Marquette has a diverse group of guards in Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell and Chase Ross, but needs to get consistent 3-point shooting from David Joplin to make a deep run in March. While Marquette has had two tough losses to open March, Joplin has shot the ball well. Hopefully, for the Golden Eagles, Joplin has rediscovered his long-distance shot.
Marquette struggling as regular season comes to a close
Marquette came out this season sizzling despite the stars of Marquette’s Sweet 16 team – Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro – are now playing in the pros. However, the Golden Eagles seemed to not skip a beat with their strong guard depth spurring Marquette to a 15-2 start.
Joplin has been a sharpshooter in his career at Marquette. His sophomore year. the stretch forward shot 40% from 3. This year, though, Joplin has been inconsistent with his shot.
Marquette has needed Joplin to take more of a scoring load this season. Joplin is second on the Golden Eagles at nearly 14 points per game and leads Marquette with 5.4 rebounds and a block per game as well. On the year, Joplin is shooting 41.7% from the field and 31.2% from 3. His 31% shooting from 3 is actually up as it had dipped below 30% until the calendar flipped to March.
I don't know where David Joplin ranks on Marquette's all-time blocks list, but he's had some massive ones this season. #mubb
— Ben Steele (@BenSteeleMJS) January 25, 2025
Marquette needs consistent production from Joplin
Marquette needs Joplin to be more efficient, though. He’s been a bit of a lightning rod for criticism somewhat Bobby Portis-esque among Bucks fans. It was a brutal month of February for Joplin, who shot under 40% from the field and under 30% from 3.
The forward was held to single digits in five of his last six games and was 9 for 34 from 3 over that stretch.
For Marquette to get where they want to go, the Golden Eagles need Joplin to score more consistently.
He has been anything but this season. In February, Joplin has been particularly bad. Joplin is shooting 32.4% from the field (23 for 71) and averaging under 10 points per game. While he isn’t the only reason for Marquette’s February swoon, the Golden Eagles badly need Joplin’s hhotting and scoring.
Make no mistake about it, this game is primarily about Villanova going ballistic from three. But at what point does Joplin get the yellow light from three? 0-6 is killer especially at 30% on year and in conference play.
— (20) Marquette Nation (@mubbnation) February 22, 2025
It’s really what Joplin is there to do, with Ross and Stevie Mitchell being strong two-way players more than scorers. With teams keying on Kam Jones, Shaka Smart and Marquette need Joplin to be a 14-point per night guy. However, much of the season has been one or two strong games and then single digits, outside of January for Joplin. From mid-December to Jan. 21, Joplin scored in double figures eight straight games. I don’t think it’s a coincidence Marquette went 7-1 in that stretch.
In Marquette losses through February, Joplin was shooting a measly 34.9% from the floor and just 41.5% from 2. In wins on the year, he is shooting 42.1% and 59% from 2.
Marquette limping into tournament season
Since a hot start, Marquette finished the regular season with a 22-9 record, going 7-7 over the final 14 games.
The Golden Eagles have hit a bit of a swoon in February, going 3-4 in the month. While it isn’t just Joplin, he scored in single digits in five of those seven games. Joplin has shot 39.9 and 35.5% from 3-point range the last two years at Marquette.
David Joplin never officially offered by Wojo despite being in Marquette’s backyard in Milwaukee during HS.
Shaka kept him home after the switch from Texas and Jop had the biggest moment for a Milwaukee player in a #mubb uniform not named Robert Jackson in 20+ years.
— Brian Baranowski (@BBaranowski) March 25, 2024
This season he is below 30% from 3. With Kolek and Ighodaro off in the NBA from last year’s Sweet 16 team, While Marquette has lost two tough games to UConn on the road and a narrow two-point loss on Senior Day to No. 6 St. John’s, Joplin has shown signs of life as the calendar flipped to March.
In three March games so far, Joplin has scored at least 17 points in each. The last two, Joplin scored 21 and 23, respectively and hit a combined 6 of 10 3s in those two games. While the Golden Eagles lost the last two games, Joplin showing signs of rediscovering his shot is more important than regular season results.
Marquette needs Joplin to score more efficiently if they want another deep run in March.
