ESPN Men's Basketball

WASHINGTON -- A few thoughts from Marquette's 71-61 victory over Miami in an East Regional semifinal Thursday:

Overview: Marquette had played on the edge for two rounds of the NCAA tournament, fortunate to win against Davidson and Butler.

The Golden Eagles were due to bust out with a comfortable victory. But who knew it would come against the ACC regular-season and tournament champs?

Miami had been in a few grinder games earlier this season, against Michigan State and Virginia. But the Hurricanes were not prepared for Marquette's toughness, aggressive behavior on the backboards and overall punishing ability to make shots, grab rebounds and convert.

This was over early, as No. 2-seeded Miami scored just 16 points in the first half and never seriously threatened in the second.

Third-seeded Marquette moves on to the Elite Eight for the first time since Dwyane Wade led the Tom Crean-coached Golden Eagles to the Final Four in 2003.

Miami finishes its best season ever at 29-7 -- but two games short of the ultimate goal. The Hurricanes tried to dismiss the importance of losing Reggie Johnson to a knee injury after Sunday's win over Illinois. Yet they could have used Johnson to help keep Marquette off the backboard, or at least contribute his five fouls.

Nevertheless, the Golden Eagles (26-8) were clearly no fluke in tying Georgetown and Louisville for the Big East regular-season crown. This team might not have had the early-season hype or star power, but once again it has shined with developed headliners like Vander Blue and Jamil Wilson and plenty of tremendous role play from Trent Lockett, Chris Otule and Junior Cadougan.

Turning point: I'm going early here. Davante Gardner spun and converted to put the Eagles up 10-4; Blue then pushed the lead to 12-4 nearly eight minutes into the first half. Miami was having a hard time getting more than one shot per possession. Blue then buried a step-back 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer for a 29-16 lead. The Canes were thoroughly clueless offensively, going 1-of-11 on 3s and 6-of-29 from the field before intermission.

Star of the game: It's a bit of a draw between Blue and Wilson. Blue made big shots and finished with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting, but Wilson was also a difference-maker for Marquette as he led all scorers with 16, along with eight boards. Wilson converted timely 3s and found the seams in the defense to convert around the basket. He also had three blocks late into the second half -- one of them an emphatic, message-sending delivery. Miami had the style and the flash with the neon sneakers. But substance won over any kind of fashion statement on this night. This was a good evening to be a member of the new Big East.

What's next: Marquette can stay in D.C. for the Easter weekend, can go watch the school's men's lacrosse team take on Georgetown on Friday, and enjoy what has been a wonderful ride for the unheralded but well-respected Golden Eagles. Fourth-seeded Syracuse will await Saturday.

WASHINGTON -- Reggie Johnson is replaceable.

But his gregarious personality may be hard to duplicate.

Johnson suffered through the losing seasons at Miami, and has been there during this season's sudden surge. And then, after Sunday's victory over Illinois -- a game that had propelled the second-seeded Hurricanes (29-6) to the Sweet 16 and on the path toward a potential first Final Four -- the school announced that Johnson was out again due to a knee injury.

Johnson’s role had been diminished a bit of late; he was held scoreless with five boards in 18 minutes against the Illini.

Still, his absence is significant.

His knee injury is severe enough that Johnson was told he couldn’t play this week, so the decision was made for him to undergo surgery, with the chance that he could return, maybe, for the Final Four.

But Johnson couldn’t travel -- and his absence was felt in the Hurricanes’ locker room Wednesday at the Verizon Center.

"It affects us on and off the court," said Miami point guard Shane Larkin. "He is a huge part of our team. He’s been supporting us. He talks to us and tells us to stay calm. He’s that type of player that would do anything for the team. Even though he’s not here, he can help us fight through adversity. He’s had the experience."

Johnson missed December's Diamond Head Classic with a thumb injury. So the Canes have experience playing without him, and while they lost to Indiana State and Arizona in Hawaii without their big man, they might be able to move a bit better offensively.

Still, against a physical team like No. 3 seed Marquette (25-8), the Canes could use an immovable force inside such as Johnson, especially if the game gets into the half court.

"We know this is going to be physical and Coach told us to prepare for a street fight," Miami senior Kenny Kadji said. "There are no rules for a street fight. We can be a physical team. Me and Julian [Gamble] and Tonye [Jekiri] are pretty big. We’ve seen a game like this before against Michigan State and did a great job of controlling the paint."

Still, Kadji concedes Johnson will be missed.

"People think twice before coming in the paint [with Johnson]," he said. "It will be different. Our guards will have to rebound. You can’t replace a guy like Reggie."

Kadji said Johnson was there to do the little things, and to push people out of the way and not allow drives to the basket.

"He could take charges and do all the little things," Kadji said. "It’s very sad, very sad for him. He’s been here five years and seen the highs and lows at Miami. It’s unbelievable that he can’t even travel. It’s hard. It’s motivation for us to get two wins to get to the Final Four."

Marquette’s Davante Gardner, who will now need to chase Kadji more on the perimeter than hunker down in the post, said he was unaware that Johnson would be out, but it still wasn't his main focus.

The Golden Eagles simply need to concentrate on getting over the Sweet 16 hump, something they haven’t been able to do the past two seasons.

That’s Marquette’s quest. Miami is on a path of its own, to continue a magical season the Canes are hoping won’t end because Johnson isn’t available.

"It’s definitely tough not having him here," Miami senior Durand Scott said. "Him not being here will motivate us. It’s hard not to see him out on the court. He’s a leader for us. But we’ll go out there and play as hard as we can to win."

 
Andy Katz talks to Marquette forward Davante Gardner after Marquette squeaked out a victory against Butler to advance to the Sweet 16.

 
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- They are joined now, linked in this new Big East conglomerate that will start play next season.

And they are becoming so similar.

They are doubted. They aren’t feared at all.

Butler and Marquette have become synonymous with playing on the edge. It’s how Butler’s Brad Stevens and Marquette’s Buzz Williams coach.

Neither side tends to blow anyone out. Rarely does either get run out of a gym. Butler has had its moments this season, against VCU most notably. But they are more rare than common.

And so it was not surprising that, with a Sweet 16 bid on the line, this game -- like their meeting in Maui in November -- would come down to one final shot.

Butler couldn’t convert. Marquette won, 74-72.

“In our last eight games decided by one possession or less we’re 6-2,’’ said Williams. “We’re just good enough not to get blown out and not good enough to blow an opponent out. The quicker we can turn it into a fight, the better. If it’s a fight, then it’s going to be a one- or two-possession game.’’

The third-seeded Golden Eagles needed a Davidson turnover to get a second chance to win in the round of 64. Vander Blue made a driving layup to win that game, the same shot, though from a different side, that he hit to knock off St. John’s at Madison Square Garden to earn a three-way share of the Big East regular-season title.

“I think we’ve played more one-possession games than any team in the BCS,’’ said Williams. “We give too many teams extra possessions.’’

The NCAA tournament has mostly been kind to Butler since 2010. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs have experienced some incredible highs and one painful low -- until Saturday.

Two years ago, the Bulldogs beat a Pittsburgh team they should not have to advance. Two shots, not just one, didn’t go down in one of the most memorable finals in the past 10 years in a loss to Duke at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2010.

On Saturday, Stevens sat slumped in a chair outside the Bulldogs’ locker room, his head leaning back against a post. He was exhausted. He had seen the other side so often.

This is the cruelty of the NCAA tournament. You can have the unbelievable emotion one second only to feel agonized a moment later.

“The Pitt game was miserable for them, the Duke game was miserable for us,’’ said Stevens. “It all evens out over time. Our guys played really hard. We have nothing to hang our heads about. We ran into a team that played at a high level, especially in the second half.’’

Both teams made their share of mental mistakes to leave the game hanging on the final possession.

The final five seconds were about as harried as possible.

Marquette’s Davante Gardner had put the Golden Eagles up by four with four seconds remaining with a pair of free throws.

This happened after Butler’s Rotnei Clarke took a Marshall Henderson-like deep 3-pointer when he wasn’t closely guarded and the Bulldogs were only down two. The ball barely nicked the net.

Stevens said he had no problem with the shot since Clarke had done so much for Butler this season, and added that Clarke had a “neon-green light.’’

Then, for some reason after the Gardner free throws, Jamil Wilson attempted to block -- but ended up goaltending -- an Andrew Smith bucket to pull the Bulldogs to within 74-72 with two seconds remaining.

And then Marquette pulled a Davidson and messed up the inbounds pass. The ball went out of bounds; possession, Butler.

Down two, with two seconds left, Butler had a shot to tie or win.

Marquette did a great job preventing Clarke from getting the ball. Stevens said the play was on him. He had a play if Marquette went to a 2-3 zone and one if it went man. But the players didn’t recognize the defense and got confused.

Roosevelt Jones inbounded the ball to a leaning Smith, who stumbled, and hurled up an errant 3-pointer. Smith crumpled to the floor. His career over. Jones sat on the floor, too, before Williams helped him up after going through the handshake line.

Both teams were exhausted. Coming down the hallway to the locker room, Blue said he was sore. He was beaten up from a brutal game.

“If you don’t go at that team then they’ll hurt you,’’ said Blue, who finished with 29 points. “They play defense similar to Wisconsin. They’re not a shot-blocking team. You have to get to the basket and if you do you can be successful.’’

Blue said as Clarke’s 3-pointer was in the air, he had a flashback to the Maui Invitational game.

“I was like, ‘Please Rotnei, don’t make this one.’ I knew he was going to shoot it,’’ said Blue. “He’s a great player. But this is how we like it. Nobody ever panics, and it’s in our character, with all the hard work we put in this year. We wouldn’t like it any other way. We put it out there. There is something incredibly special about this team.’’

Williams amazingly still had energy after the game. He has had quite a week.

He got to Lexington and had to take his wife, Corey, to the hospital for what turned out to be appendicitis. He had two of his four children with him here in Lexington, but, luckily, had family with him to help. He spent Tuesday and Wednesday night in a Lexington hospital by Corey's bedside.

“My wife has been in the hospital in Lexington for over half our stay here,’’ said Williams. “It’s been a crazy, crazy four days in Lexington.’’

Corey was released from the hospital and is recovering. Williams was waiting to see if she could fly home Saturday night. His two boys, Calvin, 9, and Mason, 6, were with him past midnight by the locker room, wide-awake and thrilled to be going to a third straight Sweet 16.

Williams, much like Stevens, has a team that most doubt, yet never quits and plays possessions like they are valued commodities.

Butler is done for a season. Marquette is moving on. They will meet again in the Big East next season and the scripts will likely be exactly the same.

Player of the Night – Elijah Johnson, Kansas
Johnson scored a career-high 39, handing Bill Self his 500th win. The Jayhawks ended Iowa State’s 22-game home win streak, which was the third-longest in the nation. Johnson scored 30 of those 39 after halftime, and his total is the most by a Jayhawk since Terry Brown had 42 against NC State in 1991. Johnson is just the third Big 12 player with at least 39 points and seven assists in a game, joining Clarence Gilbert and Jaquay Walls. Oddly, all three games came against the Cyclones.

Bench Player of the Night – Davante Gardner, Marquette
Gardner was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and scored a career-high 26 in Marquette’s 74-71 win against Syracuse. The last major-conference player with more points off the bench and a perfect field-goal percentage was Maryland’s Lonny Baxter in 1998.

Stat Sheet Stuffer – Frankie Dobbs, Bryant
Bryant took another step towards the most improved season ever with an 84-68 win against Sacred Heart. The Bulldogs are 18-9 one year after going 2-28. Dobbs finished with 17 points, 10 assists and seven steals. He’s the first player to reach those totals since Dayton’s Kevin Dillard in 2011.

Scorer of the Night – Shane Gibson, Sacred Heart
Gibson poured in 30 points in that loss to Bryant, passing 2,000 points in the process. He’s one of nine active players with 2,000 points, and just the fifth NEC player to ever get there. Since the start of last season, only Doug McDermott and Nate Wolters have scored more points.

No. 22 Marquette held off No. 12 Syracuse, 74-71, to win its 24th straight home game, the second-longest active home winning streak in Division I. Davante Gardner led the way, coming off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, going 7-for-7 from the floor and 12-for-13 from the foul line. He also grabbed eight rebounds.

He's the only player in the past 17 seasons to come off the bench and go 7-for-7 or better from the floor and shoot at least 90 percent from the foul line (min. 10 attempts).

The Golden Eagles played zone defense on a season-high 63.6 percent of its defensive possessions, limiting the Orange to 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) shooting from the 3-point line against the zone. Entering Monday’s game, Marquette had played zone defense just 11.9 percent of the time in the half court this season.

On the other hand, Marquette scored 61 points against Syracuse’s zone, the most the Orange have allowed against their zone defense in a game this season.

Marquette grabbed 55.6 percent of its own missed shots, its highest offensive rebounding percentage in a Big East game in the past five seasons. The Eagles’ 15 second-chance points are the second-most Syracuse has allowed in a conference game this season.

Gardner had 10 of Marquette’s 15 second-chance points, eight of which came off of his own offensive rebounds.

Carter-Williams Couldn’t Create

Entering Monday’s game, Michael Carter-Williams had scored or assisted on nearly 41 percent of Syracuse’s points in Big East games.

He had five assists Monday which led to just 12 Syracuse points, and his 10 assists in the past two games have led to 25 points.

There have been eight times this season when Carter-Williams’ assists have led to at least 25 points in a single game, all Syracuse wins.

Stats to Know

Marquette attempted 28 more free throws than Syracuse and shot almost 83 percent from the line.

Syracuse has lost two straight games against ranked teams -- before then, the Orange were 10-1 since the start of last season against ranked opponents.

Marquette has won 17 straight Big East home games (last losing on March 2, 2011 to Cincinnati) and six straight home games against ranked teams.

Saddle Up is our semi-daily preview of the night's best basketball action. It was really weirded out by Taylor Swift.

No. 24 Marquette at No. 20 Georgetown, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

This wasn't supposed to be a vintage year in the Big East. Vintage, in this usage, is basically synonymous with "brutal"; it harkens to 2009, when the league dominated the landscape for months, staged an utterly awesome Big East tournament, and placed three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament bracket. This wasn't supposed to be that year. This year, the Big East was supposed to be tame.

In some ways, that's true; this league isn't going to be placing three teams on the top seed line come mid-March, that's for sure. But in other ways, the Big East has been much better than anyone expected. Alongside Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, Marquette and Georgetown are the reasons why.

This is primarily because while both teams lost veterans, they've both managed to stay not only relevant but dangerous. Georgetown waved farewell to brilliant passer Henry Sims and fellow senior Jason Clark; Marquette bid adieu to not one but two Big East player of the year candidates in Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom. Both teams were expected to fall off, at least slightly. Instead, both are in the Top 25, and both are playing the type of high-quality basketball that should provide for a fascinating game tonight.

That's because that basketball poses a battle of strengths. Marquette is an offensive team. The Golden Eagles aren't as fast as they were a year ago, but they're playing the most efficient offense in the Big East to date, making 52 percent of their 2s and scoring 1.09 points per trip. Center Davante Gardner in particular has been a revelation. The spread-perimeter offense of a year ago has been rebuilt around the big fella. Georgetown, meanwhile, has frequently played some of the ugliest offense you'll ever see, but they back it up with the type of stifling athletic D that keeps them in games all the season. Forward Otto Porter might be the ideal Georgetown player under John Thompson III; he does everything well.

Whatever the outcome, it is important to recognize that these teams, along with a still-underrated Pitt and a steady Cincinnati have formed a really nice second-tier group in the putatively "down" Big East. It's not all about Louisville and Syracuse anymore.

No. 13 Kansas State at No. 5 Kansas, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

I am not a grizzled veteran of this college hoops writing game. I am actually still kind of young, to the point where there has never been a point in my career wherein I didn't, at least on some level, take Bill Self's Kansas teams for granted.

Last year was the real wake-up call: That's when Self coached his eighth straight KU team to at least a share of the Big 12 title, a streak unmatched not only in other "power six" conferences but in every other college hoops league full stop. The Big 12 is a good league! It has had a lot of pros -- Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Acie Law, Tristan Thompson, James Anderson, Tony Allen, D.J Augustin -- stop by during Self's tenure. And every year Self has won.

That's why it has been so baffling to see these current Jayhawks struggle so mightily. Let's keep it in perspective. In this case, struggling mightily means losing three games in a row, one of which came to a good team at home, one of which came to a good team on the road, while the one in the middle, the loss at TCU, was the product of the worst offensive performance in the history of Kansas basketball. (With the possible exception of Dr. James Naismith's early games against the Topeka YMCA, according to Self's hilarious postgame news conference). Most coaches at most programs see three losses as the occasional unfortunate cost of doing business. At Kansas under Self, three straight losses is cause for a full-fledged existential meltdown.

Is it really that bad? I actually don't think so. Yes, the Jayhawks have had their struggles on the offensive end, and senior guard Elijah Johnson is in a major shooting slump, one that seems to have caused a crisis of confidence. But as SI's Luke Winn pointed out last week, Johnson always slumps this time of year before turning it on in the spring. He'll probably be fine. The offense was atrocious when it played against Kansas State in January, but that felt like more of an aberration than anything else.

If anything, the biggest cause for concern is on the defensive end. The Jayhawks scored 1.11 PPP against Oklahoma State and 1.0 against Oklahoma; they allowed 1.18 to the Cowboys and 1.09 to the Sooners. That's the bigger problem. The Kansas defense is always been its biggest strength this season, and if it suddenly becomes porous for any reason, the Jayhawks suddenly become -- gasp -- vulnerable.

That's why you can't consider a win at Allen Fieldhouse automatic against Kansas State. The Wildcats defend and rebound and grind with the best of them, but in Big 12 play they've actually been the league's best offense, scoring 1.09 points per trip. Bruce Weber goes deep into his bench and spreads minutes around, and all the pieces -- Angel Rodriguez's perimeter ballhandling, Rodney McGruder's scoring, Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez's interior strength -- fit together. You watch K-State play long enough and you start to think of them as a strictly defensive team, but they can really score. And if Kansas wants to avoid a fourth straight loss, and a real statewide freakout, it will have to stop that offense Monday night.

It's going to be a good one.

Elsewhere: I wonder if TCU and Oklahoma are going to get together before the game and swap stories about beating Kansas. Maybe they can make a burn book or something. … The CAA and MAAC are in action, but the real team to keep an eye on is Weber State. Even with former point guard Damian Lillard tearing it up for the Portland Trail Blazers, Weber State is actually better. Does the Ewing Theory apply to the NBA draft?

Coaches love to say that, on any given night, a team can lose. Apparently the Big East would like to make that its motto.

The league has become either strangely unpredictable or woefully unstable, depending on your point of view. What looked like established, solid, top-of-the-conference teams instead went out and lost games they frankly shouldn’t have.

The two constants: Louisville and Syracuse. And they play each other this weekend.

1. Louisville. It’s time for the first Big East showdown of the year -- before the participants become ACC members, that is. The Cards host Syracuse on Saturday, having rolled through their first league games with relative ease.

2. Syracuse. Time to see just how much the loss of James Southerland hurts the Orange. Syracuse got past Villanova without its most accurate outside threat, but it’s a tougher road this week, first at Louisville and then home against Cincinnati.

3. Marquette. The Golden Eagles’ margin of error is miniscule, but they keep coming out on the right side of the edge. That’s more than a lot of their conference brethren can say. Davante Gardner has been very solid for Marquette and should be key this week against Cincinnati.

4. Cincinnati. The Bearcats righted the ship the easy way, beating up on Rutgers and DePaul. Whether or not Cincinnati is truly back on track, however, remains to be seen in the coming week, when it faces Marquette and Syracuse. The good news: UC should have Cashmere Wright, who sprained his knee against DePaul.

5. Georgetown. The Hoyas could be the all-enigma team of the season. Unable to score one night, solid the next. The big question: What will Georgetown be without Greg Whittington, suspended from the team for academics? There’s a good team here if it just develops consistency.

6. Connecticut. There might have been a silver lining in the Huskies’ loss to Louisville: Omar Calhoun finally returned. After three pedestrian games, the freshman had 20 points and four boards. UConn needs that from him to take the pressure off of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright.

7. Notre Dame. Feel free to argue that the Fighting Irish are slotted too low. Then go ahead and explain why a good, veteran team lost to Connecticut at home and then at St. John’s. Notre Dame simply has not played well in the past week.

8. Pittsburgh. Perhaps stubbornly, I still refuse to give up on the Panthers. Their defense is just too good. If only the offense could catch up. Pitt needs to beat Connecticut at home on Saturday to gain some more converts.

9. St. John’s. The Red Storm will rival Georgetown for unpredictability but at least they have a reason -- crazy youth. Steve Lavin has brash talent that isn’t quite sure what to do with itself all the time. But as St. John’s proved against Notre Dame, it will be a threat all season.

10. Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are making progress, albeit in baby steps. Eli Carter's shooting struggles doomed them in a could-have-won game against Cincinnati, but Rutgers at least took care of business against South Florida. Tricky week with Notre Dame and St. John’s on the menu.

11. Villanova. The Wildcats lost twice this week but, if it’s possible, looked slightly better doing it. They put up a fight against Syracuse and matched Pitt’s defensive intensity, good signs for a program that needs some positives. Beating Providence on Saturday would help. Facing Louisville on Tuesday won’t.

12. Seton Hall. It’s almost unfair to judge the Pirates this week. Decimated by injuries, Kevin Willard had all of three subs to choose from in the loss to Marquette.

13. DePaul. It’s the same worn-out tune for the Blue Demons, who are limping through their Big East slate. DePaul has lost four of its past five, dating back to its final nonconference game against Loyola-Chicago.

14. Providence. Bryce Cotton has been terrific since returning from injury, averaging 20.8 points in the past five games. That’s the good news. The bad: The Friars are just woefully inconsistent.

15. South Florida. If the Bulls were playing golf, they’d be fantastic, what with their penchant for low scores. Sadly, this is basketball, and hovering in the 50-point range, as USF has done since league play began, isn’t going to win you a lot of games.

LAHAINA, Hawaii -- Here are some observations from the second day of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

• After dominating Mississippi State on Monday, the North Carolina Tar Heels got a rude wake-up call versus Butler on Tuesday. On Monday evening I wrote: “North Carolina has much more talent, but the Bulldogs are scrappy and well-coached. The Tar Heels are more of a finesse team. The physicality of Butler could give the Heels problems.” That’s exactly what happened. North Carolina was outrebounded 36-27 and Butler beat them to just about every loose ball.
  
  After the game, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams admitted that he had the better players, but Butler and coach Brad Stevens had the better, tougher team. “They were more physical, more assertive and more aggressive,” Williams said. “They're really good. Brad's clubs are really intelligent. I like their toughness and their intelligence more than their talent, and I'm not trying to put down their talent. But I love their toughness and their intelligence.”
  
  UNC clearly has the talent, but does anyone on this team have the toughness the Heels needs to go deep?
  
  Sixth man P.J. Hairston was, for the second night in a row, the best and toughest Tar Heel on the floor. It might be just a matter of time before Williams puts him in the starting lineup.
  
  Most disappointing was forward James Michael McAdoo. In the tourney-opening blowout against Mississippi State, McAdoo was solid on offense, but had four mind-boggling turnovers, prompting Williams to comment after the game that “we can’t throw the basketball around.”
  
  On Tuesday night, McAdoo had seven turnovers to go with his 10 points and five rebounds. Williams isn’t the only one miffed by the performance of his big man.
  
  Most of the NBA scouts and general managers in the audience savaged McAdoo for his performance the past two games. “He looks good in a basketball uniform,” one GM told me. “But after that, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to like. He’s a pretty good athlete, but he isn’t very skilled and he doesn’t go hard all the time. There’s not one thing he does that really stands out about his game. He certainly hasn’t played like a top-five pick.”
  
  
  [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Eugene TannerUNC's James Michael McAdoo, here getting blocked by Butler's Andrew Smith, hasn't impressed NBA observers in Maui.
  McAdoo is currently ranked No. 6 on our Big Board -- but could be in for a drop if he doesn’t start picking it up.
• Illinois continued its impressive run in the tournament with an 84-61 win over local underdogs Chaminade on Tuesday. The Illini got balanced scoring -- Brandon Paul scored 13 points, D.J. Richardson had 11 and Joseph Bertrand 14. The Illini are off to a 5-0 start, but they haven’t really been tested yet. Butler should give them everything they can handle and will be the favorites to win it all after dominating North Carolina. But don’t count out Illinois. The team is playing with a lot more aggressiveness and discipline under new head coach John Groce. It has a terrific backcourt in Richardson, Paul and Abrams and size up front.
  
  A win in the tournament will be a huge boon to the Illini's confidence. They aren’t in the same class as Big Ten elite teams such as Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan or Michigan State, but they, along with Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, may be a very tough outs in the league. I won’t be surprised if the Big Ten gets eight teams into the NCAA tournament this season.
• A number of my tweeps laughed at me Monday when I said that NBA scouts were intrigued by Butler freshman Kellen Dunham. I don’t think they are laughing anymore. Dunham bounced back from an awful game versus Marquette and really put the dagger in the Tar Heels in the second half. He ended the game with 17 points and was 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. He’s still a little tentative and passed up a few open shots in the game, but his stroke is flat-out pure. Dunham isn’t your average mid-major guard. He was ranked as a top-100 player by ESPN and was an NBA camp invitee. Dunham isn’t a one-and-done prospect, but as he continues to get stronger and more confident, he could have a future in the pros after his junior or senior years of college.
• The Texas debacle continued Tuesday with a 59-53 overtime loss to USC. The good news? The Longhorns didn’t get blown out this time and played with more urgency. The bad news? Offensively this team is just a mess. When (or is it if?) the Longhorns get Myck Kabongo back, they’ll be better. But I don’t think he has the talent alone to turn things around. There just isn’t a lot of talent around Kabongo. Sophomore Sheldon McClellan has struggled in Maui, going just 8-for-25 from the field and 1-for-11 from 3. Freshman big man Cameron Ridley was ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the country by ESPN, but he’s looked out of shape and overwhelmed in the early going.It could be a long year, Texas fans.
• Marquette fans, meanwhile, are hoping they have found a go-to scorer in junior Vander Blue. For the second consecutive game, Blue led the team in scoring with 18 points and three assists versus Mississippi State. Blue has always had the talent, but he has struggled with consistency and aggressiveness in the past. What’s different this year? “I'm just playing with a free mind and just playing off my teammates,” Blue said. “Junior [Cadougan] is a great guy, and everybody's going to double Davante [Gardner], so that pretty much leaves me open for shots. So I feel like if I'm making those shots, our team is a much better team. I'm not trying to do nothing that we don't do every day in practice.” Blue’s versatility, toughness athleticism and defense all intrigue NBA scouts. If he can show some offensive prowess as well, he could be a second-round pick.
• There was a moment in time when USC big man Dewayne Dedmon was considered a potential NBA prospect. That time has probably passed. Dedmon has the size and athletic ability to be a pro. But he has no feel for the game. That’s always a problem, but it’s an even bigger problem when you’re already 23 years old. Dedmon had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks against Texas but was just 3-for-11 from the field.
• Butler will face Illinois in the EA Sports Maui Invitational Final on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. North Carolina will play Chaminade in the consolation game at 7:30 p.m ET on ESPN2.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- You'd never know it now by looking at his sculpted body, but Marquette's Jae Crowder used to be pudgy, to put it kindly.

Going into his junior year of high school, Crowder was a 5-foot-11 point guard. He weighed 235 pounds.

"I still had my Gary Payton shuffle," he said. "Backing people down. That was me."

What Crowder is now is one of the most versatile, important players left in this NCAA tournament. He led Marquette into the Sweet 16 for the second straight year with two enormous games at the KFC Yum! Center this week, including his heroics down the stretch in a 62-53 victory over a tough Murray State team Saturday.

Crowder had his second consecutive double-double, with 17 points and 13 rebounds, but that only partially reveals the 6-foot-6 senior's importance. His fingerprints were all over the Golden Eagles' closing kick, during which they went from down 46-41 to up 55-48 to take control. He hit a key 3-pointer during the run after struggling with his shot in the first half. He also took a big charge and came up with a steal late as Marquette's defense clamped down in the final minutes.

That's what the Big East player of the year has been doing all season.

"He doesn't care about stats or anything," Marquette guard Junior Cadougan said. "He just plays to win."

Crowder didn't even get serious about basketball until the end of his high school career in Villa Rica, Ga. He preferred football, in which he played quarterback. That is, until he broke his hand late in his senior season on a running play, and when he realized he wasn't going to play Division I in that sport. Besides, he had hit a growth spurt that took him up to 6-foot-4, helping his body better carry his weight. And basketball was in his genes, as his father, Corey, had played in the NBA and professionally overseas.

So Crowder got focused and started his college career at South Georgia Tech. To his horror, he later found out the junior college wasn't accredited, meaning none of his coursework would transfer to another school. He had no choice but to go to yet another two-year school, this time heading to Howard College in Texas. He spent the summer holed up in his dorm room, taking courses online to make up for lost time and not knowing a soul in town.

Through all that, Crowder kept flourishing on the court, eventually leading Howard to its first national title. He had to fight perception that disciplinary or other reasons sent him to two different junior colleges. But he found a kindred soul when Marquette coach Buzz Williams came on a recruiting call.

"He said, 'If you want a coach to be on your butt -- he used profanity, of course -- come play for me,'" Crowder said. "If you want a coach to give you stuff and not get you better as a basketball player and a person, go elsewhere."

Crowder loved the honesty, and he fit right in with Marquette's mindset of toughness and physicality, pulling sleds and doing other football-type drills to build strength. The 240-pounder is now built like a defensive end, and Williams said NFL teams have even asked him about Crowder. But he also still has his point guard skills and can play anywhere on the court.

"He can be a physical player and he can shoot jumpers," said 6-foot-8, 290-pound teammate Davante Gardner, whom Crowder sometimes checks in practice. "He does everything."

Crowder was a good player on a Sweet 16 team last year, but he knew he had to make the transition to great in the offseason. He spent the summer in Fort Myers, Fla., working out daily with his father, running through cones, using a basketball shooting machine and doing other exercises.

"You could see a drastic improvement," Cadougan said. "He really learned how to work."

Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom are the two leaders on this team, and the Golden Eagles needed every bit of them to slip past Murray State. The Racers showed everybody this weekend why they went into Saturday at 31-1, matching Marquette's intensity beat for beat. They just couldn't hit shots down the stretch.

And they didn't have Jae Crowder. The definitively non-pudgy version.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Here's a quick look at No. 3 seed Marquette's 62-53 victory over No. 6 seed Murray State at the KFC Yum! Center.

Overview: The storyline going into this game was that these teams were mirror images of each other. That proved true and led to a highly entertaining game played at an express-lane pace, if a little ragged at times.

It was possible to cramp up just watching Marquette and Murray State trade possessions in transition over and over. Ultimately, Marquette pulled away late with excellent defense and a lack of marksmanship from the Racers, who made just 31.3 percent of their shots and went only 4-of-21 on 3-point tries.

But this was a street fight for 40 minutes, and Murray State vindicated its 31-2 season with two top-flight tournament performances, even if the Racers failed to make their first Sweet 16. Marquette, meanwhile, now has an advantageous path to the West Region final and is looking like a serious Final Four threat.

Turning point: Neither team could get much distance from the other most of the way, but Murray State looked like it had all the momentum when it used a 7-0 run to take a 46-41 lead, its biggest of the game, with less than eight minutes to play in the second half. The pro-Murray crowd, bolstered by Kentucky fans who were rooting for their fellow state school, was going nuts. After a pair of timeouts, though, Marquette regrouped and charged back with a 14-2 run of its own, which included a couple of big baskets inside by reserve big man Davante Gardner and lots of defensive stops. The run was aided by missed shots from Murray State star Isaiah Canaan, who suffered through a brutal 4-for-17 night.

Key player: Marquette's Jae Crowder had another huge night after putting up 25 points and 16 rebounds Thursday against BYU. Crowder struggled with his shot early but played great defense in the second half, and finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Key stat: Canaan and Donte Poole, Murray State's top two scorers, were a combined 7-for-30 from the field.

Miscellany: Marquette advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. ... The Golden Eagles made a big play just before the half, as Darius Johnson-Odom picked up a loose ball in a crowd and laid it in just before the horn after a Murray State turnover. That cut the halftime deficit to 28-25. ... The Racers' Ed Daniel was all over the place and finished with 14 rebounds, but he was quiet late. ... Murray State players said they did extra work on free throws Friday in practice after bricking 13 of 26 attempts from the foul line in their victory over Colorado State. The practice paid off, as the Racers went 9-for-10 on free throws.

What's next: Marquette advances to play the winner of Sunday's game between Norfolk State and Florida. The Golden Eagles should be a heavy favorite over either one of those teams in that game, scheduled for Thursday in Phoenix.

For once there wasn’t a whole lot of moving around in the rankings. Maybe that means now that the regular season is nearly over, things are starting to settle down. Or it’s just the calm before a final storm.

The only minor change: Marquette jumps a slot above Notre Dame. That’s more of a nod to how solid the Golden Eagles have looked recently.

1. Syracuse: This is how you know things are going right for the Orange: Syracuse finally beat Louisville. It wasn’t pretty but it ended a possible seven-game win streak for the Cards.

2. Georgetown: The Hoyas’ defense has become downright smothering. In the last five games, four opponents failed to muster better than 35 percent shooting against Georgetown.

3. Marquette: The Golden Eagles are looking better and better with each passing game, routing UConn on the road this week. Jamil Wilson has filled in more than ably for the injured Davante Gardner.

4. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish came from 20 points down to beat Villanova, a testimony to Notre Dame’s intestinal fortitude and ability to knock down 3-pointers.

5. Louisville: The Cardinals didn’t look pretty against DePaul, needing overtime to dispose of the Blue Demons. Louisville will have to get its motor running much earlier against a hungry Cincinnati team on Thursday.

6. South Florida: Time to see what the Bulls are really made of. South Florida, riding a four-game win streak and now 10-4 in league play, heads to Syracuse on Wednesday. Regardless of that result, USF is guaranteed its first winning Big East season, a big step for the program.

7. Cincinnati: The Bearcats are fighting to prove their NCAA worth. Beating Seton Hall and Providence, as Cincinnati did this past week, won’t carry nearly as much weight as beating Louisville on Thursday.

8. West Virginia: The Mountaineers turned the backyard brawl -- perhaps the last one -- against Pittsburgh into a pillow fight, turning a tight game at the half into a rout. This is a big week for WVU, with a visit to Notre Dame on Wednesday and a home game against Marquette on Friday.

9. Seton Hall: Time is running out on the Pirates’ NCAA tourney hopes. Seton Hall needs to rack up wins and fast. Beating Georgetown on Tuesday would help considerably.

10. Connecticut: Jim Calhoun will be a spectator when the Huskies visit Villanova on Monday night. Doesn’t matter who coaches; UConn needs a win and needs one desperately. Even more, it could use a win at home against Syracuse on Saturday.

11. Villanova: Down two starters, the Wildcats nearly pulled off the upset against Notre Dame, but this has been a season of "nearly." Villanova instead dropped its second in a row and now hosts UConn on Big Monday, in an all-name/no-game matchup.

12. St. John’s: The Red Storm beat head coach Steve Lavin’s former team without Lavin on the sidelines. The result probably says more about UCLA’s misfortunes than anything, but it is certainly a nice confidence boost for a St. John’s team trying to finish a difficult season on a good note.

13. Rutgers: Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Scarlet Knights’ reward is a date with its third ranked opponent in a row -- Marquette on Wednesday night. Not good for a young team trying to find traction.

14. Pittsburgh: The brief hopes that Tray Woodall’s return would change the Panthers’ fortunes have been all but dashed. Pitt, which lost its shooting touch in the second half against USF on Sunday night, now has lost four in a row.

15. DePaul: Oliver Purnell was happy to see his team’s effort against Louisville but not so happy with the result. DePaul blew a 10-point halftime lead and lost in OT, its 36th straight loss to a ranked opponent.

16. Providence: The Friars face DePaul on Saturday in a fight to get out of the Big East basement. Don’t think that doesn’t matter.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom are Marquette's two best players and they were at it again Saturday in the Golden Eagles' 79-64 win at Connecticut. Crowder scored 29 points and grabbed 12 boards, while Johnson-Odom scored 24 and made four 3s.

Both players are invaluable, but the impact of Jamil Wilson shouldn't be overlooked. His presence as the lone post player has saved Marquette, which has now won 10 of its last 11 since scuffling around New Year's.

Wilson, a one-time Oregon player who transferred back to his native state, allows the Golden Eagles to go small. They are faster. They are more efficient. And they are now more dangerous in the open floor, especially after a made basket.

“We run the ball faster,’’ Crowder said of the impact of Wilson, who scored nine points, had six boards, blocked a shot and played 39 minutes against UConn.

Marquette needs every contribution it can get from the 6-7 redshirt sophomore. The reason? The Eagles lost big man Chris Otule to a season-ending injury after just eight games. Third-leading scorer and rebounder Davante Gardner is out at least for the next two weeks with a knee injury.

But MU is 4-1 in Gardner’s absence and Wilson is a big reason why.

“The thing about it is he’s so versatile, he’s really smart and he defends every possession for us,’’ Marquette associate head coach Tony Benford said. “He understands where everybody is supposed to be offensively. He rebounds the basketball. The knock on him was that he wasn’t tough enough. But he got tougher going against Jimmy Butler last summer. He’s buying in and doing a lot of different things to help this team win.’’

Wilson was involved in a number of scoring plays in the first half against the Huskies. He pulled his defender all over the court, forcing him to chase. He took 3s and missed them both, but it was enough to force a defender to think about chasing him outside the lane.

Wilson had to defend the UConn bigs like Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi. His length was an issue for both.

“We prepped to play like this in the preseason,’’ Wilson said. “This smaller lineup can help us out run a lot of people. We can get a lot of layups on transition. It’s like we’re playing five guards out there.’’

The coaching staff said Gardner may not come back until the Big East tournament. And Marquette coach Buzz Williams said he may not force the issue because he doesn’t want to mess with the rhythm of this crew.

Regardless, Wilson said his role won’t change at all.

“I’ll just continue what I’m doing,’’ he said. “When we’re moving like this, teams have a hard time staying with us.’’

Marquette finishes up with Rutgers at home, road games at West Virginia and Cincinnati and then back at home against Georgetown. None will be easy. Marquette could easily go 2-2 or 1-3. But the personnel is in place to go 4-0 and continue this roll.

The smaller lineup is a good watch, seems to run smoothly and will work well in March. Gardner will help in halfcourt games, but having Wilson in the lineup means the Golden Eagles will be even tougher to defend and harder to eliminate in March.

Is Notre Dame really the second-best team in the Big East? At this point in time, it's tough to argue with the results on the court...

1. Syracuse: With Fab Melo back in the fold, the Orange cruised to an easy win against St. John’s. The big man changes things aplenty for Syracuse, all in a good way.

2. Notre Dame: The Irish’s unexpected run continues, with a pasting of a previously rising Marquette team. Notre Dame is dangerous at home and downright lethal when it can hit 3-pointers, like it did against the Golden Eagles.

3. Georgetown: John Thompson III got the Hoyas back to basics on defense. The result has been two opponents who got stuck in the 40s, Connecticut and South Florida. Now for the rivalry game against Syracuse.

4. Marquette: Notre Dame snapped the Golden Eagles’ seven-game win streak in decisive fashion, but it should be noted Davante Gardner was out with a knee injury. That changes things significantly for Marquette’s defense.

5. Louisville: Finally some good news for the Cardinals — Gorgui Dieng's ankle injury wasn’t so bad after all. Dieng returned to the game against Rutgers and Louisville returned to order. The Cards have now won four in a row.

6. West Virginia: The Mountaineers stopped what could have been a disastrous skid by beating Providence in overtime. That won’t do a lot to restore confidence to WVU fans, but hey, a win is a win. The Mountaineers need more this week, against either red-hot Notre Dame or improving Louisville.

7. Connecticut: Perhaps the Huskies prefer turmoil. A day after Jim Calhoun announced an indefinite leave, UConn topped a depleted Seton Hall team to end a four-game slide.

8. Cincinnati: The Bearcats got a cure for what ails them — a visit from DePaul. Now things get more critical for the bubble dwellers as they take trips to St. John’s and Marquette.

9. South Florida: The Bulls finally faced one of the league’s more established teams and it didn’t go well. Georgetown claimed a 30-point win. USF is better, but to convince folks it belongs in the upper half of the league, it needs to beat some good teams.

10. Pittsburgh: Don’t look now but here come the Panthers. With Tray Woodall back in the lineup, Pitt has now won four in a row, including a gut-check victory against Villanova. With a favorable end-season schedule, keep Pitt very close on the radar.

11. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights lost the game and their coach in Louisville, with an exasperated Mike Rice earning an ejection before halftime. The young Knights remain a tough out and expect them to be especially tough when they host in-state rival Seton Hall this week.

12. Seton Hall: The Pirates are a mess, and there's no other way to put it. Forced to play without Herb Pope (rib injury), Seton Hall barely mustered a fight in a loss to Connecticut. That’s their sixth loss in a row, not exactly the momentum the Pirates want to face rival Rutgers this week.

13. St. John’s: The Fresh Five, as the starting freshmen for the Red Storm like to be called, got a fresh look at what they’re up against in a 25-point loss to Syracuse. There is upside for this team, plenty of it, but right now it’s an uphill battle against top-25 teams.

14. Villanova: The good news is the Wildcats fought back from an 18-point deficit. The bad news is the 18-point deficit. Villanova’s loss to Pittsburgh was its third in a row and fifth in seven games. The only meaningful goal right now: a .500 finish.

15. DePaul: Some things are just hard to change and Big East results are among them for the Blue Demons. DePaul has lost seven of its past eight and the schedule is not kind for the Blue Demons – Marquette, Notre Dame, Connecticut and Louisville await.

16. Providence: There are no moral victories, so no solace for the Friars in taking West Virginia to OT. But that’s really all Ed Cooley is aiming for right now — building confidence and a new attitude in his program.

For full coverage of the Kansas-Missouri matchup, check out Weekend Watch.

Saturday

South Florida at Georgetown (ESPNU, 11 a.m. ET): OK, let’s see if South Florida is for real in the Big East. The Bulls are 6-3 and tied with Georgetown in the loss column. USF has wins at Villanova and DePaul, but that shouldn’t compare to Georgetown this season. The Hoyas have their mojo back. Georgetown can’t be ruled out to catch Syracuse with a game against the Orange next week.

Marquette at Notre Dame (1 ET): The Golden Eagles have to be applauded for playing well despite not having Chris Otule and Davante Gardner in the post. Gardner isn’t expected to be ready for this game. The Irish have been golden at home so far, save a game against UConn. The Eagles need this one in their quest to stay with Syracuse.

Vanderbilt at Florida (1 ET): The Commodores have a rough week with games at Arkansas and Florida. They’re already down one. If Vandy is going to be taken seriously as a real contender with Kentucky and Florida, it has to pull off an upset.

Virginia at Florida State (ESPN3, 1 ET): The Cavs and Seminoles are the two “other” choices to win the ACC. If either has visions of knocking off UNC or Duke from the top spot, it's got to win this game. FSU is on more of a roll. Beat back the Cavs in what should be a grinder and the Seminoles will continue to be in the chase.

Xavier at Memphis (1 ET): This had the look of a game between two teams that were the favorites in the A-10 and C-USA at the start of the season. Since then, both have taken a few shots. Neither is a lock for the NCAAs and both could use some momentum to pique the selection committee’s interest. Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons against Will Barton and Joe Jackson will headline this game.

Ohio State at Wisconsin (ESPN, 2 ET): This has become one of the most anticipated games of the Big Ten season. The Badgers don’t have the inside presence to deal with Jared Sullinger. But Jordan Taylor can certainly match up with Aaron Craft. The Badgers will have to do something special inside to win this game.

North Carolina at Maryland (ESPN, 4 ET): The Tar Heels are simply better, more talented and have the depth to dismantle the Terps. That’s what should happen. But Maryland has showed some fight lately. The Terps will have to play their best game of the season to pull off this upset.

UNLV at Wyoming (4 ET): The Runnin’ Rebels had to struggle in overtime to get past Boise State and Air Force in their last two road games. Wyoming is a better defensive team than Boise or Air Force. This will test the Runnin’ Rebels yet again. New Mexico and San Diego State were both able to get out of Laramie with a win. Will UNLV?

Old Dominion at George Mason (ESPNU, 5 ET): I was leading the chorus that George Mason should have received a television game in BracketBusters. And then the Patriots lost to Delaware. There is a four-way tie for first in the CAA between ODU, Mason, Drexel and VCU. Separation begins with this game.

Iona at Manhattan (ESPN3, 7 ET): Momo Jones went for 43 against Canisius on Thursday night. Scott Machado had 14 assists. But Manhattan is in step with the Gaels, tied atop the MAAC at 10-2. The winner will be tied with Loyola in the loss column. This game could determine all-important seeding in the MAAC tourney.

Oregon at Colorado (9 ET): The Buffaloes smacked Oregon State on Thursday by 22 at home, where they’ve been a force in their first year in the Pac-12. Oregon, meanwhile, had to come back to beat Utah. The Ducks need a split to stay in the chase for a top-three finish. Coach Tad Boyle has done a tremendous job in Boulder after losing his two best players from last season.

Sunday

Michigan at Michigan State (1 ET): Draymond Green (left knee sprain) may be a game-time decision. The Spartans do have depth to handle his possible absence. But it’s not preferred against a Michigan team that is confident going into East Lansing after knocking off the Spartans in a last-possession game in Ann Arbor. The winner here stays in the chase in the Big Ten. The loser might have to think about the second-place race if Ohio State wins at Wisconsin.