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Marquette begins new season under Williams

Nov 14, 2008 - 11:18 AM Houston Baptist at No. 17 Marquette, 8:30 p.m. EST

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Marquette will start the new campaign with its talented backcourt intact, but there will be a new coach roaming the sidelines.

The Buzz Williams era gets underway on Friday when the 17th-ranked Golden Eagles host Houston Baptist.

Marquette has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and is coming off its third straight 20-win season.

Senior guards Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews all return for the Golden Eagles, who finished fifth in the Big East last season and are expected to finish in the top half of the loaded conference again.

Williams replaces Tom Crean, who compiled a 190-96 record over nine seasons at Marquette. Crean guided the Golden Eagles to their first Final Four in 26 years in 2003. Crean left for Indiana.

Williams served as an assistant at Marquette for one season after he went 14-17 at the University of New Orleans during the 2006-07 campaign. He also served as an assistant under Billy Gillispie for two seasons at Texas A&M.

Houston Baptist, which went 13-15 as an Independent last season, returns its top four scorers.

Senior Gordon Watt led the team at 16.6 points per game. He is joined by Baron Sauls, Andrew Puzyk and Emanuel Willis, who all averaged in double figures.