NCAA Basketball: Alabama, Duke, Marquette rise in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
9. Marquette (6-0)
Things are coming together once again this season for the Golden Eagles and maybe that’s not a big surprise. Shaka Smart’s crew brought back a lot of talent from last season and might just have a team that can challenge UConn for supremacy in the Big East. The early returns have been great this season and that certainly ramped up this past week.
Marquette got their best victory of the young season on Tuesday, beating a Top 10 Purdue team 76-58. The defense turned in a great performance while Stevie Mitchell had 21 points alongside a 17-point, 13-rebound effort from star Kam Jones. The Golden Eagles then headed to Bahamas for a date with Georgia, winning that contest 80-69 on Saturday. David Joplin was the breakout star this time around, scoring 29 points.
Marquette didn’t add a transfer in the offseason but they really didn’t need that boost. This is a veteran and experienced lineup that knows how to play and win together. Different Golden Eagles star on different nights and this kind of talent can go a long way this season. After three straight power conference wins, Marquette gets an easier holiday week, with just Stonehill and Western Carolina coming to town.