AMES, Iowa — Thus ends the easy road.
No more buy games, no more cupcakes. From here on out, No. 5 Marquette men’s basketball embarks on a four-month slog through fire.
The first flame is Wednesday night’s meaty all-top-10 matchup at 6th ranked Iowa State.
A battle between star backcourts: Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell and Chase Ross vs. Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert. A dogfight between a top 5 Cyclones offense and the Golden Eagles’ No. 6 defense. A face-off between the coach who relentlessly recruits Wisconsin and the coach actually from Wisconsin.