Utah Jazz guard and Marquette great Wesley Matthews visited the Bradley Center for the first time since graduating. Brad Galli caught up with the star and Wes told him what he thinks of this year’s team, how he brags to Jazz teammates about Marquette, and what it means to watch Lazar Hayward pass him in all-time scoring.

With Wes Matthews on hand, the Golden Eagles took down the USF Bulls, 63-52 at the Bradley Center. Brad Galli reports on Lazar Hayward passing Matthews on the all-time Marquette scoring list, and what Buzz Williams had to say about Matthews and Hayward.

I spoke with Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars today about former Marquette guards Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews. I asked him where he had them slotted to go on their board, and he told me “in the middle of the second round.” When I asked him to elaborate, he told me “we [the Pistons] really liked Jerel especially….but with [Will] Bynum, [Rodney] Stuckey, and our backcourt, there was just no room.” I told Dumars that I thought Jerel’s defensive abilities would land him an NBA job, and he completely agreed, saying, “He will get picked up by a team.”

“You really think so?” I asked.

“Yes. For sure.”

And that was that. I told him we would be looking forward to seeing his son Jordan suit up for USF in the fall for his freshman campaign. Funny enough, a lot of people were comparing the Pistons’ second round pick (and former Georgetown Hoya) DaJuan Summers to Joe D himself.

I had the opportunity to discuss with Summers not only his NBA future, but the phenomenal games he was a part of betweeen Georgetown and Marquette. He told me before the camera rolled he had just recently talked with Wes Matthews about the OT game of ‘08. He told me the two had been working out together as well.

Here’s the video:

Brad Galli
MUTV Sports Director

Brad is a Junior at Marquette University, majoring in Broadcasting. Along with being the Sports Director at MUTV, Brad is the official MU reporter for Palestra.net.

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.

Game Recap

Reactions to Nova Loss & Looking Ahead

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

Jerel McNeal was named to the 2008-09 All-BIG EAST team Sunday, joining Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, Pittsburgh’s Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, Louisville’s Terrence Williams, and Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet.

Wes Matthews was named to the Second Team All-BIG EAST squad, along with Connecticut’s A.J. Price, Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn, Villanova’s Dante Cunningham, and West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler.

Oddly enough, after improving his game in nearly every statistical category since last season, junior Marquette forward Lazar Hayward was not honored. Last year, Lazar made the All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention team.