MILWAUKEE – Marquette Madness took the Al McGuire Center by storm Friday, Oct. 14, as the Golden Eagles' women's and men's basketball teams kicked off their respective seasons with a bang. Five former Marquette men's players and current NBA stars, including Dwyane Wade, also dropped by.
Public address announcer Mike Jakubowksi began the night with a “Goooooooood evening, Marquette University,” as the students erupted into cheers.
Following the opening, the women's basketball team was introduced to raucous applause. Head coach Terri Mitchell then addressed the crowd and asked for the support of the crowd, which they returned with a roar.
During the women's scrimmage, the Blue team used a huge run in which they hit four straight three pointers to pull ahead for good. Freshman Cristina Bigica starred for the Blue team, who won 32-18. Freshmen Chelsie Butler and Lauren Tibbs dominated inside for the White team. The scrimmage was followed up by a shooting contest with members of the team and student body
During the men's basketball team's introductions, Jae Crowder jumped up on the scorer's table and waved pom poms to the crowd. Buzz Williams then began to address the crowd by passing out championship rings to the members of the Sweet Sixteen team from last season.
In an unexpected twist, several former Marquette players currently playing in the NBA were introduced as participants in the 3-point contest. Steve Novak, Jimmy Butler, Lazar Hayward and Wesley Matthews came out of the tunnel in order to a massive ovation.
But as Wesley Matthews feigned microphone problems, superstar Dwyane Wade burst out onto the court with a mic of his own and addressed a boisterous crowd.
The 3-point contest was electric, with Team Three, led by three big makes from Steve Novak, coming out victorious.
The Karaoke contest between Buzz Williams and Junior Cadougan followed. Cadougan gave a less-than-expert rendition of “Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, while being mobbed by his teammates at midcourt. Coach Buzz then invited anybody in attendance born in the years 1969, 1979, 1989, and 1999 down to the court to sing Neil Diamond's “Sweet Caroline” with him.
By a text vote, Buzz Williams was declared the Karaoke contest winner.
Following the singing, the dunk contest stepped up the intensity a bit. Darius Johnson-Odom, Jamail Jones, Jamil Wilson, and Todd Mayo flew above the rim, with DJO victorious in the end over Mayo in the finals.
The main event pitted two teams of Marquette players and NBA stars against each other. The game went back-and-forth, with D-Wade throwing down a pair of alley oops and Chris Otule ending the first half with a vicious one-handed slam.
After the half, the teams switched and the younger Marquette players got a chance to play with NBA stars. DJO, Jamail Jones, and Wes Matthews highlighted the second half with huge slam dunks.
The Marquette men's team then scrimmaged White versus Blue in the final event of the evening. In an even game, Vander Blue sealed the victory with a breakaway slam, and the White team won 23-21.