Marquette Madness has come and gone. The season is so close, we can taste it. Marquette fans know who we will battle but might not know anything about our future opponents. To remedy this, Paint Touches is taking an in depth look at each of Marquette’s opponents, both conference and non-conference, to see what we have to look forward to. These will be released in order of what Paint Touches believes to be the easiest matchups to the toughest. The creamiest of cupcakes all the way to the most unbeatable of opponents. Next up is Marquette’s second regional opponent in the Legend’s Classic, IUPUI.
Opponent: IUPUI
Mascot: Jaguars
Conference: Summit
14-15 Record: 10-21 (6-10)
14-15 RPI: 260
14-15 KenPom: 286
Coach: Jason Gardner (2nd Season)
Date: 11/16/15
Location: BMO Harris Bradley Center
Departures from 14-15:
P.J. Boutte: Starting PG: 22.9 mpg, 5.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.0 bpg, 2.1 tpg, .324 3P%
Khufu Najee: Starting SG: 23.6 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.7 tpg, .273 3P%
DavRon Williams: Starting C: 23.3 mpg, 8.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.7 bpg, 1.4 tpg, .000 3P%
Josh James: 4th off bench: 12.8 mpg, 3.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.5 bpg, 1.0 tpg, .000 3P%
Elijah Ray: 5th off bench: 11.2 mpg, 4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.0 bpg, 1.1 tpg, .333 3P%
Justus Stanback: 6th off bench: 8.8 mpg, 2.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.2 bpg, 0.7 tpg, .000 3P%
Jalen McCallum: Benchwarmer: 5.5 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 0.1 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.0 bpg, 0.5 tpg, .500 3P% (only appeared in 11 games)
48% of Scoring, 52% of Rebounding, 47% of Assists, 45% of Steals, 75% of Blocks, 33% of 3PM
Arrivals:
Darell Combs: Transfer PG from Eastern Michigan
Nick Osborne: Transfer PF from Loyola (IL)
Matt O’Leary: Transfer PF from Loyola (IL)
T.J. Henderson: 2 star PG, ranked #468 by 247sports
Evan Hall: 2 star SF, unranked
Noah Thomas: 2 star PF, unranked
Jordan Pickett: Transfer PG from Loyola (IL)
Grant Sinn: 2014 2 star SG, unranked (coming off redshirt)
Probable Starters:
PG: Darell Combs: 6-2 195 RSJR: 15.1 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.0 bpg, 1.5 tpg, .324 3P% (13-14 stats for Eastern Michigan)
SG: Mason Archie II: 6-5 185 RSSR: 24.7 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.0 bpg, 1.6 tpg, .314 3P%
SF: Marcellus Barksdale: 6-5 210 RSSR: 32.0 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.2 bpg, 2.2 tpg, .255 3P%
PF: Matt O’Leary: 6-8 225 RSJR: 20.1 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.5 bpg, 1.8 tpg, .216 3P% (13-14 stats for Loyola [IL])
C: Nick Osborne: 6-8 230 RSJR: 17.7 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.4 bpg, 1.1 tpg. .214 3P% (13-14 stats for Loyola [IL])
Probable Bench:
D.J. McCall: 6-6 190 SO SG
Aaron Brennan: 6-6 225 SO SF
T.J. Henderson: 6-0 160 FR PG
Leo Svete: 6-5 190 RSSO SG
Evan Hall: 6-7 200 FR SF
Probable Benchwarmers:
Noah Thomas: 6-9 235 FR PF
Jordan Pickett: 6-1 185 RSSO PG
John Hubler: 6-5 185 SO SG
Grant Sinn: 6-2 180 RSFR SG
Quick and Dirty Analysis: IUPUI is one of the regional games for the Legend’s Classic that Marquette is partaking in early in the year. Coach Jason Gardner was left with a pretty bare cupboard in his first season on the IUPUI bench. He filled that void by bringing four transfers who had to sit last season, three of which he lured away from his last head coaching gig at Loyola (IL). All four transfers were bench players for their former squads but put up some decent efficiency numbers. Combine that with the lower level of competition in the Summit and a year off to develop, three of those should be starters for the Jaguars this season. Nick Osborne and Matt O’Leary are a pair of 6”8 forwards who will add some much needed height in the front court. Their addition will allow Marcellus Barksdale, IUPUI’s best player from a season ago, to stop playing as an undersized four and start playing on the wing, where he is his most effective. This is not a team that can shoot the lights out, most of their scoring will come from slashing on the wing and easy buckets in the post.
If there is a team this season that is going to play the role of Nebraska (Omaha) for Marquette, it is IUPUI. IUPUI managed to play a lot of good teams tough last season and the four transfers have had an entire year to develop and get used to what Coach Gardner wants to see on the court. I think Marquette will manage to avoid any Omaha like upsets this season. IUPUI lacks depth in the frontcourt and both of their starting forwards were foul prone at Loyola (IL). The twin towers of Ellenson and Fischer should make short work of them while carrying Marquette to the win.
Early Prediction: IUPUI hangs around for awhile before running out of gas in the second half. Marquette wins by 10-15.
Paint Touches 