Marquette Golden Eagles - C-
After a disappointing finish to the 2024 season falling in the Sweet 16 to NC State, they looked to bounce back this past year considering they would be returning a majority of their roster. Of course, things would not go to plan as they would lose to New Mexico in the first round of the NCAA tournament. With a good number of key players leaving, there are a lot of questions to be answered about next season's roster.
Shaka Smart has always done things differently than most, as this will mark the 4th year in a row where he picked up 0 transfer commits. Smart believes it is crucial to keep the same players in the programs and get new players for the recruiting scene. Some of the players that will be returning next season include, Chase Ross, Ben Gold, Jonah Lucas, Casey O'Malley, Caedin Hamilton, Royce Parham, Damarius Owens, Zaide Lowery, and Tre Norman. With developmental potential, this team could be a big surprise next season.
In the high school scene Smart was able to pick up 4 commits, all ranging between the 70-110 rankings on 247 sports. Those players being Adrien Stevens, a 6-4 guard from Potomac, Maryland, Nigel James, a 6-0 guard from Glen Head, New York, Michael Phillips, a 6-6 forward from Raleigh, North Carolina, and Ian Miletic, a 6-7 forward from Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
Even with a solid recruiting class and a good amount of returners, this team just doesn't seem to be the best built roster. With a lack of star power and severe lack of size once again this team could definitely struggle as other Big East schools keep taking steps in the right direction.