Big East Basketball: Each team’s worst performance of the last decade

By Joey Loose | Oct 24, 2018

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

6 of 11

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 30: Rakeem Christmas #25 and James Southerland #43 of the Syracuse Orange fights for position against Chris Otule #42 of the Marquette Golden Eagles during the East Regional Round Final of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center on March 30, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /

Marquette

March 30, 2013 (Syracuse 55, Marquette 39) (GS: 44)

Since riding to the 2003 Final Four on the back of Dwyane Wade, things have been good and not great for Marquette. There have been a few down years, but there were also seven NCAA Tournament wins from 2011-2013. The Golden Eagles are currently led by former Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski, a man who has bigger plans for this team than just a single NCAA appearance in his first four years. There could be brighter days ahead, but for now let’s focus on what almost was.

Ten years after that great run, Marquette found themselves on the doorstep of another Final Four back in 2013. They had powered through Big East play impressively, winning big games at home, while dropping understand road games to teams like Georgetown, Villanova, and Louisville. They earned a 3-seed, led all season by Vander Blue and Davante Gardner, and made it through Davidson, Butler, and Miami to make the Elite Eight, where a winnable game with 4-seed Syracuse awaited.

Marquette didn’t get completely destroyed, and while they may have had worse all-around efforts in other games, to only put up 39 points in an Elite Eight game (not against Virginia) is unacceptable. Blue and Gardner both had 14 points, but nobody else contributed, and Blue shot very poorly (3-15 from the field). Subdued by the Orange defense, Marquette lost the turnover battle (14 to 6) and put themselves in a hole early, down by 11 already with six minutes to go in the first half. They would not lead after that point, despite many chances in a low-scoring affair.

As I mentioned, it’s entirely true that Marquette wasn’t completely blown out, but this performance when it literally mattered most was very disappointing. In the five years since this game, the program has a new coach and just one Tourney appearance, showing just how fleeting these types of games can be, even for power conference teams. Wojciechowski can get this team back here; it remains to be seen if it happens.

Home/Big East