Marquette Basketball Hour

On the season premiere of the Marquette Basketball Hour, Sofia Hanrahan and Trevor Hilson sit down with Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart to break down the win over Valparaiso — including what truly “goes into winning,” the team’s grit in forcing overtime, and their poise in closing it out. Freshmen Nigel James Jr. and Ian Miletic join the show to talk about Nigel’s New York–style edge, Ian’s redshirt development and growth mindset, and what each of them loves most about Milwaukee and life at Marquette. The crew also looks ahead to Saturday’s showdown with in-state rival Wisconsin, discussing the focus needed for another chance to improve against a high-level opponent, the significance of the rivalry within the state, and how the Golden Eagles can continue to elevate their game as they push toward a strong finish to non-conference play.