Marquette to Retire Dwyane Wade's #3

Tom crean spoke to the Marquette Club of Chicago at a luncheon today and covered many topics, amoung them the announcement that Marquette will retire Dwyane Wade's number this coming season.

Tom crean spoke to 300 hundred people at the Marquette Club of Chicago at a luncheon today and covered many topics, amoung them the announcement that Marquette will retire Dwyane Wade's number this coming season.

Crean typically requires that a player has graduated before having their number retired, but today Crean explained why Wade will get an exemption, "Dwyane Wade’s number will be retired on February 3rd vs Providence. He hasn’t graduated yet, but he has been such a good friend and ambassador to the university that we decided to do it. Last week he filmed three commercials, one for Navigator, one for Gatorade and one for Marquette University."

Also announced at the luncheon was that Marquette Women's Coach Terri Mitchell's contract was extended through the 2011 season.

Crean touched on several things at the luncheon, here are some exerpts from coach Crean about the coming season....

The keys to this year are:

*Cut down on turnovers. Last year I was more patient because they were younger players, I will change that tone this year."

* Improve the offensive rebounds.

*Dominic has to improve to over 80% from the free throw line. Novak was over 90%, Diener over 85%, Dominic has to get there.

*The sophomores will be key. They are improving at an incredible rate.

*Wade’s Final four team averaged 78 pts per game, they averaged 75 last year, will have to get into the 80’s this year with additional fast break points. Need more easy baskets off of turnovers and get to the line more because Steve Novak at the PF meant that they didn’t get draw many fouls from the down low positions.

Novak facts – In the last 5 minutes of games, Novak missed one free throw in his entire career. Missed two free throws from Jan 2005 to the end of his career.

There will be more to come in another story...