Looking for an Alpha Dog

At 9-2, with a CBE Classic championship under their belts, the Marquette Warriors have had a fairly successful non-conference season. However, in losses to North Dakota State and in-state rival Wisconsin, as well as tough outings against Idaho State and Valparaiso, it has become increasingly apparent that in addition to poor free-throw shooting and the lack of an inside presence, the Warriors have suffered from a lack of leadership. This has been discussed on MUScoop.

Every team needs leaders, someone who has been through it all before and can keep the others in line. On last year's team it was Steve Novak, and there is no doubt that fellow seniors Joe Chapman and Chris Grimm were able to impart some of their wisdom to their young teammates. Freshmen Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews all knew their place on the team and were able to have a lot of success despite occasionally struggling like any other freshman. But those three seniors are gone and in their place are oft-injured center Mike Kinsella and JUCO transfer Jamil Lott, neither of whom has played enough games at a high level to be strong leaders. Also, the team only contains three juniors, one of whom, Lawrence Blackledge, is in his first year at Marquette after playing at the JUCO level. This leaves the team with four sophomores and two freshmen. That means that of the eleven scholarship players eligible this year (Maurice Acker transferred in and is not eligible to play until next season) eight are in their first or second year at Marquette. Additionally, junior Dan Fitzgerald is in his third season here, but his first was his transfer season, so this is only the second season in which he has played.

This youth has been evident in several games this season. With no veteran leader, the Warriors played with little fire for most of a tough overtime win against Idaho State and allowed Valparaiso to come back and take the lead before Dominic James took over and scored Marquette's final 18 points. There also seemed to be a lack of focus and determination in a four point loss to North Dakota State in the Pepsi Blue and Gold Classic. But the game that most showed the leadership problem was Saturday's loss to the Wisconsin Badgers. Marquette waited much too long to make a run before clamping down on defense and finishing on a 16-10 run. Now, there were certainly many factors that went into that loss, such as poor shooting from the three-point and free-throw lines and the inability to contain Alando Tucker. But in a loss as close as this, a strong leader could have been just enough to turn the tide. The young players just seem unable to pull it together until it is a little too late in some cases.

But most teams don't have the luxury of senior leadership from players such as Novak or J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams last year with Duke. Often, teams must make do with younger players who can assert themselves and be vocal and keep everyone in line. The Warriors were able to get to the Final Four in 2003 while being led by sophomore Travis Diener and second year junior Dwyane Wade. This year's group has the big trio of James, McNeal and Matthews. James is a great talent and can take over a game when he wants to, as evidenced by the last several minutes of the Valpo game. But he can also be selfish and cocky, and there have been reports that there is a growing separation between James and his teammates. Coming into the season, most just assumed that after last year's sensational freshman campaign, James, along with Matthews and McNeal, would make this their team. So far that has not happened. In some ways, they seem like it already is their team and they don't have to take it. All season long, Coach Tom Crean has mentioned in his post-game comments that the team is not talking enough, particularly on defense.

What this Warriors team needs is someone who will talk, someone who will lead by example, someone who will keep everyone else in line. This team doesn't just need a leader, they need an alpha dog.

An alpha dog isn't just a vocal leader. An alpha dog is a player that commands respect, so much respect that when he speaks, other players don't just listen, they follow every word as though their lives depend on it. Their mere presence keeps everyone in line. Larry Bird, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson are all alpha dogs. And then of course there is Michael Jordan, the ultimate alpha dog. Why do you think Chicago is the only place Dennis Rodman ever fit? Here at Marquette, the Warriors had Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener. Steve Novak wasn't an alpha dog, but the freshman respected him so much that he was able to fill the position.

Just think how well an alpha dog would fit onto this team. He would keep DJ in the game for a full 40 minutes instead of waiting until the second half to turn it on. He would get Jerel to move the majority of his shots inside the three-point arc and Danny Fitz to take more shots. He would make sure that everyone worked to improve their free-throw shooting. That team would be one to reckon with deep into March. Too bad there's no alpha dog here.