Mascot: Bulldogs
Conference: SWAC
13-14 Record: 14-16
13-14 RPI: 269
13-14 KenPom: 301
14-15 Record: 1-6
14-15 RPI: 271
14-15 KenPom: 343
Coach: Willie Hayes (3rd Season)
Probable Starters:
PG: Rakiya Battle: 5-10 180 SO, 5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, 0.9 spg, .500 3P
SG: Tyler Davis: 6-2 180 JR, 3.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.4 spg, .231 3P
SF: Ladarius Tabb: 6-5 190 JR, 13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.6 spg, .343 3P
PF: Baryn Houston: 6-7 190 JR, 3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.0 apg, 0.0 spg, .067 3P
C: Nicholas West 6-10 190 JR, 12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 bpg, .267 3P
Probable Bench:
Justin Colvin: 6-3 190 JR SG, 4.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.6 spg, .222 3P
Michael Hutchins: 6-6 205 JR SF, 2.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.6 bpg, .273 3P
Adrian Edwards: 6-4 195 RSSO SG, 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.1 apg, 0.6 spg, .000 3P
Isaiah Cotton: 7-0 295 JR C, 1.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.5 bpg, .000 3P
Matthew Cotton: 5-10 185 RSSO PG, 1.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.3 spg, .250 3P
Probable Benchwarmers:
Zachary Jackson: 6-4 205 FR SG
Arthur Wade: 6-4 190 RSJR SG
Marcus Merriweather: 6-1 185 SO PG
Jacob Perry: 5-10 180 RSJR PG
Green Hill: 5-10 175 SR PG
Cezanne Carson: 6-6 180 FR SF
Jordan Dingle: 6-2 180 FR PG
Quinterian McConico: 6-8 235 JR PF
Xavier Willaims: 6-8 205 SO PF
Morris Tipton: 6-6 210 FR SF
The Game Plan: To put it bluntly, this is the worst club that Marquette will see all season. Alabama A&M was picked to finish last in the SWAC, behind the likes of Grambling State. They lost every starter from last season and are the very definition of a rebuilding low-major. On offense the Bulldogs struggle at both shooting and taking care of the ball. They shoot .255 from three and average about 17 turnovers a game. Expect a healthy dose of high pressure man to man from Marquette. With as successful as Marquette has been at forcing turnovers, we could see 25+ from the Bulldogs. AA&M’s best players are Center Nicholas West and Wing Ladarius Tabb. Both are the only two players on the team who average double digit points. West is 6”10 but at 190 lbs is vastly undersized for the position. After handling Eric Jacobsen in his debut, Fishcer should have no trouble matching up with West. Tabb is the only consistent three point threat for the Bulldogs, having gone 12-35 on the season. AA&M will often use four guard lineups where Tabb is forced to play the PF position. Juan Anderson, a top 100 defender in the nation per value add, should be able to take him out of commission. Not only does AA&M give up a lot of turnovers, they don’t force many either. The much quicker Golden Eagles should have no trouble getting to the hoop.
Best Case: The Bulldogs can’t hold onto that ball. Juan and Jajuan are terrors on the defensive end as they combine for 8 steals. Marquette gets run out after run out and we see a couple of #juantojuan alley oops. Fischer uses his vastly superior size to clear out plenty of room under the hoop, allowing Duane to drive at will. Even Derrick finds a way to get a couple of easy buckets. Marquette coasts to an easy 30+ point victory.
Worst Nightmare: Marquette overlooks the Bulldogs and comes out flat. Rather than driving to the hoop, the Golden Eagles settle for jumpshots that rattle off the rim. The Bulldogs drive right at the Golden Eagles and get a ton of favorable foul calls. Steve and Luke end up in foul trouble quickly and have to stay out most of the game. Facing an undersized center, Nicholas West is able to get some offensive rebounds and easy putbacks. Despite this, the Golden Eagles still end up with a double digit victory.
Final Predication: 79- 54 Marquette
Paint Touches 