Busting Brackets
Fansided

Marquette Basketball: Reviewing 2019-20 non-conference schedule

By Brian Foley

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Theo John #4 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Theo John #4 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – NOVEMBER 26: Andrew Kostecka #10 of the Loyola (Md) Greyhounds shoots the ball over Khyri Thomas #2 of the Creighton Bluejays during their at the CenturyLink Center on November 26, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – NOVEMBER 26: Andrew Kostecka #10 of the Loyola (Md) Greyhounds shoots the ball over Khyri Thomas #2 of the Creighton Bluejays during their at the CenturyLink Center on November 26, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

Nov. 5 vs. Loyola (MD)

Last Year: 11-21 (7-11 Patriot)
NCAA Tournament: No
2019-20 Projection: 163rd

For the second straight season, Marquette will kick off its season at the Fiserv Forum against a Baltimore area school (UMBC in 2018-19). Loyola (MD) is not as grabby of a headliner as the Retrievers were coming off their UVA upset, but the Greyhounds should be more useful to MU’s team sheet than UMBC was a year ago.

Loyola ranks 10th in the country in returning minutes entering the season, including All-Patriot first-teamer Andrew Kostecka. The Germantown, Md. native averaged 21.3 ppg last season on 52 percent shooting in 2018-19. Kosteka is listed at 6-foot-4, and is a capable three-point shooter, but he absolutely lives at the rim. Nearly half of his attempts came at the basket last season, where he shot a mind-blowing 68 percent.

His drives will be a test for MU to handle on the perimeter, but center Theo John will be the key to limiting Kosteka’s production. A few early John blocks could force Kosteka away from the paint, though the Loyola guard could certainly open the door to the basket if he puts John in early foul trouble.

Guards Chuck Champion and Isaiah Hart are also back for the Greyhounds, who combined for 20.8 ppg last year. But Loyola’s size deficiencies – a trend which will continue into 2019-20 – could murder any upset hopes it has. Opponents thoroughly dominated the Greyhounds on the offensive glass last season, and found any shot they wanted both in the paint and beyond the arc. This could be the ideal season opener for Marquette, as they face a team that should be a competitor in the Patriot League, but whose porous defense will allow the Golden Eagles to find a groove to start the campaign.

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