Dominic James News

Wisconsin will look for Keaton Nankivil to step up against Marquette as the Badgers try to rebound from their loss to UWGB.

Despite Sidney Lowe's offseason plans to have NC State push the tempo more this season; the Wolfpack offense has looked anything but fast-paced through its first six games.

The Big East was supposed to take a hit - a major one. UConn lost three starters, Marquette watched its three guards graduate and Providence was decimated by graduation as well.

That the Marquette Golden Eagles have advanced to face the Florida State Seminoles in the championship game of the Old Spice Classic at 6:30 p.m. Sunday night probably comes as a surprise to many, considering the team's lack of experience and depth.

Buzz Williams was wrong, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind admitting that. During an interview Wednesday in Orlando at Marquette's practice before the start of the Old Spice Classic, Williams said his Marquette squad was the worst team in the tournament.

After boasting what was arguably the best play of any conference last year, the Big East was expected to take a step back in 2009-2010. However, in early season play, the Big East has shown that it has just as much fire power as last year.

Last year ended. The players he felt closest to were gone. At Marquette, it was the end of an era with four-year starters Dominic James , Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews graduating, it left Hayward with a bunch of guys who hadn't played much before.

Buzz Williams and Marquette received some great news at the end of Wednesday nighta s early signing period, as Illinois point guard Reggie Smith signed his letter of intent to play for the Golden Eagles.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in his first start at Marquette, leading the Golden Eagles to an 85-62 victory over Centenary on Friday night.

Buzz Williams has his work cut out for him this season. Published Nov. 13, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. Tags: marquette , buzz williams , golden eagles , big east Buzz Williams didn't have to give much thought to his starting five in his first year as head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Perhaps a thank-you note is in order -- one addressed to former Marquette standout Dominic James.

In his second career start, senior guard David Cubillan filled the boxscore with 12 points, nine assists and four steals.

MILWAUKEE - Soft-spoken Lazar Hayward has been thrust into the spotlight. If Marquette is going to do anything beyond the putrid projections, Hayward must carry the scoring load for the Golden Eagles, become a vocal leader and teach nine underclassmen who've never logged a significant minute how to win in the formidable Big East.

MILWAUKEE - Marquette coach Buzz Williams made a promise to his young team this season.

For anyone needing a Butch Cassidy/Sundance Kid who-are-these-guys kind of fix, the Al McGuire Center was the place to be Wednesday.

Georgetown expects to challenge for the Big East title. And it's obvious with the turnover of rosters that Pitt and Louisville should drop out of the top two slots from a year ago to make room for a contender that finished in the bottom six last season.

I am not exactly talking about Marquette Madness Friday night. Sure the slam dunk contest will be fun to watch and it will be neat to see all the new players scrimmage.

Ask second-year Marquette basketball coach Buzz Williams if he is a tough self-evaluator and he'll tell you "extremely." Ask him how his coaching performance in his team's 25-10 season last year held up to his self-evaluation, he gets aerobic on you.

Perhaps no adage is more universally known than that of "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Thankfully for unsigned free agents and unproven rookies, the NBA preseason consists of more than one game.

St. Francis - Milwaukee Bucks forward Kurt Thomas , in his 15th season in the NBA and with his seventh team, has been around several kinds of training camps.