Wisconsin News and Sports
Markus Howard File Photo – Courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Markus Howard poured in 37 points on Saturday afternoon to lead the Marquette Golden Eagles to a 92-59 win over Bethune-Cookman at Fiserv Forum.
Howard hit 10-of-16 from the field, including 7-of-10 from distance to go along with eight rebounds and five assists as the Golden Eagles improved to 2-0 on the season.
Marquette committed 22 turnovers, but held Bethune-Cookman to 29% shooting (20-69).
Allazia Blockton – File Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics.
The Marquette women’s basketball team has been picked by the league’s coaches, along with DePaul as co-favorites in the Big East Conference this season. Both teams finished tied atop the Big East last season with 15-3 records.
Four women’s players were selected to the preseason All-Big East team, led by senior guard Allazia Blockton, who was voted the preseason Conference Player of the Year.
Blockton averaged 19.1 points a game last season. Seniors Natisha Hiedeman, Amani Wilborn and Erika Davenport were voted to the All-Big East squad.
The Marquette men were picked to finish second behind Villanova in the Big East men’s preseason poll. Villanova has been the favorite for five straight seasons.
It’s the highest preseason projection for the Golden Eagles since they were tabbed as favorites to win the Big East before the 2013-’14 season.
Junior guard Markus Howard was named to the men’s preseason All-Big East first team. He averaged 20.4 points a game last season. Teammate Sam Hauser was a second-team pick after he averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds a game last season.
Senior Andrew Rowsey – Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics.
Marquette’s post-season run ended in the N.I.T. quarterfinals, falling 85-80 to the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Al McGuire Center on Tuesday night.
Senior Andrew Rowsey poured in 29 points in his final game with the Golden Eagles. He ends the year with 716 points, surpassing Dwyane Wade’s 710 points recorded during the 2002-03 Final Four season. He also tied a season-best with six 3-pointers to move him past Steve Novak (121 in 2005-06) into first in Marquette single season history with 125 triples.
Markus Howard added 21 points for the Golden Eagles (21-14) while Sam Hauser finished with 13 points.
The Nittany Lions (24-13) will face either Mississippi State or Louisville at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 27. They advanced to the NIT semifinals for the first time since winning the 2009 tournament. Penn State is now 6-0 in N.I.T. quarterfinal games.
Andrew Rowsey – Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics
The Marquette Golden Eagles advanced to the NIT quarterfinals with a 101-92 win over Oregon on Sunday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.
Andrew Rowsey poured in 29 points and Marquette (21-13) led by as many as 25 before the Ducks used full court pressure to close the gap in the fourth quarter. Rowsey scored 22 of his 29 in the first half, tying his own career high with six 3-pointers in the first two frames.
Markus Howard added 18 points but fouled out, along with Matt Heldt and Sacar Anim.
Freshman Greg Elliott and Theo John added 13 and 10 points, respectively. MiKyle McIntosh had 25 to lead the Ducks (23-13).
The Golden Eagles will host Penn State in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night at the Al McGuire Center. The Nittany Lions advanced by knocking off top-seeded Notre Dame.
Markus Howard – Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Despite 17 turnovers and a struggling offense, the Marquette Golden Eagles survived and knocked off Harvard 67-60 in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament.
With the two teams struggled while playing under new NIT rules, including a longer three-point line. They collectively combined to shoot 18 of 53 from the field while committing 18 turnovers.
Marquette led 27-21 at the half, then pushed their lead to 19 in the fourth quarter. Harvard was able to then cut the lead to five at 65-60, large in part to Marquette turnovers.
Markus Howard had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (20-13), who advance to the second round against Oregon at the Al McGuire Center on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Andrew Rowsey added 15 and Sophomore forward Sam Hauser was held to four points on 2-of-5 shooting. He was in foul trouble throughout and played just 15 minutes.
The Golden Eagles hit 7 of 16 three pointers from the longer distance of 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches.
AUDIO: Steve Wojciechowski said it’s a big game for his team :14
AUDIO: Steve Wojciechowski on Marquette’s defense :20
AUDIO: Markus Howard says they didn’t want their season to end :22
Steve Wojciechowski – File Photo (Courtesy of Marquette Athletics)
Marquette’s NCAA Tournament hopes took a big hit on Thursday night when they fell to Big East power Villanova 94-70 in New York.
Jay Wright became the winningest coach in Villanova history with 414 wins (414-165).
The Wildcats (28-4) took control in the second half as they shoot for their third Big East Tournament title in four years. Mikal Bridges hit four three-pointers and scored 25 points. Big East player of the year Jalen Brunson added 21 points. The Wildcats hit 15 of their 29 three’s, including 11 of 17 in the second half.
The Golden Eagles (19-13) got 23 points from Markus Howard and 22 from Andrew Rowsey in the loss.
Marquette will now sit and wait to see if their record, as well as the strength of the Big East Conference will be enough to get them into the NCAA Tournament. It would seem unlikely, but the Golden Eagles will stay prepared for whatever postseason tournament comes calling.
“I believe we’re an NCAA Tournament team,” Coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “But that’s not something I get to decide on. I think our team has had a really good year, especially considering our youth. And I think our team is capable of winning games in the NCAA Tournament.
Villanova moves into tonight’s Big East semifinals against Butler.
Markus Howard – File Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Marquette’s top scorer Markus Howard is doubtful for Wednesday’s rematch against St. John’s at the Bradley Center. Howard suffered a right hip contusion on the Golden Eagles 90-86 win over Creighton on Saturday night in Omaha, Nebraska.
Howard is averaging 21.3 points a game, which ranks second in the Big East behind St. John’s guard Samorie Ponds (21.6 ppg).
Howard was hurt when he was fouled by Creighton’s Toby Hegner on a drive to the basket late in the first half. He landed hard on his right side and stayed on the floor for several minutes. Howard was helped off the court and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
If Howard can’t play on Wednesday, it’ll be the first time he will have missed a game this season.
Marquette (15-11, 6-8 Big East) kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive with their win at Creighton. Now they have to keep it going against St. John’s (14-11, 3-11) when the two teams hook up for the second time this season.
St. John’s won the first meeting 86-78 on February 10. Andrew Rowsey led the Golden Eagles with 34 points in the loss.
The Marquette Golden Eagles ended their four-game losing streak, knocking off Seton Hall 88-85 in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
The Golden Eagles (14-10, 5-7 Big East) swept the season series from the Pirates (17-7, 6-5).
Markus Howard led the way with 32 points. Forward Sam Hauser scored 16 points and 10 rebounds as five Golden Eagles scored in double figures.
Marquette held Seton Hall center Angel Delgado to 11 points and seven rebounds.
Marquette plays at St. John’s on Saturday. The Red Storm won its first Big East game of the season on Wednesday night, upsetting number-one Villanova 79-75. St. John’s (1-11 Big East) also knocked off Duke last Saturday.
Markus Howard – Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics.
The boos came early and often on Wednesday night as the Marquette Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 30 points on their own home court before finally falling to the Butler Bulldogs 92-72 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The only thing that slowed the booing was many fans heading for the exits midway through the second half.
The loss for Marquette (13-9, 4-6 Big East), means they have little margin for error in terms of securing a second straight NCAA Tournament bid.
Butler (16-7, 6-4) captured the season series from the Golden Eagles, holding Marquette to 5 of 18 from beyond the arc.
Markus Howard found his shooting stroke again, finishing with 26 points, but fellow sharp shooting guard went scoreless, missing all six of his shots. Sophomore guard Sacar Anim added a career high 15 points.
Marquette is back home on Saturday when the Golden Eagles will face Providence.
Markus Howard (file photo) – Courtesy of Marquette Athletics
The Marquette Golden Eagles had 9-days off between games. But the well rested Golden Eagles struggled defensively and fell to No. 8 Xavier 89-70 on Wednesday night in Cincinnati.
Sophomore guard Markus Howard scored 33 points on 14-of-27 shooting, but no other Marquette player was able to hit double figures. Senior guard Andrew Rowsey entered the game averaging 21 points a game but scored just six on 2-of-9 shooting. Sophomore forward Sam Hauser suffered a hip injury late in the first half and played just three minutes in the second, finishing with five points.
The Musketeers (19-3, 7-2 Big East) shot 55.6% from the field and had five players score in double figures. Xavier scored 51 points in the first half when they made 57.6% of their shots.
Meanwhile, Howard scored 24 of the teams 33 points in the first half, hitting 11 of 18 from the field for Marquette (13-7, 4-4). But Howard had a streak of 66 straight made free throws dating back to last season, come to an end. Steve Novak holds the program record at 68.
Now the Golden Eagles have to regroup for a matchup against top-ranked Villanova on Sunday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
