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All-Access Media Pass Provides Exclusive Look At Marquette Men's Basketball
Aug. 8, 2009
Milwaukee - Team Rosters (PDF) Nearly 40 members of the local, regional and national media participated in Marquette's first-ever "All-Access Media Pass," which allowed the participants a behind-the-scenes look at the men's basketball program. The event opened with a film session, where head coach Buzz Williams explained the program's basic offensive and defensive philosophies. Those in attendance were provided examples of the weekly schedule each player is expected to follow, as well as an actual team scouting report from last season. Following a brief player introduction, head strength and conditioning coach Todd Smith put the group of athletes through an intense warm-up on the main court of the Al McGuire Center. Tom Kurtz of Time Warner Sports and Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI.com took advantage of the opportunity by sliding across the floor to check out the newly re-finished surface. The subjects covered during the film session were reinforced at four, 10-minute stations, with instruction from the MU coaching staff and players. While each station had a decent amount of intensity, it was Brad Autry's "Introduction to the Ball Screen" that left many just happy to have survived. Fresh off his high school's 20th reunion, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel set one of the top screens on the day. Unfortunately, he was on defense at the time. All of the day's activities culminated with 5-on-5 games to determine a champion. Each team was coached by MU players, who were in charge of substitution patterns, play calls and "conversing" with the referees. Newcomers Dwight Buycks and Jeronne Maymon rode the shoulders of former MU great Jim McIlvaine to a perfect 2-0 record and team title for Team Misinformation. Buycks quickly installed a 2-3 zone defense to utilize McIlvaine's 7-foot frame and then sat back and watched his team cruise to a pair of wins. The roster also featured Most Valuable Player selection Michael Wottreng of MU Radio. Jimmy Butler's squad, Team Unidentified Source, advanced to the championship following a win over Team "No Comment," mentored by senior Lazar Hayward. Ironically, it was Hayward who had "no comment" after a pair of defeats when asked about his constant complaining to everyone else about his team's performance. Rob Frozena and Darius Johnson-Odom rebounded from an opening loss with Team Out of Context to defeat Hayward's squad in the consolation game. Jerry Palm claimed the Defensive Warrior Award and Troy Sparks of the Milwaukee Community Journal was named Chairman of the Boards. Sparks' afternoon was highlighted by five offensive rebounds on a single possession.
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