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The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team has a rich history, with over 100 years of basketball under their belt. The team has had its ups and downs, from turning down an NCAA tournament invite in 1970 to winning the NCAA Championship in 1977. With 37 NCAA tournament appearances, the Golden Eagles have a strong following and have produced many notable players and coaches over the years. The team plays in the Big East Conference and calls downtown Milwaukee its home, sharing a venue with the Milwaukee Bucks. With a history spanning decades, the Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team continues to be a prominent force in college basketball.
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Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team history
The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team has a rich history in NCAA Division I college basketball. Formerly known as the Marquette Hilltoppers and Marquette Warriors, the team has made 37 NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2025.
The Golden Eagles have had several notable seasons throughout their history. In 1970, Marquette was ranked 8th in the nation and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. However, due to dissatisfaction with their placement in the Midwest regional, the team chose to play in the NIT instead, which they won. This made Marquette the only university ever to reject an NCAA tournament invitation. The team then went on to appear in the Final Four in 1974, 1977, and 2003, winning the national championship in 1977.
The 2002-03 season is considered one of the best in Marquette's history, with the team making a Final Four appearance and winning the NCAA Championship. Tom Crean, who took over as head coach in 1999, led Marquette to five NCAA tournament bids in his nine years with the program. Buzz Williams replaced Crean as head coach for the 2008-09 season, guiding the team to a 25-10 record. Williams' most successful season was in 2010-11, when he led the Golden Eagles to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2003.
More recently, the 2015-16 season was highlighted by standout recruit Henry Ellenson, who won the Big East Rookie of the Year award and was named first-team All-Big East. In 2021, Shaka Smart was hired as the new head coach, and despite several player transfers, he was able to secure key transfers for the 2021-22 season, including Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Tyler Kolek.
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Marquette's NCAA tournament appearances
Marquette Golden Eagles, the men's basketball team representing Marquette University, has had a rich history of NCAA tournament appearances. The team, formerly known as the Marquette Hilltoppers and Marquette Warriors, competes in the NCAA Division I and is a part of the Big East Conference.
Marquette has made an impressive 37 NCAA tournament appearances, with the most recent being in 2025. The Golden Eagles first rose to national prominence under the leadership of head coach Al McGuire, who took over the program in 1964. In 1970, Marquette received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and was ranked 8th. However, they chose to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) instead, which they won, making them the only university to decline an NCAA tournament invite.
The Golden Eagles have had several notable NCAA tournament runs, including three Final Four appearances in 1974, 1977, and 2003. In 1974, they were the national runner-up, falling short in the championship game. But in 1977, they claimed their first and only NCAA basketball championship, defeating North Carolina Tar Heels. This victory is considered one of the program's greatest achievements, as they had set a record with seven losses going into the tournament.
In more recent years, Marquette's NCAA tournament appearances have been sporadic. After a successful 2012-13 season, they earned a spot in the 2013 NCAA Tournament but were defeated in the first round. The 2014-15 season saw the team struggle, and they failed to qualify for any postseason tournaments. However, the 2015-16 season showcased the talent of Henry Ellenson, who went on to win the Big East Rookie of the Year award. Marquette's last few seasons have been a mix of successes and challenges, with appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2017, 2024, and 2025.
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Marquette's head coaches
Marquette University's men's basketball team, the Golden Eagles, has had several notable head coaches throughout its history. Here is an overview of some of the prominent head coaches:
Al McGuire
Al McGuire was the head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles during the 1970 season. He led the team to an 8th-place ranking and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. However, due to dissatisfaction with the regional allocation, McGuire chose to have Marquette play in the NIT tournament instead, which they went on to win. This decision led to a significant rule change, as the NCAA instituted a rule prohibiting NCAA Division I men's basketball teams from declining NCAA tournament invitations.
Tom Crean
Tom Crean took over the Marquette Golden Eagles program in 1999 and had a significant impact during his nine-year tenure. He made several changes to the team's image and culture, including the introduction of a "Midnight Madness" event. Under Crean's leadership, Marquette earned five NCAA tournament bids, showcasing the team's improved performance. The 2002-03 season was particularly memorable, as the team made a Final Four appearance. Crean's overall record with Marquette was impressive, compiling a 160-68 record across his final seven seasons.
Buzz Williams
Buzz Williams served as the head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles for several seasons, starting in 2008-09. In his first season, Williams led the team to a 25-10 record. The 2013-14 season was Williams' worst at Marquette, finishing with a 17-15 record. Despite this setback, Williams contributed to the team's success during his tenure.
Steve Wojciechowski
Steve Wojciechowski took over as the head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles in 2014, replacing Buzz Williams. Wojciechowski faced a challenging start, as the team lost several key players before the 2014-15 season. The team struggled during that season, finishing with a 13-19 overall record. However, the 2015-16 campaign showcased the team's potential, with a standout performance by recruit Henry Ellenson, who won the Big East Rookie of the Year award.
Shaka Smart
Shaka Smart is the current head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles, having taken over in March 2021. Smart has a proven track record of success, previously leading Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to its first-ever Final Four appearance in the 2011 NCAA tournament. At VCU, Smart employed a high-pressure style of play known as "havoc." He has also coached at the University of Texas, where he led the Longhorns to a Big 12 conference championship and received recognition as a relationship builder and a leader who fosters team camaraderie. In his first season at Marquette, Smart guided the team to a 19-13 record, and in his second season, they won a Big East regular-season crown and a tournament championship.
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Marquette's notable players
Marquette University has a rich history in college basketball, producing several talented and memorable players. Here are some of the most notable Marquette basketball players:
Dwyane Wade
One of the most iconic figures in Marquette's basketball history, Dwyane Wade, captivated fans with his explosive style of play and ability to slash through defences. Wade joined the team in 2001 and quickly rose to prominence, despite an initially slow start due to academic ineligibility. In the 2002-03 season, he led Marquette to the Final Four, averaging 19.7 points in his two seasons with the team. Wade's performance in the 2003 NCAA tournament, including a triple-double against Kentucky, is still talked about today. He went on to have an illustrious NBA career, primarily with the Miami Heat.
Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is known for his tenacity and all-around game. He has become a standout player in the NBA, showcasing the hard work and determination that Marquette is known for instilling in its athletes. Butler is currently one of the top players in the league and is recognised for his impact on the court.
Wes Matthews
Wesley Joel Matthews Jr., the son of former NBA player Wes Matthews, was a do-it-all star for the Marquette Golden Eagles. He could score from anywhere on the court and defend the opponent's top perimeter player. One of his most notable skills was his ability to get to the free-throw line, averaging over seven free-throw attempts per game in his senior season. Matthews is the program's all-time leader in made free throws.
Steve Novak
Steve Novak, a sharpshooting forward, was a crucial part of Marquette's success in the early 2000s. He helped the team reach the Final Four in 2003 and facilitated Marquette's transition from Conference USA into the Big East. Novak is currently a television analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks on Fox Sports Wisconsin.
Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder had a standout career at Marquette, especially in his last season, where he averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. This performance earned him the Big East Player of the Year award.
Other notable Marquette basketball players include Juan Ronel Toscano-Anderson, who won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022, and Doc Rivers, who is also recognised as one of the best Marquette players by some fans.
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Marquette's basketball ranking
Marquette University's basketball team, the Golden Eagles, has a rich history in NCAA Division I college basketball. The team has made 37 NCAA tournament appearances, including three Final Four appearances in 1974, 1977, and 2003. They were the national runner-up in 1974 and won the national championship in 1977.
In the 1970 season, Marquette was ranked 8th in the nation and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. However, they were slotted into the Midwest regional, which displeased head coach Al McGuire, leading Marquette to become the only university to reject an NCAA tournament invitation in favour of the NIT, which they went on to win.
The Golden Eagles have had notable success in recent years as well. In the 2002-03 season, they made a Final Four appearance, their first since winning the NCAA Championship in 1977. Tom Crean, who took over as head coach in 1999, led Marquette to five NCAA tournament bids in his nine years with the program, a significant improvement over the previous four coaches.
In the 2013-14 season, under head coach Buzz Williams, the team finished with a 17-15 record. Williams left Marquette for Virginia Tech after that season, and Steve Wojciechowski was hired as the new head coach. The 2014-15 season saw the team struggle, finishing 13-19 overall and failing to qualify for any postseason tournament. However, the 2015-16 campaign highlighted the emergence of Henry Ellenson, who won the Big East Rookie of the Year award and was named first-team All-Big East.
In the 2024-25 season, Marquette received votes in the AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll and the ESPN Men's College Basketball Rankings but did not crack the top 25 in either poll.
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Frequently asked questions
Marquette has been playing basketball for over 100 years. The team hosted its first basketball game in February 1917.
Marquette has been in the Big East Conference since 2005. They previously competed in Conference USA from 1995-96 to 2004-05.
It took Marquette 25 years to return to the Final Four after winning the NCAA Championship in 1977. They returned to the Final Four in 2003 but did not win.
Tom Crean spent nine years at Marquette. He took over the program in 1999 and left for Indiana after a successful 2002-03 season.
