Coach Shaka Smart said he is excited about his new-look yet veteran-savvy Marquette team ahead of the No. 18 Golden Eagles’ season opener Monday against Stony Brook in Milwaukee.
“A big part of that (transition) is getting our guys better,” Smart said at Big East media day last week. “Taking guys that played support roles around Tyler Kolek and also (Oso) Ighodaro and helping them grow into guys who can play larger roles this year.”
Smart enters his fourth season at Marquette having compiled a 75-30 record. The team is fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time in 11 seasons, finishing 27-10 (14-6 Big East). Marquette’s stellar season saw a second straight trip to the Big East tournament championship game, losing to eventual national champion UConn, 73-57.
Turning the page, Marquette returns vital pieces.
These include senior guard Kam Jones, named to the preseason All-Big East first team, along with fellow senior guard Stevie Mitchell. Jones helped guide the Golden Eagles’ offense, averaging 17.2 points per game.
Smart said he wants to see Jones take the next step toward becoming an NBA-caliber player.
“I’m gonna give you guys something no one really knows (about Jones), all right,” Smart said. “He’s a better passer than you think. So, you’re gonna see this year a more dynamic playmaker in Kam Jones.
“You got a little bit of a sneak peek of it when Tyler (Kolek) was out last year. Remember, he missed six games in the conference tournament and the regular season prior to that. (Jones) had 30 points and nine assists at Xavier in our last regular-season game, and that kind of gave you a sense of, âThis guy can score and distribute at the same time.'”
Meanwhile, despite not having the paint presence as a prolific scorer, Mitchell has contributed productive minutes in every game over the past two seasons. This included a free-throw percentage of 76.6 percent while shooting above 50 percent from the field last year.
Stony Brook is coming off a 20-15 (10-8 Coastal Athletic Association) season, falling short of an NCAA Tournament bid after an 82-79 overtime loss to top-seeded Charleston in March in the CAA championship. This preseason, the conference coaches projected Stony Brook would finish ninth in the 14-team CAA.
Entering the season opener, Stony Brook brings a plethora of experience. Eight upperclassmen make up a deep roster under coach Geno Ford, who is entering his sixth season.
Last year, now-senior guard Andre Snoddy was a bright spot for the offense. His best statistical game saw him score 17 points on 8-of-19 shooting and grab 11 rebounds in an 80-74 loss to Hofstra on Jan. 22.
The game is part of the Marquette Challenge multi-team event, featuring George Mason and Central Michigan to round out the Golden Eagles’ first three opponents.
