Why Marquette can reach Elite Eight in our 2024 March Madness predictions
The Marquette men's basketball team has talked all season about wanting to reach college basketball's biggest stage.
The Golden Eagles haven't been to the Final Four since Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener and Co. got there in 2003.
MU, seeded second in the South Region, got a look at its possible path to Glendale, Arizona, when the NCAA Tournament bracket was released Sunday.
Here is a look at what could keep MU from getting there:
Colorado could be potential second-round spoiler
MU faces 15th-seeded Western
Kentucky in the first round, and the Golden Eagles should win that.
The second round is where it could get interesting. Seventh-seeded Florida has notched wins over Kentucky and Auburn this season, but also lost big man Micah Handglogten to a gruesome leg injury in the SEC championship game Sunday.
Look out for Colorado, which plays in the First Four against Boise State. The Buffaloes have some NBA-level talent in forwards Tristan de Silva and Cody Williams, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams.
Kentucky is a feast-or-famine team
MU has played Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament before, most notably when Dwyane Wade had a tripledouble against the Wildcats in 2003.
The Golden Eagles could see Kentucky again in the Sweet 16.
This season's Kentucky team has an explosive offense led by lights-out shooters Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham. In the past month, the Wildcats scored 117 points against Alabama and 111 against Arkansas.
March Madness Elite Eight prediction: Houston vs. Marquette
Top-seeded Houston is the type of team that gives MU fits. Despite a banged-up roster, the Cougars are physical defenders and will relentlessly pound the offensive glass. The Golden Eagles are thin in the frountcourt, and gave up lots of secondchance points in losses to Wisconsin, Connecticut and Seton Hall. This looks like the matchup that could keep MU from reaching the Final Four.