Broken Bone Ends James’ Marquette Career

It looks like the end of the road for Dominic James’ playing days at Marquette. The four-year starter fractured a bone in his left foot which will sideline him for the season. Although I have been hard on James in the past, (Dominic James-Lottery Pick To D-League) I realize that he is still a leader to the entire Marquette basketball team. He has improved his ball handling over the years resulting in the best assist to turnover ratio in his four years in school. He also plays stellar defense, pick pocketing over two steals a game. And although his free throw percentage is under 50%, he does other things well that are going to be missed by the entire team as they continue with their brutal remaining schedule.

The broken bone came at such an inopportune moment—not that there is ever a good time for a player to break a bone. The reason it was so tough for the team is because the big three guard combination of James, Jerel McNeal, and Wesley Matthews are all seniors and this is their last shot at dancing deep come March. Without James leading the way, Marquette will need other players, most notably junior guard Maurice Acker, to step up in James’ absence.

With three key games remaining on the schedule (at #6 Louisville, at #1 Pitt, and home against a tough Syracuse team) before the Big East tournament, Marquette will need as much help as they can get. This team can’t sputter down the stretch because they are fighting for a high seed in the upcoming big dance. So while James will be missed by his teammates, those same teammates better not feel sorry for themselves but rather realize that they will have to step up in his absence.