NCAA Basketball: Duke, Michigan State fall in latest top 25 power ranking
By Joey Loose
3. Marquette (2-0)
Shaka Smart’s squad really turned a corner last season, winning the regular season title in the Big East amidst a fantastic campaign. While not everyone is back this year, reigning Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek leads a talented and experienced lineup that looks like a favorite in the conference yet again.
In their first outing of the year, the Golden Eagles took care of business against Northern Illinois, getting a 92-70 victory against the Huskies. Kam Jones had a 20-point performance in the win while Kolek added 14 points. There was even less drama for their second game a few days later, securing a 95-65 win against Rider. Jones led the way again on offense with 23 points while Oso Ighodaro had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Their offense has shined as needed in the opening week of the season. Marquette won a lot of games last season with great offensive play and Jones is already playing inspired ball two games into the season. Obviously, significantly tougher tests await in the weeks to come, starting next Tuesday with a road contest at Illinois. Expectations are high from Marquette this season, but how exactly will the Golden Eagles fare in the weeks to come?