The Big Three at Marquette may have not heard their names called last Thursday, but they were given some respect from one media outlet. The website All-Undrafted.com honored its annual list of college seniors who did not get picked up in the NBA Draft.

“Every year, college basketball has to say goodbye to a class of tremendous young men, a small percentage of whom are fortunate enough to have their NBA dreams come true,” said Steve Lavin, former UCLA coach and current ESPN college basketball analyst, who led the selection process. “This year’s class was certainly no exception. The 2009 All-Undrafted Team and the All-Undrafted.com Web site are intended to shine a spotlight on the nation’s best seniors who didn’t have their names called during Thursday’s NBA Draft. I am proud to have a role in recognizing these players for the commitment they’ve demonstrated to their schools and for their achievement on the court.”

Jerel McNeal made the first team, Dominic James made the third team, and Wesley Matthews was graced with an honorable mention recognition.

The guys are still hoping to jump on with some NBA team, and here’s what Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writer Todd Rosiak had to say after the draft.

Boise – Marquette University senior guard Dominic James, who suffered a broken fifth metatarsal on his left foot on Feb. 25, was cleared to return to the court Saturday evening after undergoing an extensive evaluation process over the course of the last week.

“I don’t know how much he’ll be able to contribute,” head coach Buzz Williams said. “The thing that I’m excited about is we’re going to give him an opportunity to close out his career in the best way he possibly could. And I think the recovery has been due in large part to his work, but also because of the wisdom of Ernest (Eugene) and Dr. (Darrin) Maccoux.

“He worked out the day we got here, he worked out Friday morning before our game, worked out Friday night, practiced with us today,” Williams said.  “So medically he’s been cleared, but how much he’ll be able to contribute, I don’t know.”

James was injured in the opening minutes of the team’s Feb. 25 matchup with Connecticut and has missed each of the squad’s last six outings. 

The Richmond, Ind., native underwent successful surgery on Feb. 27 and began his rehabilitation process immediately under the direction of the University’s sports medicine and team physician staffs. 

“We’ve talked to some experts in the field, and these cases are known, have happened in elite athletes – college and the pros,” said athletic trainer Ernest Eugene. “He’s been very instrumental in all this, obviously. He’s been so dedicated being where he’s supposed to be every day, doing what he needs to do, and he’s surpassed every goal.”
(Report: courtesy of MU Athletics)

Rosiak’s breaking story of James’s clearance
ESPN’s report & Dickie V talking about it

I was recently asked to become a member of the Palestra.net College Sports Network. I look forward to staying on as a member of the MUTV communityfor the next two and a half years while simaltaneously using this great opportunity for invaluable experience.

MUTV’s first reports from New York came today after the game:

GAME RECAP

INTERVIEW WITH BUZZ

PLAYING WITHOUT DOM

We have been at Madison Square Garden for about an hour here, watching the DePaul Blue Demons in their quest for win #2 in the BIG EAST season…after dropping their first 18. But enough about them, we’re here and gearing up for Marquette to take on the upset-minded St. John’s Red Storm. They took down Georgetown last night, and much like Marquette, they got 60 of their 64 points from their starters. The last time these teams played, on Valentine’s Day, Dominic James had 14 points. Jimmy Butler will need to contribute to the action even more than usual for a Marquette win. Against St. John’s, in 22 minutes of action, he dropped 9 points.

It will be interesting to see how Jerel McNeal comes out today. His “struggles” since ‘Nic’s injury have been well-documented.

But have no fear, the All-BIG EAST 1st teamer has been here before, and has faced adversity more than once in his illustrious career.

Tipoff is set for 1 P.M. CT, and MarquetteRadio has the call.

Be sure to check out MUTVsports.com after the game for plenty of postgame video, press conferences, and reactions.

MILWAUKEE–In order for Marquette to return to their winning ways, Coach Buzz Williams felt that his team needed to get back to “eating hamburgers.” “Like I told our guys, all of us in some sort of way…we all grew up eating hamburgers. And I think over the last ten days we probably thought that we deserved to eat steaks. We need to get back to eating hamburgers.”Translation: Marquette needed to get back to basics. The Golden Eagles spent their entirity of their practice time on defense the past week and were rewarded by forcing 24 turnovers, including a season high 14 steals. “We know that’s our edge,” said senior guard Dominic James. “We’re scoring enough points, we’re shooting great percentages offensively, but we know that we can’t win any games if we allow teams to dictate what they want to do on offense.”

The Golden Eagles were sluggish on offense in the first half but used an 8-0 run in the final three minutes to turn a 24-24 tie into a 32-24 half time lead. The game was never close in the second half as Marquette turned it up and at one point led by as much as nineteen. Marquette used a strong inside game that included 34 points in paint, which offset a poor perimeter shooting game in which they shot just 3-15.

Jerel McNeal led the Golden Eagles with 20 points. McNeal was honored before the game with a game ball after passing George Thompson as Marquette’s all time leading scorer, a record he set in the loss at Villanova. Lazar Hayward, who was also honored for scoring his 1,000th-career point, finished the game with 18, and Dominic James contributed with 14. However, a key contributor was sophomore guard Jimmy Butler, who filled in for Wesley Matthews while he was in foul trouble and scored 8 points on 4-4 shooting.

The win puts Marquette at 10-2 in the Big East and marks the fourth consecutive year in which Marquette has won at least 10 games in conference play. Marquette has now won 16 straight games at the Bradley Center. The win also puts them in a second place tie with Pittsburgh.

Marquette will try to continue their home winning streak as they host the Seton Hall Pirates on Tuesday night, tip-off is set for 7 PM Central time.

Brian Hoffman
MUTV Sports