(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men’s basketball team (0-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) opens its 110th season of competition on Monday, Nov. 2 when the squad welcomes Mercyhurst (0-0, 0-0 NEC) to Fiserv Forum in the 2026-27 campaign lidlifter.
ESPN+ features the broadcast, with Josh Maurer (play-by-play) and former Marquette guard Jerel McNeal (analyst) calling the action.
Monday’s outing marks the first-ever against the Lakers. Following the matchup, the Golden Eagles will host Detroit Mercy on Friday, Nov. 6 in a student-only game at the Al McGuire Center.
Marquette has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success on opening night and hopes to continue that trend in 2026-27 when the team faces Mercyhurst on Monday night.
The Golden Eagles are 93-16 (.853) all-time in season lidlifters and have claimed 33 of their last 35 overall, including each of the last 10 openers. Marquette had an impressive streak of 29 years in which it started 1-0, dating from 1960-61 to 1988-89.
Exhibition proving ground: Marquette posted a pair of exhibition wins during the preseason, downing Green Bay, 87-60, on the road on Oct. 19 and No. 6 Michigan State, 86-79, at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 25.
The Golden Eagles were impressive at both ends of the court in the two outings, holding the Phoenix and Spartans to a combined 38.2 percent (39-of-102) from the floor, while knocking down 56-of-96 (58.3 percent) of their own opportunities. Of Marquette’s 56 made field goals, 43 (76.8 percent) were the result of an assist created by the team’s offensive attack.
Against Green Bay, sophomore guard Nigel James Jr. led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds and in the win over Michigan State, junior forward Royce Parham chipped in 12 points and eight boards in 29 minutes of action.
The Golden Eagles also conducted a closed scrimmage against Colorado and new NCAA rules allow up to three preseason exhibitions, with the combination of public and closed at the discretion of the head coach.
Who is back: In an era where player movement is more common than ever, Marquette features 62.2 percent of its offensive attack from last season, placing it among the top teams in the nation when it comes to production returning from 2025-26 among high-major programs.
The Golden Eagles’ percentage is tops in the BIG EAST and only second to Florida (81.8 percent) for programs in the ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. Rutgers is right behind Marquette at 61.9 percent for third overall and the second-place squad in the BIG EAST is UConn (47.8 percent).
James Jr. Named To Bob Cousy Award List: Unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team selection Nigel James Jr. has been named one of 20 players selected to the Bob Cousy Award Preseason Watch List (nation’s top point guard) the Naismith Hall of Fame announced on Oct. 26.
The Huntington, N.Y., native contributed 16.4 points, 4.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game in 2025-26 en route to BIG EAST Freshman of the Year accolades. He concluded the year ranked among the top-10 in the league in five categories, including fourth in scoring.
Former Marquette All-America selection and current New York Knicks player Tyler Kolek was a finalist for the award in each of his final two seasons at Marquette.
Fru on the Kareem Abdul-Jabaar Award List: Preseason All-BIG EAST Third Team honoree Sananda Fru, who is in his first season with the Golden Eagles after transferring from Louisville, is one of 20 players on the Kareem Abdul-Jabar Award Preseason Watch List.
The accolade recognizes the nation’s top center and is awarded at the conclusion of the year by the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Fru averaged 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2025-26 with the Cardinals and shot 75.3 percent (128-of-170) from the field, which would have led the nation had he netted the minimum of at least five baskets per game.
He’s good: Marquette head coach Shaka Smart will celebrate his 50th birthday in the spring, placing him tied for second in wins among active NCAA Division I head coaches under 50 entering the 2026-27 campaign.
Iowa’s Ben McCollum leads the way with 449 victories and Smart is tied with UT Martin’s Jeremy Shulman (382). Smart is 110-61 (.643) in five seasons at Marquette and 383-203 (.653) in 17 overall campaigns (MU, Texas, VCU).
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