MILWAUKEE -- The first game of the college basketball season is usually a glorified exhibition game for high major programs like Marquette.
At first glance, Southern University seems to fit the bill, but that's not the case. The Golden Eagles know just how good the Jaguars are and certainly aren't taking them lightly as they prepare for Friday night's season opener at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Buzz Williams appreciates a challenge, but he's not overly excited about facing an NCAA tournament team from a year ago right off the bat.
"Really, really bad first game to play," Williams said. "They had multiple opportunities to beat Gonzaga in the first round of the tournament. I've known coach (Roman) Banks for most of my career. He's a really good person and does an outstanding job coaching their team.
"They are very disciplined in their approach on both ends of the floor. They run a set play nearly every possession offensively. I think that's why they had so much success in their league last year, just their approach to how they play."
Southern was tied with top-seeded Gonzaga with 3:47 left in its NCAA tournament game last season only to watch the Bulldogs pull away for a 64-58 win in the end.
The Jaguars return their second-leading scorer and preseason SWAC player of the year Malcolm Miller and third-leading scorer Javan Mitchell from a year ago, but could look to a transfer from Milwaukee to provide a boost.
Calvin Godfrey has been all over the place since spending time at Milwaukee Custer High School, but the talented 6-foot-9 forward has high major experience. He averaged 5.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for Iowa State in the 2010-11 season before getting kicked off the team after his freshman year.
Godfrey planned to enroll at LSU after spending a year at Howard College, but his grades did not allow him to become eligible. Now he's at Southern with a chance to have a big impact. Godfrey and Mitchell will give Marquette a challenge inside right off the bat.
"They have a lot of bigs, so me, Chris (Otule) and Jamil (Wilson are going to have to do something about that," Marquette forward Davante Gardner said. " ... It's a little bit scare because they were in the tournament last year and almost beat a good team. That's a little scary, but it's going to be a great game."
Part of the reason why Williams may feel Southern is a bad opponent to draw right off the bat could be because the Golden Eagles have quite a few questions to answer about themselves. As of Wednesday, Williams didn't know his starting lineup or how he would work his rotation Friday night.
Senior center Chris Otule will start, but Williams says the other four starters are still up in the air and this is the most uncertain his lineup and rotation decisions have been in his six years as head coach.
"I don't know if that's a bad thing in some ways," Williams said. "I wish in my chaotic mind that it was solved a little bit more than it is. I think some of it will be continued to be solved through practices, but also through games. Our rotation is not figured out. Not even our starters. We'll keep working through it.
"I told our guys that I don't know. Some of you guys look good together, some of you guys look terrible together, some of you guys need to be manipulated to look good together. We have to figure that out."
Junior point guard Derrick Wilson is likely to get the call at point guard, while Gardner, Jamil Wilson, Juan Anderson, Todd Mayo, Steve Taylor Jr. and Jake Thomas all return with some collegiate experience.
While some of those players have got their feet wet, none have been counted on to the extent Marquette will rely on them this year. Freshmen Jajuan Johnson, Deonte Burton and John Dawson all could wind up in the rotation early, but they will be getting their first taste of college basketball.
Freshman Duane Wilson is likely to miss the first part of the season with a fractured leg, hurting Marquette's depth at point guard.
"I would say we are in a little bit of a flux in that Chris, Davante and Jamil have had an impact in meaningful minutes postively and negatively," Williams said. "Derrick, Jake, Todd, Juan and Steve have always been 'Well, whatever you do helps us and if you are hurting us, you don't get to play.'
"Well, you can't be those guys anymore. Some of you have to turn into real guys. That's what we're trying to figure out."
With No. 11 Ohio State coming into the Bradley Center on Nov. 16, the Golden Eagles feel the early challenge Southern provides will benefit them against the Buckeyes.
"It's a good test for us," Anderson said. "They are a good team. We are't going to sweep them under the rug and disregard what they can do. We're going to take them as a serious opponent."
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