TSP Bracket: Robert Jackson vs. Travis Diener

6. Robert Jackson (2002-2003) vs. 11. Travis Diener (2004-2005)

The case for Jackson: Dwyane wade cast quite a shadow in Milwaukee, but Jackson did a lot of the dirty work to get Marquette to the Final Four. He had eight double-doubles, including 24 points and 15 rebounds in the famous Elite Eight Kentucky game. He shot 56 percent from the field, an impressive 78 percent from the free throw line and was a monster on the glass. He was the prototypical center and big body that all teams need to advance in the NCAA Tournament, making his season one of the best the Golden Eagles have seen in the last decade.

Jackson’s 2002-2003 statistics

The case for Diener: Oh, what could have been. Were it not for Diener’s season ending ankle injury, this performance would be even higher on the list. When he went down, the Fon du Lac native was leading Conference USA in scoring, finishing the campaign by averaging 19.7 pts, 7.0 ast, 3.9 reb. Although out of contention for an NCAA bid, Marquette went into a tailspin when he underwent season-ending surgery, finishing 1-4 in his absence.

Diener’s 2004-2005 statistics