Markus Howard broke into his trademark smile when he was asked about last season. It was a campaign that saw Marquette log 19 wins, including 10 victories in BIG EAST play, and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the Steve Wojciechowski Era.
But it wasn’t long before the smile faded and Howard turned his focus to the goals the Golden Eagles are hoping to accomplish this season.
“Just getting to the NCAA Tournament was gratifying but we want more,” said Howard, who enjoyed an explosive freshman season a year ago. “We want to go deeper into the tournament this year. We definitely took that into account in the offseason in how we worked out. So, we’re just coming in doing what we need to do because we know how to get there now.”
One of the main reasons for Marquette’s ascension last season was the play of Howard, the wunderkind guard who made every Golden Eagles game a must-see event with his offensive exploits, which included leading the nation in three-point shooting at a mind-boggling 54.7 percent.
But Wojciechowski knows despite Howard’s sensational college debut last season, he is going to need even more from him as a sophomore, as well as increased helping hands from his partners-in-crime, guard Andrew Rowsey and forward Sam Hauser.
“I think each of the years we’ve been in the BIG EAST we’ve been able to move forward as a program, certainly last year making it into the NCAA Tournament and having a number of guys who played big roles last year come back,” Wojciechowski said. “We’re hoping to build on last season and in order to do that we’re going to need Markus Howard, Andrew Rowsey and Sam Hauser, those three guys in particular who played large roles for us, to pick it up a step more while the new faces we’ve added to our program are getting their footing in college basketball.”
Ah yes, the new faces. In order to try and shore up key areas of weakness from last year’s team - defense and rebounding - Wojciechowski went out and loaded up on big men on the recruiting trail. Suiting up this season will be a pair of 6-9 freshmen, Theo John and Ike Eke, along with 6-7 first-year player Jamal Cain. The Golden Eagles will also get the services of 6-11, 250-pound center Harry Froling, a transfer from SMU who will become eligible at the end of the first semester.
Wojo, it seems, likes to buy in bulk.
“In the offseason and the preseason, defense has been a huge point of emphasis,” Wojciechowski said. “I don’t know if this year’s team is going to be able to score the ball like last year’s team, however, I do think we have better defensive potential. We put a huge emphasis on it. There isn’t one area on the defensive end that I was happy with last year. But we have a lot of new faces that are trying to learn what defense means on the college level. We’re not quite where we need to be but we’re getting closer every day.”
So, Wojo has fortified his frontline and he is going to demand better defense.
But let’s face it, until further notice, when you’re talking Marquette basketball you’re talking about the up-and-down, three-point snipers of Howard and Rowsey which made the Golden Eagles so much fun to watch last season.
“I think we compliment each other’s game really well,” Howard said of Rowsey. “Playing with Andrew, he makes me a better player. Competing with him every day in practice makes me a better player.”
Rowsey, who averaged 11.6 points and shot a scorching 92.6% from the free throw line, said playing with Howard is the perfect backcourt marriage.
“I would definitely say we do feed off each other,” said Rowsey, the BIG EAST’s Sixth Man of the Year last season. “When Markus and me are on the court together, it’s a different feeling than when you play with anyone else on our team. We really find each other and we know each other’s tendencies. If Markus hits two in a row, I’m going back to him so he can hit three or four in a row. We just play with each other well, we know what each other does well so I think it will be another fun year.”
But as fun as the offense has been, Wojo knows that if the defense and rebounding doesn’t pick up, Marquette might find itself sweating out the Selection Show in March. And that’s a scenario he hopes to avoid.
“Last season was a foundational point to be able to build off of,” Wojciechowski said. “The guys who experienced the NCAA Tournament in our program should be hungry and passionate about getting back there, and when we have the opportunity to get back there, make some noise. That’s the next step. Those are our goals.”
“I think anytime you go to the NCAA Tournament and guys get a taste of March Madness, once you get there once, you have a burning desire to get back there. But we’re really going to depend on our older guys to lead the way in terms of leadership so we can do the things necessary to put ourselves in the same position this year.”
And though only a sophomore, Howard will be one of those “older” guys Wojo will lean on to earn that return trip to the Big Dance next spring.
“I just want to do whatever I can to get my team wins,” Howard said. “I want to go deeper in the NCAA Tournament, do better in the BIG EAST Tournament and finish in the top of the BIG EAST. I’m really just focused on helping my team be the best it can be but I’m also trying to get better in aspects I need to get better at, like defense, my decision making and my assist numbers. I just want to expand my game.”