Could Shaka Smart be on the hot seat? After a 12-win season for Marquette basketball, he’s got to produce big improvements – and this roster looks the part.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Marquette basketball.
Marquette basketball has been one of the most consistent teams in the new era of the Big East, but missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 and the first time under head coach Shaka Smart, who has been at the helm since 2021-22. The team was hoping Chase Ross could take a leap and be the number one option. While he took the leap, it didn’t translate as they thought it would, and other problems piled on as the season went on.
Still, since taking over in Milwaukee, Smart has continued to find success, but has been notable for resisting the transfer portal – almost stubbornly. However, that changed after last year’s disaster, with Marquette getting Sananda Fru (Louisville), Colin Porter (Liberty), and Nolan Minessale (St. Thomas-MN).
It’s still remarkable how well Smart has been able to retain his own talent, especially after a season like that, where the Golden Eagles won just a dozen games and went 7-13 in Big East play. But they have clearly bought in, and with some necessary changes made, this roster looks like it could be one of the best in the Big East.
The biggest get for this team might be the return of Nigel James Jr., who was the best freshman in the conference last season. He’s not alone in returning. Royce Parham averaged over 12 points per game, Adrien Stevens had huge numbers to end the season, and a plethora of role players are back. Combing them with the incoming talent positions the Golden Eagles to not only be in the top tier of the Big East, but possibly the best team in the conference if all works out.
If you can’t tell already, I’ve bought in completely with this squad.
Head coach: Shaka Smart (18th season overall, 6th at Marquette)
2025-26 record: 12-20 (7-13)
2026 postseason finish: No tournament
Notable departures:
- Chase Ross (14.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.3 SPG)
- Ben Gold (8.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 0.9 APG)
- Zaide Lowery (8.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- Sean Jones (6.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 8 GP)
Notable non-conference games:
- at Michigan (Nov. 11)
- vs. Missouri (Nov. 15) – Chicago, IL
- vs. Virginia (Nov. 25) – Battle 4 Atlantis
- vs. Texas A&M (Nov. 27) – Battle 4 Atlantis
- vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 5)
- vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 12)
Projected Rotation
PG: Nigel James Jr. (6-0, 195, So.)
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
SG: Adrien Stevens (6-4, 215, So.)
2025-26 stats: 7.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 37.5 3P%
SF: Damarius Owens (6-7, 205, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 4.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.7 APG
PF: Royce Parham (6-9, 235, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 12.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 52.2 FG%
C: Sananda Fru (6-11, 250, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 BPG, 75.3 FG% (Louisville)
6: Nolan Minessale (6-5, 195, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 19.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 50.6 FG% (St. Thomas-MN)
7: Michael Phillips II (6-6, 205, So.)
2025-26 stats: 2.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.2 APG, 32.2 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 8.0 MPG, 28 GP
8: Colin Porter (5-10, 170, Gr.-Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 11.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 35.8 3P% (Liberty)
9: Caedin Hamilton (6-9, 245, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 2.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 12.9 MPG, 17 GS
10: Alex Egbuonu (6-7, 235, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 95 ranked recruit
11: Joshua Clark (7-1, 250, So.)
2025-26 stats: 1.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.0 APG, 5.5 MPG, 23 GP
12: Ethan Johnston (6-7, 210, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 221 ranked recruit
13: Ian Miletic (6-7, 205, Rs.-Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 202 ranked recruit (2025)
14: Nash Walker (6-6, 205, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 380 ranked recruit
Marquette basketball team MVP: Nigel James Jr.
Is Nigel James Jr. the next coming of Ja Morant? As a small guard, James still plays above the rim thanks to his tremendous hops.
But his game is much more than just his explosiveness. James has great court vision, has worked on his jumper, and is a menace on defense. He played with so much confidence as a freshman; there’s almost no choice but to believe he will be even better as a sophomore. James is my preseason pick for Big East Player of the Year.
Obviously, you could look at his stats as ’empty.’ But if you watch the tape, it’s anything but that. Sure, Marquette didn’t win a lot of games, but with better talent around him now and a roster that is built to compete in the Big East, the outlook on James becomes even brighter. This could be a historic year for the rising star.
Marquette basketball make-or-break player: Michael Phillips II
The starting five is great, and the bench has promise, but how great can it be? Past Marquette benches have had minimal production, but Smart built this roster to say otherwise. Guys like Porter and Minessale come in looking to have immediate impacts on the offensive end.
But what could we see from Phillips II, who has a lot of intrigue heading into his sophomore year? As a freshman, the number won’t jump off the page, but he clearly was in Smart’s favor, starting 17 games.
Obviously, he brings length, but he didn’t haul in a lot of boards and was not a crucial scorer, other than a few breakout games. But that could change if Phillips gets more time and more chances to be an impact player. This is a bench that will need someone like him to make a difference defensively and on the glass. If he doesn’t make huge improvements, it’s not the end of the world for Marquette, but it would tie things together pretty well.
Key statistic: Total rebounding % (Rebound rate)
In 2025-26, Marquette was dismal on the glass, finishing sub-300 in the country in rebound rate. In fact, the Golden Eagles allowed 38.5 boards per game (350th) and only grabbed 34.2 per game (247th). That’s a margin of about four per game in favor of the other team. Much like the line of scrimmage wins and loses games in football, whoever controls the glass in basketball often has the edge.
Shaka Smart must have seen those problems and did something about it. For one, 7-foot-1 Joshua Clark and 6-foot-9 Caedin Hamilton are back as reinforcements off the bench. But more importantly, Sananda Fru is in, pairing with Royce Parham for a great duo down low. Parham grabbed about five rebounds a game as a freshman, and Fru hauled in about six per game as a first-year player at Louisville. That essentially replaces Ben Gold, but again, if you watch the tape, you’ll know it’s a big improvement.
Marquette should be in a much better position to win battles on the glass in 2026-27.
Marquette basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 5th in the Big East
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 exit