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Big East Basketball: Building each program’s Mount Rushmore

By Brian Foley

KEYSTONE, SD - OCTOBER 01: Mount Rushmore National Memorial towers over the South Dakota landscape on October 1, 2013 near Keystone, South Dakota. Mount Rushmore and all other national parks were closed today after congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job. A bulletin issued by the Department of Interior states, 'Effective immediately upon a lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service will take all necessary steps to close and secure national park facilities and grounds in order to suspend all activities ...Day use visitors will be instructed to leave the park immediately...' (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
KEYSTONE, SD - OCTOBER 01: Mount Rushmore National Memorial towers over the South Dakota landscape on October 1, 2013 near Keystone, South Dakota. Mount Rushmore and all other national parks were closed today after congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job. A bulletin issued by the Department of Interior states, 'Effective immediately upon a lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service will take all necessary steps to close and secure national park facilities and grounds in order to suspend all activities ...Day use visitors will be instructed to leave the park immediately...' (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – MARCH 11: The Marquette Golden Eagles mascot cheers on the court during a game against the St. John’s Red Storm during the second round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – MARCH 11: The Marquette Golden Eagles mascot cheers on the court during a game against the St. John’s Red Storm during the second round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) /

Mount Golden Eagle

Marquette History: 1977 National Champions, 2 Final Fours, 4 Elite Eights, 10 Sweet 16’s

G Butch Lee (1974-78)
Stats: 15.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists

On Marquette’s 1977 National Championship squad, Lee posted nearly 20 points per game and was named a second-team All-American and the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. As a senior in 1978, Lee diversified his game with improved passing and scoring efficiency, and captured the AP Player of the Year award. Lee was also a member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 1980 NBA title team.

HC Al McGuire (1964-1977)
Record: 295-80 (.787 winning percentage), 9 NCAA Tournament appearances

McGuire lifted the Marquette program to new heights during his memorable 13-year-run with the then-Warriors. He led his teams to two Final Fours in the 1970’s, including the 1977 National Championship in his final year of coaching. McGuire was known for fashion and flair on the sidelines, and his teams were no different. Marquette celebrated its lone title over 40 years ago, but ‘AL’ is still prominently displayed on the team’s uniforms today.

G Dean Meminger (1968-71)
Stats: 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists

Before his No. 14 was hanging in the rafters at Marquette, Dean “The Dream” Meminger did it all on the court. As a freshman and a junior, Meminger led his teams to the Elite Eight and Sweet 16, respectively. During Meminger’s sophomore season, Marquette was ranked No. 8 in the nation when the team was invited to the NCAA Tournament. Al McGuire, unhappy with his team’s regional location, famously declined the bid and took his team to the NIT. En route to the 1970 NIT title, Marquette defeated Julius Erving’s UMass squad, as well as “Pistol” Pete Maravich and the LSU Tigers. Meminger was named tournament MVP.

G Dwyane Wade (2001-03)
Stats: 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.3 blocks

Wade lit up Milwaukee in just two seasons, taking home a Conference USA Player of the Year award and guiding Marquette to its third Final Four appearance in 2003. One of Wade’s most iconic performances was his 29-point triple-double in the win over Kentucky in the 2003 Elite Eight. Wade was a consensus first-team all-American in ’03, and has since tacked 12 NBA All-Star nods and 3 NBA titles on top of his illustrious resume as one of the greatest shooting guards ever.

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