With victories over Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin and Georgia early in the season, the Marquette Golden Eagles looked at least at times like a top 10 team in the country.
A favorable Big East schedule in the first half of the conference season supported that eye test, as the Golden Eagles won 9 of their first 10 league games, getting off to an 18-3 start.
Then, the pace of the season took a deflection.
The Golden Eagles went 4-6 in the second half of the league season when the schedule got tougher and never could get the swagger back that they had early in the season.
That season came to an end Friday night after a disappointing 75-66 loss to New Mexico in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The outstanding college careers of Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell and David Joplin also abruptly were over.
Joplin may have saved his best Marquette game for last with 28 points and it certainly can be argued that Kam Jones was still the best all-around offensive player in the Big East.
But Jones’ immense workload and way he was defended seemed to have an effect on his motor as the season wore on. Marquette never won more than two consecutive games after Jan. 28.
Here’s a bit of social media response after the first-round tournament loss.
The Marquette Golden Eagles season has come to an end.
A season that started with enormous hopes, a top 5 team, and ends with a first game exit.
Heartbreak for the Golden Eagles.
— Big East Bar Room 🎙 (@BigEastBarroom) March 22, 2025
Why does it feel like a Pitino has been ruining my Marquette basketball experience for two decades….
— Jen Lada (@JenLada) March 22, 2025
A strong Friday for the @MountainWest as 12-seed Colorado State puts up a big second half to take down Memphis and Donovan Dent takes over late for 10-seed New Mexico to edge Marquette.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 22, 2025
Familiar refrain for Marquette. New Mexico was plus 11 from the foul line and plus 9 on the scoreboard. That’s usually how it goes. Shaka Smart got everything he could out of this team, but the Lobos’ ability to score in the paint was too much.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 22, 2025
No matter what happens tomorrow, #Badgers fans can enjoy the fact their season went longer than Marquette’s and Hunter Dickinson’s did
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) March 22, 2025
New Mexico 75, Marquette 66.
Commissioner Phillips, The Pitino Family has more teams in the Round of 32 than the ACC.
— rickbozich (@rickbozich) March 22, 2025
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Social media reaction to Marquette’s early loss in NCAA tournament.
