The Marquette Golden Eagles are looking forward to the 2024-2025 college basketball season. Marquette is going to have a little different look to its program this season. Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro both were drafted into the NBA and graduated.
They both will be big losses for the basketball program in the immediate future. However, it will be interesting to see how head coach Shaka Smart replaces their production. In the last two seasons, the Marquette Golden Eagles were the #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament both times.
Marquette Golden Eagles Projected Starting Lineup
A season ago, Marquette finished with a 27-10 record and a 14-6 record in the BIG East Conference. They were third in the BIG East Conference. The Golden Eagles reached the BIG East Conference title game for the second consecutive season, but they lost to the UCONN Huskies.
Marquette lost to the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the Sweet 16. Now, they have turned the page by trying to compete in the 2024-2025 season. The projected starting five this season for the Golden Eagles will be Stevie Mitchell at point guard, Kam Jones at shooting guard, Chase Ross at small forward, David Joplin at power forward, and Ben Gold at center.
Sean Jones, Tre Norman, and Zaide Lowery could be some of the key players of the bench for the Marquette Golden Eagles this season. One freshman who could crack the rotation this season for Marquette is Damarius Owens.
Why They Could Be Great Again
Despite losing Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro, the Marquette Golden Eagles return some talented players to the roster for the 2024-2025 season. There was a chance that Kam Jones was going to leave for the NBA after his junior season, but he decided to return for his senior season. Rick Broering of 247sports.com said about the Marquette Golden Eagles entering the 2024-2025 season:
“Kam Jones is a great starting point. He’s surrounded by legitimate Big East players too. If some of the young talent this coaching staff has been developing is ready to step up this year, this team could have more upside than appears at first glance. The Golden Eagles aren’t just experienced—they’ve been playing together in the same system. In an era of constant roster turnover, that continuity might be more valuable than we realize.”
Outside of the UCONN Huskies in the BIG East Conference, the Marquette Golden Eagles may be one of the best teams in the conference again this season. Kam Jones averaged 17.2 PPG a season ago for Marquette. He will be the primary scorer for the Golden Eagles this season and could be a candidate to be conference Player of the Year for the 2024-2025 season.
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