Two exhibition games give a one-eyed glimpse into the future, but the regular season is when both eyes are open. Friday's game versus Rice will give you a Lasik look at the men's basketball team.
Look at how the team handles itself under the rim. In their first two games the Golden Eagles were out-rebounded by both Michigan Tech and Wisconsin-Whitewater, and head coach Tom Crean has emphasized an improvement on the boards for the regular season. Both opponents recorded over 15 offensive rebounds in the two games, and shots do not always fall with ease. Marquette must limit Rice's second-chance opportunities Friday night.
Look at how often the Golden Eagles apply full-court pressure to Rice. This is an extremely athletic team that created 43 turnovers in the exhibition games and can run with anyone. The mischief they can create on the defensive end could result in easy baskets for the Golden Eagles.
The defensive chaos has also created a number of deflections for the team.
Marquette defenders got their hands on the ball in Whitewater's first three possessions in the first half, all of which forced Whitewater to reset its offense with the shot clock showing fewer seconds with each inbound play.
It's not exactly "Where's Waldo," or even "Where's Wild-O," but look at where Dan Fitzgerald is on the court. He played four positions against Whitewater, and it will be interesting to see where Fitzgerald plays the bulk of his minutes.
Look at how long it takes the Golden Eagles to take a shot. Last season's offense was all dribble and pass but not enough shooting. The team has not rushed shots this season, but they have made it a goal to get their shot off quicker.
Another area of interest is the amount of playing time the three star freshmen — Dominic James, Jerel McNea and Wes Matthews — get. In the first two exhibition games Crean has given them the keys to the ride, and all have played at least 26 minutes in each game.
The Golden Eagles dominated in the paint, out-scoring their opponents 72-24 with damage being done by James and Matthews getting into the lane and finding junior Jamil Lott down low. Rice offers a bigger post challenge than Michigan Tech or Wisconsin-Whitewater, and getting into the lane might be easier planned than executed.
If anything, watch this team with realistic expectations. A youth infusion creates a lot of excitement but with that comes a lot of unknowns and mistakes.
This team will be fun to watch and will win some games they shouldn't while dropping some they are predicted to win, thus making for a season of mystery, which is a season worth enjoying.