Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Connor Wilson

Mar 2, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and guard Trey Alexander (23) celebrate a basket against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and guard Trey Alexander (23) celebrate a basket against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Olivier-Maxence Prosper Marquette Golden Eagles (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper Marquette Golden Eagles (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

9. Marquette Golden Eagles

Projected Starters

G: Kam Jones

G: Tyler Kolek

F: Zach Wrightsil (Loyola New Orleans)

F: Olivier-Maxence Prosper

F: Oso Ighodaro

In the first year under head coach Shaka Smart, the Golden Eagles exceeded expectations and went to the NCAA Tournament as a 9-seed.  They finished the season with a 19-13 record and went 11-8 in conference play. Unfortunately for them, they ran into eventual regional champions North Carolina in the Round of 64 and got blown out, ending their magical season.

Marquette was led by All-Big East forward Justin Lewis who averaged 16.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG. Guard Darryl Morsell came in from Maryland and averaged a career-best 13.4 PPG. Both Lewis and Morsell are no longer with the program as Lewis declared for the NBA Draft and Morsell is out of eligibility. That’s a lot of production for what was the youngest team in the conference last year to replace.

The projected starting lineup averaged just 26.2 PPG combined at the Division 1 level and just 44.9 PPG total. Guard Kam Jones is the highest returning scorer followed by fellow backcourt mate Tyler Kolek. In the frontcourt, Oso Ighodaro served as a backup last year and will jump into a starting role this season. Olivier-Maxence Prosper has potential to be one of the best breakout players in the nation and NAIA Loyola New Orleans transfer Zach Wrightsil averaged over 18PPG last year.

So, will the Marquette Golden Eagles return to the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23? Probably not. The pieces are there, but there is no clear star like Lewis last year and Coach Smart will have to figure out who fits in which role. The Golden Eagles will pull off their fair share of upsets, but regression seems imminent.

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