Marquette Crusaders look dangerous with big pieces back

There was a lot of speculation among area fans about how good the Marquette boys basketball team might have been if not for the injuries that cost them one of the area’s best perimeter shooters and one of the best forces in the paint.

Barring any more unforeseen circumstances in this year of so many twists and turns, this season they might found out just how good.

“I don’t know how we’re gonna do, but we’ll find out right away with four games in five days starting Friday.”

—  Marquette Academy boys basketball coach Todd Hopkins

The Crusaders expect their starting lineup in Friday’s debut at Henry-Senachwine to include both 6-7, 250-pound center Victor Mullen — who signed a month ago to play tight end for the University of Louisville — and Luke Couch, one of the most versatile athletes in the area and a shockingly accurate shooter from the 3-point line.

Adding them to senior guards Nick Melvin, Lucas Hoffman and Nate Nelson, sophomore guard Logan Nelson and senior forward Shane Reynolds from the squad that battled back from those personnel losses to a 15-17 mark that was 5-4/tied for fourth in the Tri-County Conference, and there’s a good chance for MA to do some damage in its five-week season.

“These guys had some ups and downs last year for sure, not having two of their buddies playing with them,” said Hopkins, whose teams have gone 83-43 in four-plus seasons with the boys program. “That was a shock at first, but they stepped up and did the best they could. They have pride, and they’re competitors, and they’ll be ready to lay it on the line. We’ll just have to see what happens.

“I don’t know how we’re gonna do, but we’ll find out right away with four games in five days starting Friday.”

Mullen averaged around 10 points and seven rebounds after being called up to the varsity at the end of his sophomore year, then was injured and missed his junior season. Helping him on the boards now will be the 6-3 Reynolds, who saw a lot of minutes in the post a year ago, along with 6-2 senior Pat McGrath, junior 6-2 twins Beau and Brady Ewers and their 6-3 cousin Cody Ewers. Another senior that missed last season, Grant Waldron, a 6-2 senior forward with a nose for the ball, will be out indefinitely due to an ankle injury.

The depth of this Cru is at guard, led by the 5-9 Melvin, who averaged 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In addition to the 5-9 Couch, there’s also the 6-0 Hoffman, 5-11 Nate Nelson and 6-2 Logan Nelson, a season-long starter averaging 6.6 points, 3.7 boards and 2.4 assists as a freshman.

A key for this club will be to play aggressive, foul-free defense.

“We have some speed and quickness, and that’s good. We have guys with experience, and that’s good, we’re fortunate to have some depth, and that’s good, too, because we’re gonna have to play a lot of kids at first,” said Hopkins. “Obviously, no one will have basketball legs starting out, and I doubt they’d even be in game shape in just five weeks, with the exception maybe of (cross country star) Lucas, he can run all day.

“It will be interesting. The kids are excited to get to play, to compete against somebody, and they’ll be ready.”