Duane Wilson Leaving Marquette

[IWB]

March 20, 2017
For Immediate Release
Scott Kuykendall
MU SID


Duane Wilson Leaving Men’s Basketball Program

Redshirt junior guard can graduate this May



Milwaukee – Redshirt junior guard Duane Wilson of the Marquette University men’s basketball program has decided to leave the team and will conclude his eligibility at another institution.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native is on track to graduate this May and would be immediately eligible to play in 2017-18. A three-year letterwinner with Marquette, Wilson redshirted in 2013-14 after suffering a preseason injury.

“We want to thank Duane for his contributions to the program and wish him the best of luck in the future,” head coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “We respect his decision to explore other opportunities and will be completely supportive throughout the process.”

Wilson appeared in 30 games for the Golden Eagles in 2016-17, earning seven starting assignments in 16.4 minutes per night. He averaged 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. For his career, he started 51 of his 95 games played.

[MU/Panther]

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/843943761319247872

[Gato78]

I said this when Steve Taylor Jr. left and I will say it again: major life mistake. He would be far more successful in life, like many former MU players, if he stuck around and was the face of the program next year. He would be venerated in the MU community and would have a pretty successful post MU life. He may be successful anyway but he would have a great leg up on his fellow graduates if he had remained. I think all of us who did not play basketball can see what a leg up those guys have over us mere grads. Instead, he will be in a difficult ex-MU player world. There is only one guy I know of who transferred from MU and came back for games: Dwayne Johnson. I have run into him a few times over the years and he is a great guy--very friendly. Dwayne Johnson is the only one I can recall. Swaggy is a good kid--a really good kid. I am certain his dad wanted a bigger role for Swaggy but we all saw what was going on on the court. He isn't going to the NBA. He may not be good enough for Europe--at least decent European money. I am just sad because like so many, he has unrealistic expectations. He was a starting guard at Marquette and, apparently, that is not good enough. Good luck Swaggy.

[warriorfan4life]

Got to disagree on this one Gato. He has been in the program four years, will get his degree in May, and helped play a nice role in getting Marquette back in the tournament. If he left after his junior year like Steve, then I would agree with your sentiment. However, he accomplished basically everything he could here and now is moving on to bigger role in the future.

[Nukem2]

Got to disagree on this one Gato. He has been in the program four years, will get his degree in May, and helped play a nice role in getting Marquette back in the tournament. If he left after his junior year like Steve, then I would agree with your sentiment. However, he accomplished basically everything he could here and now is moving on to bigger role in the future.I would agree with you. He will be a MU grad from Milwaukee. Can't take that away from him.

[MUMac]

Got to disagree on this one Gato. He has been in the program four years, will get his degree in May, and helped play a nice role in getting Marquette back in the tournament. If he left after his junior year like Steve, then I would agree with your sentiment. However, he accomplished basically everything he could here and now is moving on to bigger role in the future.

Agree with this. When you read his comments in the JS, it must have been a difficult position. I understand his reasons, wish him the best and have enjoyed having him as an ambassador for MU these past 4 years. I would expect he would remain a part of the MU community after his playing days are over.

[Gato78]

Which former MU players who have transferred have you seen at an MU game or event? I am telling you, there is a level of awkward with that. I will be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong.

[MUMac]

Which former MU players who have transferred have you seen at an MU game or event? I am telling you, there is a level of awkward with that. I will be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong.

He is also the first transfer to have a degree from MU. And he is from Milwaukee.

Not sure you can use the actions of others transitively toward how DW will act in the future. He has always been respectful of MU and was so with this decision.

[warriorfan4life]

Which former MU players who have transferred have you seen at an MU game or event? I am telling you, there is a level of awkward with that. I will be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong.

First time anyone has left as a grad transfer though, and leaving on as good of terms as possible. I hope that Duane is heartily welcome at whatever Marquette related event he wants to attend in the future.

[CaribouJim]

Which former MU players who have transferred have you seen at an MU game or event? I am telling you, there is a level of awkward with that. I will be pleasantly surprised if I am wrong.

Dwayne Johnson sat behind us in D.C. for the Georgetown game when MU came into town ranked 8th in the country with the 3 Amigos leading the charge - close game until the last 8 minutes or so before Green went off. G-Town is a great roadtrip.

In any event, we talked a lot with DJ and he couldn't have been nicer - kind of quiet and low key. I reminded him of the close loss to then #1 or #2 DePaul where Doc had 16 assists and DJ was on the receiving end of many of them - he seemed to enjoy that memory. Really liked his game. Can't remember the details on his departure.

I hate it when guys transfer from MU.

[Gato78]

I spoke with Dwayne Johnson twice at MSG. Super friendly guy. He ended up at Whitewater on a real good team with Robert Barnes from Racine. Eddie Dswang and I went down to Whitewater to watch them.

[Phantom Warrior]

I may be wrong, but I am fairly certain that he left MU for academic reasons.

I remember watching him play in high school on the same team as Ronnie Williams after they both moved to St. John's from New York. After Dwayne's freshman year in high school, Majerus called him "the best high school player in America" or something to that effect. And he did end up a Street & Smith All-American. He had a solid career at MU but nothing spectacular.

I believe he entered MU in the same class as Mandy Johnson, another S & S All-American who, like Dwayne, never quite lived up to that level of hype.

[Nukem2]

I may be wrong, but I am fairly certain that he left MU for academic reasons.

I remember watching him play in high school on the same team as Ronnie Williams after they both moved to St. John's from New York. After Dwayne's freshman year in high school, Majerus called him "the best high school player in America" or something to that effect. And he did end up a Street & Smith All-American. He had a solid career at MU but nothing spectacular.

I believe he entered MU in the same class as Mandy Johnson, another S & S All-American who, like Dwayne, never quite lived up to that level of hype.
He did leave for academic reasons and went to UW-Whitewater. Don't know if if he graduated there.

[CaribouJim]

I may be wrong, but I am fairly certain that he left MU for academic reasons.

I remember watching him play in high school on the same team as Ronnie Williams after they both moved to St. John's from New York. After Dwayne's freshman year in high school, Majerus called him "the best high school player in America" or something to that effect. And he did end up a Street & Smith All-American. He had a solid career at MU but nothing spectacular.

I believe he entered MU in the same class as Mandy Johnson, another S & S All-American who, like Dwayne, never quite lived up to that level of hype.

I remember the Milwaukee Journal had a long form article on the front page of the Sunday sports section on DJ. Can't remember if he had committed yet to MU - he was still at St. John's IIRC.

I liked Mandy's game. He reminded me a bit of Lloyd Walton in his ability to penetrate and dish. That team that played Dale Ellis lead Tennessee was fun to watch or am I mixing that up with the Missouri game?

[Nukem2]

I remember the Milwaukee Journal had a long form article on the front page of the Sunday sports section on DJ. Can't remember if he had committed yet to MU - he was still at St. John's IIRC.

I liked Mandy's game. He reminded me a bit of Lloyd Walton in his ability to penetrate and dish. That team that played Dale Ellis lead Tennessee was fun to watch or am I mixing that up with the Missouri game?
It was Dale Ellis. But Mandy was far different than Lloyd. Mandy was defense while Lloyd was offense.

[Phantom Warrior]

Mandy could not score outside of 6-8 feet. He had no mid-range game whatsoever. Lloyd, on the other hand, had a solid mid-range game. He didn't shoot often because he didn't have to - not with the likes of Bo, Butch, and Earl on the court - but he could consistently hit that pull-up, 15-footer. That being said, I don't remember Lloyd ever shooting a three-pointer. He didn't have that kind of range. But he knew his limitations and played within his limits.

[MUMac]

Mandy could not score outside of 6-8 feet. He had no mid-range game whatsoever. Lloyd, on the other hand, had a solid mid-range game. He didn't shoot often because he didn't have to - not with the likes of Bo, Butch, and Earl on the court - but he could consistently hit that pull-up, 15-footer. That being said, I don't remember Lloyd ever shooting a three-pointer. He didn't have that kind of range. But he knew his limitations and played within his limits.

Yeah, that would have been tough for him as they did not have the three-pointer back then. :p

As an aside, I always thought Rosey would have been a more dangerous weapon if they had the three-pointer during his time at MU. Man, he could shoot.

[Nukem2]

Yeah, that would have been tough for him as they did not have the three-pointer back then. :p

As an aside, I always thought Rosey would have been a more dangerous weapon if they had the three-pointer during his time at MU. Man, he could shoot.And, he really had range as well.

[Phantom Warrior]

MUMac,

I should have been clearer. I meant he did not shoot from three-point distance or three-point range. He could hit a 16-footer, but even 17 feet seemed outside his range. I am pretty certain he never took a shot from 20 feet.

[Goose85]

Best of luck to Duane Wilson, and I hope he finds the right fit for next season.
Glad he was able to get a taste of the NCAA tourney with MU!

[Djgoldnboy]

Wilson will always be a MU player in my eyes......different circumstances than say a Mbwake, Burton or even Traci Carter for that matter, as has been discussed.......it's like Favre's post Packer career, I'm not really sure if that even happened anymore :)

[Nukem2]

Wilson will always be a MU player in my eyes......different circumstances than say a Mbwake, Burton or even Traci Carter for that matter, as has been discussed.......it's like Favre's post Packer career, I'm not really sure if that even happened anymore :)Of course he will. He will be an MU graduate...he is just moving on.

[Djgoldnboy]

Of course he will. He will be an MU graduate...he is just moving on.

Meant it as it shouldn't be weird if he wants to come back to MU to watch games/etc. Program and fans should welcome him with open arms.

[Nukem2]

Meant it as it shouldn't be weird if he wants to come back to MU to watch games/etc. Program and fans should welcome him with open arms.
Agreed.

[CaribouJim]

It was Dale Ellis. But Mandy was far different than Lloyd. Mandy was defense while Lloyd was offense.

I was comparing their ability to penetrate and dish - very similar IMO.

[Nukem2]

I was comparing their ability to penetrate and dish - very similar IMO.
Mandy was very decent, but Lloyd averaged 5.6 assists in his career while Mandy averaged 3.0 assists per game. Lloyd was more of a facilitator