High Post Hoops
Fansided

BIG EAST Conference preview: Marquette the team to beat

By Erica Ayala

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 11
Next
The Marquette Golden Eagles are presented the championship trophy after the Big East Women’s Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Marquette Golden Eagles are presented the championship trophy after the Big East Women’s Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Marquette (19)

Preseason predicted ranking: 1st, up one spot from 2016-17 finish

2016-17 BIG EAST Record: 13-5

2016-17 Overall Record: 25-8

Biggest Losses:

The reigning BIG EAST champions made their push to the title with only one senior, McKayla Yentz. She started 31 games for Marquette at forward and averaged 8. 1points and 3.9 rebounds.  Additionally, she was a leader for the team of six sophomores.

Marquette announced in May that Chelsey Gibson and Meghan Mandel would not return for 2017-18.

Key returners:

Allazia Blockton is not only a key returner for Marquette, she is also the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year.  The junior guard averaged 17.1 points per game en route to her 1,126 career total.  She became the youngest Marquette player to eclipse 1,000 points and was recognized as an All-American honorable mention last season. She will join Carolyn Kieger as the lone Marquette players to reach 1,200. Kieger is Blockton’s head coach.

In addition to Blockton, BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player Amani Wilborn (9.8 ppg, 4.2 apg)  and Natasha Heidman (13.9 ppg, 5.1 apg) return for the Golden Eagles.

Newcomers:

Selena Lott and Myriama Smith Traore are the only recruits for 2017. Lott is a solid defending guard while Traore brings power on the defensive boards. With six juniors on the team, Marquette is not likely to recruit in large numbers for another season.

Head coach:

Carolyn Kieger enters her fourth season as head coach of the Golden Eagles.  The Marquette alumna enters the season with a 48-46 career record at Marquette.

She led Marquette to their first BIG EAST Championship in 2017, as well as their first NCAA berth since 2011. Kieger worked at the University of Miami before returning to Marquette as the head coach. She is known for her ability to develop guards, such as Miami All-America Shanice Johnson and 2011 ACC socring champion Riquana Williams.

Key non-conference games:

Kieger looks to test her team with a matchup against Notre Dame (5) and Tennessee (18) in the early parts of the season. Marquette also takes on Michigan and Wisconsin (23) before opening the BIG EAST by hosting St, John’s on December 28.

Outlook:

Marquette is a team with the potential to turn some heads. Kieger led her alma mater to a 6-0 record against Top-25 teams. After clinching their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, they played 2017 Cinderella team Quinnipiac to a 68-65 final tally.

MU returns the top five scorers from last season and looks primed to maintain control of the BIG EAST again this season.

Home/Big East