#8 Marquette Golden Eagles (18-12, 8-10)
Big East (t6th)
Off- 77.8 ppg / Def- 71.6 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 33 (Last: 2019)
Top Scorers:
Markus Howard 27.8 ppg
Sacar Anim 13.1 ppg
Koby McEwen 9.5 ppg
Brendan Bailey 7.1 ppg
Jamal Cain 5.2 ppg
#9 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (20-11, 11-9)
Big Ten (t5th)
Off- 69.9 ppg / Def- 62.6 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 6 (Last: 1991)
Top Scorers:
Ron Harper Jr. 12.1 ppg
Geo Baker 10.9 ppg
Akwasi Yeboah 9.8 ppg
Jacob Young 8.5 ppg
Myles Johnson 7.8 ppg
Marquette was 17-6 at one point this season and looking every bit as expected for a team that possessed the top scorer in college basketball in Markus Howard. However, for one reason or another, the weight of the season caught up to the Eagles and they dropped 6 of their final 7 games to end up squarely on the Bubble. Fortunately for them, the NET was on their side and Marquette more than likely would have made the Tournament. Unfortunately for them, though, it was becoming apparent that Howard and his 27.8 ppg wasn't gonna be enough to carry the Eagles alone on a deep tourney run.
Another in the long list of tragic stories to come out of the cancellation of the NCAAs was the story of Rutgers and the job head coach Steve Pikiell did. Not since 1991 had the Scarlet Knights been to the NCAA Tournament and following an upset win over Maryland on Senior Day, they were all but a lock to go. Also, depending on the matchup there was a good chance they could've gotten their first tournament victory since 1983. Rutgers may not have been a very deep or elite scoring team, but they employed a very stingy defense that ranked just behind Wisconsin as best in the Big Ten in points allowed, and 2nd to Michigan State in field goal %.
Big East (t6th)
Off- 77.8 ppg / Def- 71.6 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 33 (Last: 2019)
Top Scorers:
Markus Howard 27.8 ppg
Sacar Anim 13.1 ppg
Koby McEwen 9.5 ppg
Brendan Bailey 7.1 ppg
Jamal Cain 5.2 ppg
#9 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (20-11, 11-9)
Big Ten (t5th)
Off- 69.9 ppg / Def- 62.6 ppg
NCAA Appearances- 6 (Last: 1991)
Top Scorers:
Ron Harper Jr. 12.1 ppg
Geo Baker 10.9 ppg
Akwasi Yeboah 9.8 ppg
Jacob Young 8.5 ppg
Myles Johnson 7.8 ppg
Marquette was 17-6 at one point this season and looking every bit as expected for a team that possessed the top scorer in college basketball in Markus Howard. However, for one reason or another, the weight of the season caught up to the Eagles and they dropped 6 of their final 7 games to end up squarely on the Bubble. Fortunately for them, the NET was on their side and Marquette more than likely would have made the Tournament. Unfortunately for them, though, it was becoming apparent that Howard and his 27.8 ppg wasn't gonna be enough to carry the Eagles alone on a deep tourney run.
Another in the long list of tragic stories to come out of the cancellation of the NCAAs was the story of Rutgers and the job head coach Steve Pikiell did. Not since 1991 had the Scarlet Knights been to the NCAA Tournament and following an upset win over Maryland on Senior Day, they were all but a lock to go. Also, depending on the matchup there was a good chance they could've gotten their first tournament victory since 1983. Rutgers may not have been a very deep or elite scoring team, but they employed a very stingy defense that ranked just behind Wisconsin as best in the Big Ten in points allowed, and 2nd to Michigan State in field goal %.
