Though the only way to tolerate the Memphis and South Florida games last week was with the help of a stiff drink, the men's basketball team is in a position to make some noise in Conference USA with two very winnable games this weekend versus DePaul and Charlotte.
Tonight the team travels to Chicago to take on DePaul at the Allstate Arena.
The Golden Eagles beat the Blue Demons at home last season, but at the Allstate Arena DePaul made 29 trips to the free throw line while cashing in on 62.1 percent of those to earn a 84-78 victory. There's no shot in basketball easier to make than a free throw (unless you're Shaquille O'Neal) and having a team score 18 times at the free throw line makes a huge difference.
This is a perfect opportunity for the Golden Eagles to take advantage of last weekend's win one, lose one performance.
The distance between DePaul's campus and the Allstate Arena rivals the distance between Dennis Rodman and the ordinary world. The Blue Demons never seem to have a solid cheering section because of that distance and the Allstate Arena is easily the closest road game the Golden Eagles will play all season. Marquette basketball fans travel well, and a win on the "semi-road" would be a great confidence builder for the team after last season's loss.
Charlotte then comes to the Bradley Center on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off versus Marquette.
Currently the 49ers own a 12-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in C-USA, but judging by their competition so far this season, it is not a surprise that their RPI is 93. After losing to the 49ers last year on the road, a win on Saturday would help the Golden Eagles towards establishing themselves as a true conference power.
The match-up on Saturday is an interesting one because Charlotte and Marquette, entering Wednesday night, rank respectively at two and three in C-USA in 3-point field goal percentage. Charlotte is also tops in the conference in terms of its opponents' 3-point field goal percentage, limiting opposing teams to shoot only 27.6 percent behind the line.
If the Golden Eagles are able to work the ball inside, they should have no problems scoring, seeing that the 49ers are 10th in C-USA in opponent's field goal percentage.
After the pattern of games last weekend, Marquette should be used to playing on Thursday and coming home for a game on Saturday.
No excuses can be made about a burn-out or something similar to that because they return home on Saturday, and it always feels good to get home, even if you live in my house.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Jan. 20 2005.