2008-09 Game Notes Marquette Golden Eagles (20-2, 9-0 BIG EAST) at USF Bulls (7-14, 2-7 BIG EAST) he No. 8/8 Marquette University men’s basketball team continues T its three-game conference road swing at USF Friday night at 6 MU SCOREBOARD p.m. CT. The Golden Eagles will be looking to extend their current 12- DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME game winning streak, which ranks as the third-best run in the nation Nov. 14 Houston Baptist W, 95-64 through games of Feb. 4. The BIG EAST Network will feature Friday’s Nov. 17 Chicago State W, 106-87 broadcast, with Don Criqui (play-by-play) and Jay Williams (analyst) Nov. 22 Milwaukee W, 100-80 calling the action. The game will air in the greater Milwaukee area on Nov. 25 Texas Southern W, 85-68 WMLW. Chicago Invitational Nov. 28 vs. Northern Iowa W, 73-43 Finding McNeal’s Name In Box Score Is Easy Nov. 29 vs. Dayton L, 89-75 Dec. 2 Central Michigan W, 81-67 Jerel McNeal, the reigning BIG EAST Conference Player of the Dec. 6 rv/22 Wisconsin W, 61-58 Week, has taken his outstanding play to another level in the last three Dec. 13 IPFW W, 69-50 games. The All-America candidate has been a force at both ends of BIG EAST/SEC Invitational the court and as a result shows up in nearly every statistical category. Dec. 16 16/19 vs. Tennessee L, 80-68 In the previous three games, McNeal is contributing 26.3 points, Dec. 19 Western Carolina W, 94-77 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per outing. He Dec. 22 at North Carolina St. W, 68-65 has combined to shoot 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the field, 52.0 per- Dec. 28 Presbyterian W, 84-45 cent (13-of-25) from behind the 3-point line and 80.0 percent (12-of- Jan. 1 15/13 Villanova # W, 79-72 15) from the charity stripe in those games. Jan. 4 Cincinnati # W, 84-50 McNeal has claimed the league’s weekly honor on three occasions Jan. 7 at Rutgers # W, 81-76 in 2008-09 and is tied with Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody for total Jan. 10 25/22 West Virginia # W, 75-53 career times recognized (4) among active players. Jan. 17 at Providence # W, 91-82 Jan. 24 DePaul # W, 79-70 DATE: February 6, 2009 Jan. 26 rv/22 at Notre Dame # W, 71-64 TIP-OFF: 6 p.m. CT Jan. 31 25/23 Georgetown # W, 94-82 LOCATION: Sun Dome (10,411) - Tampa, Fla. Feb. 3 at DePaul # W, 76-61 TELEVISION: The BIG EAST Network will feature Friday night’s broadcast, Feb. 6 at USF # 6 p.m. which will air locally on WMLW. Don Criqui (play-by-play) and Jay Williams (analyst) will call the action. Feb. 10 at Villanova # 6:30 p.m. RADIO: ESPN Radio 540 AM is the flagship station for the Marquette Radio Feb. 14 St. John’s # 8 p.m. Network. Steve “The Homer” True (play-by-play) and Jim McIlvaine (ana- Feb. 17 Seton Hall # 7 p.m. lyst) will call the action all season long. Feb. 21 at Georgetown # 1 p.m. MU’S LAST TIME OUT: The Golden Eagles remained undefeated in league Feb. 25 Connecticut # 6 p.m. play, winning at DePaul 76-61. Senior Jerel McNeal led the team with 26 Mar. 1 at Louisville # 11 a.m. points and classmate Wesley Matthews chipped in 20 points. Mar. 4 at Pittsburgh # 6:30 p.m. USF’S LAST TIME OUT: The Bulls fell 65-48 at St. John’s as the Redstorm Mar. 7 Syracuse # 1 p.m. was able to pull away in the second half. Guard Dominique Jones led the BIG EAST Championship Bulls with 16 points and forward Augustus Gilchrist added 12 points. Mar. 10-14 vs. TBA (Madison Square Garden) SERIES HISTORY: Marquette leads 14-2 # - indicates BIG EAST Conference game LAST MEETING: MU 62, USF 54 (Jan. 29, 2008) All game times CT subject to change. MU CONTACT INFO: Scott Kuykendall handles all of the media relations duties for the Marquette men’s basketball program and can be reached at in front of the 414.288.4794 [w]/414.807.3490 [c] or [email protected]. "If I could come up with a few more adjectives, I WEB SITE: GoMarquette.com would. I think he’s playing with an unbelievable chip on his shoulder with the toughness that defines him as a USF CONTACT INFO: Jeff Wuerth handles the media relations duties for person and a player. He’s all over the floor every pos- USF and can be reached at 813.974.7099 or [email protected]. session, and that’s why his line looks the way that it does.” WEB SITE: GoUSFBulls.com -- Buzz Williams on the play of Jerel McNeal Marquette Game Notes Page 2 MEDIA SERVICES Road Warriors Continue To Be Tested ASST. AD/MBB SID:. Scott Kuykendall Through games of Feb. 4, Marquette is one of just six schools in the nation not Email: . [email protected] to have dropped a “true” road game this season. Work Phone: . 414-288-4794 Both of MU’s setbacks this season have come in neutral-site contests. The Cell Phone: . 414-807-3490 team dropped an 89-75 decision to Dayton at the Chicago Invitational and fell 80- ASST. DIRECTOR: . Luke LeNoble 68 to Tennessee at the BIG EAST/SEC Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. Email:. [email protected] The Golden Eagles are 5-0 on the road this year. Utah State (9-0), Connecticut Work Phone: . 414-288-6980 (7-0), Michigan State (6-0), Xavier (6-0) and Louisville (4-0) are the only other pro- Cell Phone: . 414-313-2238 grams unblemished away from their respective home courts in 2008-09. Website: . GoMarquette.com Fax: . 414-288-6519 Butler Turning Into Marquette’s Inside Man CREDENTIALS Sophomore forward Jimmy Butler has developed into the team’s sixth man, Credential requests are now available and as a result leads the MU bench corps with 16.2 minutes per game. online by visiting http://www.sportssys- The Tomball, Texas, native is currently contributing 4.3 points per game and is tems.com/Marquette/. shooting 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field and 73.3 percent (44-of-60) from Requests will be confirmed or denied the free throw line. via email and may be picked up at the Al Butler owns just one perimeter basket (at Rutgers) on the season, which trans- McGuire Center or at the arena control lates into all but two of his total points (94) coming in the lane or at the charity entrance of the Bradley Center on game stripe. Of his total rebounds, 55 percent (35-of-63) have come at the offensive day (beginning two hours before tip). end and resulted in layups or free throw opportunities. Please contact Scott Kuykendall with any questions. James, McNeal Advance On Pair Of Awards Lists PARKING Marquette’s team success in 2008-09 has translated into individual recognition Parking is not available to home and as both Dominic James and Jerel McNeal have advanced on a pair of award lists. visiting members of the media. There James is one of 17 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, presented by The are several parking structures available Hartford. The honor is given to the top collegiate men’s basketball point guard within walking distance of the Bradley across all divisions within the game. Center. McNeal is one of 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, which focus- es on the total student-athlete and encourages those leaders to use their platform INTERVIEW POLICY in athletics to make a positive impact on their circle of influence. Please contact Scott Kuykendall to Marquette fans can vote for both players at www.cousyaward.com and arrange an interview with Marquette www.seniorclassaward.com. head coach Buzz Williams, a member of James and McNeal have both been named to the 2008-09 Naismith Trophy the coaching staff or a player. watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced earlier this season. MU players will not disclose their home phone numbers or their cellular phone numbers so please do not request Winning Streak Continues With DePaul Victory that information. Players have been Marquette’s current winning streak was extended to 12 games (third longest in asked to politely decline interviews that the nation) after the Golden Eagles were able to pull away from DePaul in a 76- have not been cleared with the MU 61 road victory. Media Relations Office. All telephone Marquette hasn’t been defeated since falling to Tennessee on Dec. 16 and the interviews will take place from either the 12-game run matches the team’s most recent undefeated stretch during the 2001- Media Relations Office or the Men’s 02 campaign. Basketball Office. Player interviews will The Golden Eagles have enjoyed a winning streak that spanned at least eight not be conducted on gamedays until games in five of the last eight seasons. During that time frame, MU has claimed standard post-game procedures occur. as many as 12 consecutive wins. That undefeated run came during Conference Marquette practices are generally USA play in the 2001-02 campaign in a season that was capped by an appear- closed to the media. Please contact ance in the NCAA East Regional.