Marquette Golden Eagles. (Midwest).

WHEN THEY'RE ROLLING

Marquette is best when it is dictating tempo--running with outlet passes or off turnovers and draining the shot clock when necessary. The Golden Eagles like to create action on the perimeter that opens creases for Travis Diener or Dwyane Wade to drive through. Steve Novak's 3-point shooting is important because it makes opponents pay for overcommitting to Wade and Diener. Marquette likes to switch defenses to see how opponents react, but its base defense is a help-intensive man-to-man.

WHEN THEY'RE STRUGGLING

The defense can break down, in part because Diener isn't strong enough to guard the ball hard and Wade isn't always passionate about defense. If neither Robert Jackson nor Scott Merritt is effective offensively--or both are in foul trouble---the offense can be too dependent on Wade and teams can blitz him. It has been a while, but there have been days when the top perimeter shooters have been cold. The Golden Eagles need to hit 3s to open up the inside game.

Starting five

[Sizzling] G Dwyane Wade, Jr. His quickness and leaping ability are phenomenal. Wade is an exquisite passer, plays unselfishly and can be elite defender.

[Sizzling] G Travis Diener, So. He pushes the ball in transition, is composed beating the shot clock with jumpers and does a ...