BIG EAST TOP TWO-GUARDS 2008-2009: 1) JEREL MCNEAL

November 11, 2008


In today's game, college basketball odds of winning and making March Madness are greatly enhanced by having a top-notch backcourt. New Marquette head coach Buzz Williams has just such a thing and the cornerstone has become Jerel McNeal.

McNeal, a senior from Hillcrest High School in Chicago, is one of the top players in the Big East conference. The 6-foot-3 guard has long been considered among the best perimeter defenders and rebounding guards in the country, but last season he began to show more of a complete offensive game to his arsenal.

McNeal has always filled the stat sheet, and last year was no exception with averages of 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals a game. The points, rebounds and assists were all career high averages, but more evidence of his overall improvement was the reduction in turnovers. After averaging a frightening 3.8 turnovers a game as a freshman and a sophomore, McNeal lowered his turnover rate to 2.8 a game.

McNeal was at his best last season in the post-season, trying his best Dwyane Wade impersonation in an attempt to carry the Golden Eagles in the Big East and NCAA Tournaments. In the five games under the bright lights and intense pressure, McNeal averaged 23.2 points a game, including 30 in the nail biting loss to Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He also averaged 6.2 rebounds, shot 84% from the line, 38% from three (12-32) and 53% from the floor (44-83), all improvements from the regular season.

At the end of last season, McNeal briefly made himself available for the NBA Draft, figuring to strike while the iron was hot. However, he quickly withdrew his name and began concentrating on his senior season with new coach Buzz Williams.

McNeal is one-third of the senior trio of guards for Marquette that also includes Dominic James and Wesley Mathews. This trip is a great resource for coach Williams in his first year as the experienced trio still has some unfinished business to attend to in the college careers. It should be an exciting season in Milwaukee as they attempt to write a final chapter on their excellent careers.