. 200+ in off/def rebounding percentage), and Ighodaro must stay out of foul trouble. Still, with the right draw and given their sensational guard play, the Golden Eagles could sip on prickly pear margs (hey, they’re an older team!) in Arizona come March.
Though the above number has sliced nearly in half since mid-February, Marquette remains a highly investible potential Final Four participant.