Andrew Pace
The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team has had a successful run in college basketball, with a unique no-transfer roster that goes against the tide of modern-day college basketball, which often involves a lot of transfers and changing lineups. One notable mention is the Mache twins, Matt and Mike, who joined the Marquette men's basketball team as walk-ons, fulfilling their childhood dream of playing Division I basketball. The twins, who started playing basketball in fourth grade, brought their competitive drive and experience to the team, contributing to its success and stability.
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What You'll Learn
Matt and Mike Mache join Marquette
Matt and Mike Mache are twins who joined Marquette University's basketball team, fulfilling their childhood dream of playing Division I basketball. The brothers started playing basketball in fourth grade in their hometown of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. They played together throughout grade school and high school at Glenbard West High School, where they were four-year varsity letterwinners and three-year starters. Mike even served as the team's captain his senior year and graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,357 career points.
While in high school, the twins also played AAU ball for the Mac Irvin Fire, where they played with fellow Marquette player Steve Taylor, Jr. Despite their successful high school careers, Matt and Mike initially decided not to pursue collegiate athletics. They considered attending different colleges but ultimately decided to attend Marquette together.
At Marquette, the Mache twins initially served as student managers and participated in "noon ball," where coaches and former players could join pick-up games. This allowed them to stay connected to the sport and eventually led to them trying out for the men's basketball team. Matt and Mike joined the team as walk-ons, with Matt making his Marquette debut against DePaul. While they may not have received much playing time, the twins were proud to be a part of the Marquette men's basketball team and to be playing alongside some of the best players in the world.
Mike wore the number 42 jersey, while Matt wore number 54. Their journey to Marquette and their time on the basketball team strengthened the bond between the brothers and allowed them to fulfil their shared dream of playing Division I basketball.
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The Mache twins' basketball history
Matt and Mike Mache are twins who have been playing basketball together since the fourth grade in their hometown of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. They played varsity all four years at Glenbard West High School, and were starters in their final three. Mike was the team captain in his senior year and graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,357 career points.
The brothers also played AAU ball for the Mac Irvin Fire, where they played with fellow Golden Eagle Steve Taylor, Jr. Despite their prolific high school careers, they decided not to pursue collegiate athletics. They considered Marquette separately, as well as other schools, but ultimately decided to go to college together. They initially became student managers for the women's team, working with former coach Terri Mitchell and current coach Carolyn Kieger. After two seasons, they moved to the men's program with Coach Steve Wojciechowski.
When Deonte Burton and John Dawson transferred, the Mache twins saw the opportunity to finally fulfill their childhood dream of playing collegiate basketball. They approached the coaches and joined the Marquette men's basketball team. While they may not be getting much playing time, the two are perfectly fine with that. "At the end of the day, before we’ve made every decision, it’s felt right," Matt said. "It felt right to go to Marquette. It felt right to join the women’s basketball program. And at the end of the end, it felt right to leave something that we’ve loved for two-and-a-half years. Every decision has felt right."
Mike added, "And we felt it was right…to be a part of the Marquette men’s basketball team." The two now sit on the end of the bench, each sporting a Marquette jersey; Mike wearing number 42 and Matt wearing number 54. Playing together for so long could create some sibling rivalry between the two brothers, but they are excited to be a part of a Division I basketball program.
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Marquette's no-transfer roster
This stability has been a key factor in the team's success, with the Golden Eagles tied for the lead in the Big East with a 9-1 conference record and an overall record of 18-3, ranking them 9th in the Associated Press poll. Coach Shaka Smart attributes this success to the strong relationships between the players and the focus on player development. He notes that when players feel valued and loved by their teammates, they are more likely to stay, creating continuity within the team.
Smart has expressed his commitment to prioritising the growth of the team's young players rather than relying heavily on transfers. This strategy has paid off, with Marquette achieving a 40-10 record in the Big East over the past three seasons. The team's success serves as a testament to the effectiveness of building a cohesive and stable roster, demonstrating that it is still possible to thrive with the same group of players year after year.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, Marquette is expected to return all of its players and has signed four new freshmen, resulting in a projected roster size of 14. While there is always a possibility of transfers, Smart has not indicated any intention to recruit through the transfer portal for the upcoming season. With a strong returning roster and a focus on player development, Marquette's no-transfer strategy continues to be a successful rarity in the world of college basketball.
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Marquette's 2025 NCAA tournament appearance
New Mexico, led by head coach Richard Pitino, boasts a talented roster including standout junior guard Donovan Dent and center Nelly Junior Joseph. Dent's impressive stats, averaging 20.6 points and 6.5 assists per game, rank him among the top players in the nation. Despite New Mexico's dominant regular season, their inability to secure a conference tournament title casts doubt on their momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Marquette, on the other hand, has maintained a consistent starting lineup, steering clear of the Division I transfer portal since the 2022-23 season. This rare approach in college basketball has fostered strong relationships within the team, with coach Smart emphasizing the value of player-to-player connections. The Golden Eagles' success under coach Smart includes making the NCAA tournament in all four seasons of his tenure.
Among Marquette's roster are twins Matt and Mike Mache, who are living their childhood dream of playing Division I basketball. After initially serving as student managers, the Mache twins seized the opportunity to join the men's basketball team, bringing their competitive drive and sibling rivalry to the court. While they may not see much playing time, they are proud to be part of a team that values continuity, relationships, and winning.
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The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team
The Golden Eagles have had notable success over the years, making 37 NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2025. They reached the Final Four on three occasions (1974, 1977, and 2003) and were the national runner-up in 1974. In 1977, they won their only national championship under the leadership of head coach Al McGuire. McGuire brought the program to national prominence, also earning an NIT Championship in 1970.
The team's roster has been a key factor in their success, with a focus on stability and relationships. Unlike many other college basketball teams, Marquette has avoided the trend of frequent transfers, instead emphasising the growth and development of their young players. This approach has paid off, with the Golden Eagles achieving a 40-10 record in the Big East over the past three seasons.
The Marquette Golden Eagles have also produced numerous talented players who have gone on to successful NBA careers. 39 Marquette players have played in the NBA, winning a combined 7 NBA championships, 25 NBA All-Star selections, and 11 All-NBA selections.
Additionally, the Golden Eagles have had three Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees and four National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductees. The team has also been recognised with three national coaches of the year, four conference coaches of the year, one national player of the year, ten consensus All-Americans, four conference players of the year, and 16 all-conference first-team selections.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Mache twins, Matt and Mike, are on the Marquette basketball roster.
Mike wears number 42 and Matt wears number 54.
The twins started playing basketball in fourth grade in their hometown of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. They played varsity all four years for the Hilltoppers in high school and were three-year starters.
Yes, the Mache twins always dreamed of playing Division I basketball.
The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team has made 37 NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2025. They have had a successful run with a 9-1 conference record in 2025 and a 22-12 record in the 2009-2010 season.
