Marquette seniors reflect on crazy year
These aren't the senior seasons that men's basketball players Koby McEwen, Jamal Cain and Theo John envisioned at Marquette.
There have been bumps and bruises. There are frustrations with an uneven season that has seen victories over two top-10 opponents and also a late-season stretch in which the Golden Eagles lost six of seven games. There's still socialjustice issues that have occupied their minds. And, of course, there is the daily slog of testing and protocols that goes into playing games against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Life hasn't been regular,” McEwen said on Friday. “I'm living in a hotel. There's no fans. It's just different. You're kind of cut off from the rest of campus.
You don’t have really a social life. You can’t do anything really, but just go to your room and study, play video games and then go play basketball. The toughest part about it is how boring and isolating it’s been.”
MU (12-13, 7-11 Big East) finishes the regular season against Xavier (13-6, 6-6) at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Fiserv Forum. The seniors will be honored before a game that will feel a bit more normal, with up to 1,800 fans allowed for the first time this season.
“Those three guys have done a really good job in a most unusual year,” MU head coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “If you track back to the end of last season, and the entirety of this season, there is no playbook. Whether that’s for coaches or players.
“So those guys have had to lead during moments of unchartered territory with a lot of new faces. When they’re learning on the fly as well (with) what we’re allowed or not allowed to do.”
All three players have experienced ups and downs at MU.
McEwen, a 6-foot-4 guard, played his first two seasons at Utah State before transferring and sitting out the 2018-19 season. He started every game he suited up for Golden Eagles until the last three as Wojciechowski was looking to shake the team out of its funk.
McEwen has averaged 10.1 points in 54 games at MU and boasts a highlight reel a clutch plays, including the winning layup at St. John’s this season and taking over at Xavier last season when star guard Markus Howard exited with a facial injury.
McEwen and John have been outspoken in their calls for racial equality, taking part in protests last summer and pointing out issues on MU’s campus. McEwen also has opened up about his struggles with mental health, including anxiety and depression.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” McEwen said. “Becoming a leader, I feel like I’ve been a leader in all aspects that I possibly can. Off the court, on the court.
“I feel like as a person I’ve become more in-tune with myself and knowing myself. And learning how to love myself is probably the biggest thing.”
Cain was a rotation player as a freshman, but saw his playing time decrease as a sophomore. The high-flying, 6-7 forward stuck around to become a valuable contributor this season, averaging 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds.
“First, the relationships that I had built with my teammates,” Cain said when asked how he got through his struggles. “Those guys are brothers to me. We’ve been through a lot together.
“And I feel like, for me, it was challenging, but it was also going to prove who I was as a person. I don’t run away from challenges. It was a challenge and I was ready for it. And I stayed. And I stayed mentally ready.”
John had a different challenge, playing hurt the last two seasons. As a junior, he didn’t miss a game with a left wrist injury that required surgery in the summer.
The 6-9 center has gutted out this season with a left knee injury that keeps him from practicing. He is averaging 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season. John is second all-time at MU with 189 blocks.
The senior trio also has emotional scars from when the coronavirus cancelled last year’s postseason.
“You always hear the saying, ‘Got to practice or play like it’s your last,’ “John said. “This whole last year has really taught, I feel like, everybody around the country the truth in that. I remember last year around this time, it can just hit you in the mouth. You didn’t know what to expect, you didn’t know what was going to happen next.
“You never would have thought basketball would have been taken away from you, let alone that quickly. And for something you can’t control. It definitely took a toll on everybody across the country mentally and it’s something that you learn from and something that’s help me not to take it for granted.”
Due to MU’s struggles this season, the only way to make the NCAA Tournament will be to win the Big East tournament next week in New York.
“We have a lot of season left,” McEwen said. “But last year was our forsure chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. That kind of stings a little bit, knowing you put so much work into the game, and for it to be taken away from you just like that. It’s kind of heartbreaking.”
The NCAA is allowing an extra season of eligibility and Wojciechowski said he will discuss the seniors’ options in the offseason. But John sounded like his mind was made up.
“I think some guys will benefit a lot from it,” John said. “But I’m good. I’m ready to move on. I did my four years.”
It was a journey with unique challenges.
“Inconsistencies, highs, lows – that’s part of college,” Wojciechowski said. “There’s lessons to be learned at every peak and every valley. And those guys have learned the lessons.”