Marquette played an inspired game tonight against Syracuse and defeated their Big East brethren to earn their 14th Sweet 16 in school history and their first since Tom Crean's Warriors went to the Final Four in 2003.
The final score read 66-62 and it was every bit that close for most of the contest. Syracuse jumped out to a 7-0 lead and lead by as many as 10, but Marquette fought back to tie the game at 21-21. The remainder of the contest saw 11 lead changes in this back and forth affair.
With the game tied 59-59 and under a minute to go, the Warriors got a huge break as Syracuse failed to in-bound the ball properly and committed an over the back infraction. MU ran a play and freed up DJO for the biggest three pointer in his life with 27 seconds remaining in the game. It was golden. Syracuse attempted to answer with a three of their own, but Scoop Jardine's shot was errant. MU salted the game away with four critical free throws from Junior Cadougan and Jae Crowder.
DJO led MU with 17 points and Jae Crowder chipped in 16. MU's defense forced Syracuse into 18 turnovers.
Marquette is now on it's way to New Jersey to play the North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday night.
ESPN Game recap
Box Score
Update the data capsule!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere are all the Buzz haters? It's awfully quiet in here.
ReplyDeleteHuge win! Got to watch it with my brother in the ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney.
I have based Buzz all year and I believe at the time he absolutely deserved that criticism. The close games were evidence of him being out-coached. Do you have a problem with being critical of a program?
ReplyDeleteLet me be clear though NO ONE WANTED TO SEE MARQUETTE FAIL. I am glad to see Buzz improving. I would rather have him succeed than fail because that mean's we're winning.
Make no mistake however, no Buzz critic should apologize. The evidence was there and I will not blindly root for a team.
That being said, I am thrilled with going to the Sweet 16. These guys are playing with tremendous heart and defensive prowess we have not seen all year.
*bashed Buzz I should have said.
ReplyDelete