Hunched over in his courtside seat, forearms resting easily on his thighs, junior guard Dominic James watched from the bench as the game started without him.

For the first time in his collegiate career, James was not a member of the starting lineup. James' right wrist was coated in a black brace, a token during Monday night's 71-57 loss to Louisville of the trying season it has been for Marquette's star attraction.

Marquette head coach Tom Crean said James spent a majority of the day at Student Health Services battling the flu and that James took in four or five bags of IV fluid while there.

"It hurts when you've got a player (out) like (James), who does so much for your team," said junior guard Wesley Matthews. "But there's no excuse for the way we started."

James entered the game with 14:28 remaining in the first half, his team trailing by six to a hot-shooting Louisville squad. But unlike in the past, when James was the player his coaches and teammates counted on to provide that spark, that swagger, that will to pull the Golden Eagles back above water, he proved to be little more than a regular part.

In 18 minutes, James scored eight points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field. He made 1-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. "He came, and he tried," Crean said. "He keeps working. He's been dealing with the injury. He's dealing with being sick right now."

A month ago, James injured his right wrist in a win at home against Seton Hall. He scored 13 points that night. He has scored more than 10 points twice in seven games since then.

James re-injured the wrist during a 71-51 loss to Louisville Jan. 17. On the season, James is averaging 13.0 points per game, third highest on the team.

Monday night, James did not seem to be limited by the injury. It was his typical swagger that was missing.

"No question he wasn't feeling well, but he came out for his team," Crean said. "We just didn't do enough."