Marquette News, Ray Mernagh

MARQUETTE GETS IMPRESSIVE EARLY WIN

Golden Eagles beat Xavier in first round of Old Spice Classic, ranked Michigan up next

by RAY MERNAGH

Marquette‘s 71-61 win over Xavier was a really big early-season win for Buzz Williams’ “rebuilding” Golden Eagle squad (who came up with 11 steals in the contest) against an X team that committed 20 turnovers and only 10 assists.

Three things to compare/contrast from the game.

1. The “Star” watch: Marquette’s Lazar Hayward got 27 points on 22 shots (9 makes) and got to the free throw line 8 times in his 31 minutes for 5 makes while cashing in 4 of 7 times from deep. X’s Jordan Crawford managed only 9 points on 20 shots (4 makes) and only got to the free throw line twice in 30 minutes while shooting 0-3 from deep. My take: Crawford, on a day when he wasn’t hitting, still jacked up 20 shots. Jason Love was working on a monster night that should have been even more monstrous? Love was 9-11 on the block, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds (8 offensive) 2 assists and 5 blocks — yet he only shot 11 times. Love should’ve seen the ball much more.

2. Secondary Acts: While Crawford was busy jacking his center, Jason Love, was working on a monster night that should have been even more monstrous? Love was 9-11 on the block, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds (8 offensive) 2 assists and 5 blocks — yet he only shot 11 times. Love should’ve seen the ball much more with his work-rate so high — he also made all of his (3-3) free throws. Marquette’s Jimmy Butler was an efficiency machine, scoring 15 on 4-5 shooting while getting to the line 10 times for seven makes. Butler also grabbed six rebounds, handed out an assist, ripped the ball twice and had 4 blocks.

3. Bench Effort: Marquette won this battle handily — 3-1 if you will. Mo Acker played 25 minutes and put up 11 points on 4-6 shooting with 4 assists and 5 steals. Dwight Buycks grabbed 7 boards and dished for 3 assists while making half his shots (2-4) and even Jerrone Maymon grabbed 5 rebounds, had 2 assists, a block and a steal in 16 minutes. X’s Mark Lyons was their only real help off the bench, hitting 2 of 3 three-pointers on his way to 11 points. Brad Redford only got 13 minutes and it seems continues to be seen as only a specialty-type-player (three-point threat) by X. One wonders if Redford might have been better served playing at the MAC or Horizon level, where his other skills might be utilized a bit more? He’ll always be a dead-eye shooter, but he’s capable of other things as well.

Shooting-wise Marquette enjoyed a huge advantage thanks to their offensive game of attacking on the dribble and moving the ball from side-to-side quickly and attacking again or getting open looks. The philosophy paid off big-time with 27 trips to the line vs 11 for X. The Golden Eagles shot 58% from three (7-12) and 45% overall. X was 5-17 from three and shot 36% overall.

Marquette goes again this afternoon against Michigan.

“It was a short celebration,” Buzz Williams said in a text message, “we will have our hands full this morning as soon as we arrive at the gym.”

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