



SHARE

By

New York — No doubt, Marquette coach Buzz Williams has a shtick, especially in post-game pressers.

But after the Golden Eagles lost to Xavier in the Big East tournament quarterfinals Thursday night, Williams was likely earnest when he asked about the National Invitation Tournament selection process.

In his six seasons at Marquette and one at New Orleans, Williams has never been involved in the NIT. But because the Golden Eagles finished a disappointing 17-15 and have lost their last four games, he'll soon learn what it's like to be off-off-Broadway.

The only question now is whether he'll give more minutes to the underclassmen who kept Marquette in the game against the Musketeers — notably freshman Deonte Burton and junior Todd Mayo, who combined for 44 points — at the expense of the four seniors who combined for 19 in the 68-65 loss.

Since no one really remembers who wins the 32-team NIT anymore, the second-tier dance for the schools who don't make the NCAA cut, it would behoove Williams to begin playing for next season.

When the Golden Eagles began their big push in early February for a ninth consecutive NCAA berth, Williams stopped giving many minutes to freshmen Burton, John Dawson and Jajaun Johnson and went with upperclassmen.

Against Xavier, Burton scored his 23 points in 24 minutes, but he basically did not get off the bench in the last 7 minutes while non-scorers Derrick Wilson and Jake Thomas were on the floor.

Williams said Burton did not return because of his defense.

Dawson played 7 minutes against the Musketeers, but Johnson again remained glued to the bench and, like sophomore Steve Taylor Jr., has completely fallen out of the rotation.

Mayo, who missed a game-tying shot, was again aggressive in taking the ball to the basket like Burton. Burton and Mayo were by far Marquette's best offensive options while Jamil Wilson, Davante Gardner and Chris Otule were of little to no offensive value against Xavier.

Williams remained loyal to Derrick Wilson and Thomas for heavy minutes this year while Jamil Wilson and Gardner, who were counted on as go-to guys, were extremely inconsistent. It all added up to an unexpectedly down year for a team picked to win the Big East.

But in one form or another, the season is expected to continue with the NIT.

According to the NCAA, which now controls the NIT, teams are no longer required to have records of .500 or better to be invited. The NIT also grants automatic bids to teams that won their regular-season championship who do not make the NCAAs because they lost their league tournaments.

Williams said he was worried about the latter stipulation as possibly hurting Marquette's chances to get into the NIT.

The NCAA took control of the selection process away from ESPN eight years ago because the network was gearing it toward big markets at the expense of quality.

Invitations will be issued Sunday night, and first-round play would begin Tuesday or Wednesday. If Marquette is chosen, it cannot play a home game next week at the BMO Harris Bradley Center because the NCAA will control the building for its second- and third-round tournament games.

Marquette would either open on the road or at the Al McGuire Center. Because the NIT generally likes regional matchups in the on-campus games, there has been speculation that the Golden Eagles would open against UW-Green Bay.

Marquette last played in the NIT in 2005 and was beaten in the first round by Western Michigan. It has been to the tournament 15 times and won it in 1970.

About the NIT

■ Invitations will be issued Sunday night.

■ First-round play would begin Tuesday or Wednesday.