While neither David Joplin nor Stevie Mitchell would accept it as an excuse when I asked them after the game, my guess is that Mitchell playing through so much pain down the stretch likely contributed to Marquette averaging a tie in steals (6-6) over the last nine games, compared to the 10-5 edge they had in steals during their first 14 Big East games.
Having a natural, great stretch 4 like Ben Gold play center and a could but not yet fully bulked up Royce Parham to outmuscle opponents in the paint left Marquette vulnerable in the paint this year even as it shows to incredible potential next year. However, when they were doubling their opponents in live-ball steals (10-5), they could overcome it. But without those steals, it meant four fewer fast breaks and four more opportunities for their opponents to get the ball inside for mismatches per game. That, to me, was the difference between a Final Four run and a cold finish to the season.
Better Together #MUBB | #WeAreMarquettepic.twitter.com/P6fGKhzRSU
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) March 22, 2025
Once again, the brackets I publish show no edge to teams that are “hotter” at the end of the season. It’s the only one of my brackets not near the top in ESPN scoring. It only happens when a key injury is affecting a team’s performance, and it seems to me that Mitchell’s pain was the factor here. Despite still being an elite defender, it was clear he was struggling…