Great news for Marquette, its fans, and people like me who picked the Golden Eagles to reach the Elite 8: the latest injury update on senior guard Dominic James is that he has been cleared to play this afternoon against Missouri.
James broke his foot on February 25th against UConn and was thought to be lost for the season. The Golden Eagles went 1-5 in their last six games of the regular season. According to Marquette head coach Buzz Williams, it is unclear how much James will be able to play and contribute, but certainly presence will be a major boost for the Golden Eagles.
According to the ESPN.com Dominic James injury update story:
“I don’t know how much he’ll be able to contribute,” Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. “The thing that I’m excited about is we’re going to give him an opportunity to close out his career in the best way he possibly could.
“And I think the recovery has been due in large part to his work, but also because of the wisdom of Ernest [Eugene] and Dr. [Darrin] Maccoux,” Williams said of the team’s athletic trainer and physician.
Dominic James is a 5-11 senior from Richmond, IN who was recruited to Marquette by former coach Tom Crean. He is a four-year starter whose point per game average has decreased every year he has been at Marquette, but whose assist/turnover ration has improved throughout his career. Combined with Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews, James helps form one of the most prolific backcourts in America and certainly a healthy James would be a tremendous boost for the Golden Eagles’ tournament chances.
We’ll have to see how much, if any, Dominic James can contribute today. Against a pressing team like Missouri, the Golden Eagles could absolutely use all the backcourt help they can get. If Dominic James can provide even a fraction of the boost that Ty Lawson gave to North Carolina yesterday, it could be enough to push Marquette into the Sweet 16.
About Jerod Morris
