For the third straight season, Marquette basketball has advanced to the Sweet 16. Ohio State, Kansas, and Florida are the only other programs that share that distinction. Unlike the Buckeyes, Jayhawks, and Gators though, the Golden Eagles have been unable to take the next step and get to the Elite 8. Thursday night versus Miami FL, MU will try to pass the test and get over the hump.
Follow paulmbanks#3 Marquette vs. #7 Florida: everything you need to know
For the second straight season, Marquette has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. While last year’s run was somewhat unexpected as an 11 seed, this year’s Golden Eagles were expected to do some damage as the third seed in the West Regional. Thursday evening in Albuquerque, Buzz Williams‘ team will match up with Billy Donovan and the seventh seeded Florida Gators with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.
Follow paulmbanksMarquette Advances to the Sweet 16
“This team?” a friend asked me just minutes after Marquette sealed a third round NCAA Tournament victory against Syracuse to earn their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2003. Yes, THIS team.
Not the Golden Eagle group led by the Big Three of Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal, and Dominic James that suffered heart-wrenching second round losses in back-to-back years (Damn you Brook Lopez. Damn you ref who called Lazar Hayward for stepping over the line on that inbounds pass.) Not last year’s overachieving bunch that earned a six seed and just seemed poised to make a run but were instead upset in the opening round by Washington.
THIS team that lost 14 games, finished as the 11th seed in the Big East Tournament, and frustrated the hell out of me far too often this year is one of sixteen teams still standing in the Big Dance.
By: David Kay
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