A Look Back At Miami Heat Icon Dwyane Wade’s Final Four Run With Marquette
Before the championships, the retired jersey and upcoming statue, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade carried a small private school to its first Final Four in 26 years.
With March Madness kicking off on Tuesday night, it’s fitting to revisit Wade’s remarkable 2003 run with the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Marquette entered the NCAA Tournament that year as a No. 3 seed (23-4). Wade had a pedestrian (for him) first round, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists as Marquette squeaked by No. 14 seed Holy Cross, 72-68.
Then the switch flipped.
The Marquette star bounced back with 24 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in a 101-92 shootout against No. 6 seed Missouri.
Now in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1994, the Golden Eagles faced No. 2 seed Pittsburgh. Wade finished with 22 points (game-high), four assists, three steals and a block in the 77-74 nail-biter.
On to the Elite Eight, a place Marquette hadn’t been since they won the championship in 1977.
Their opponent? The No. 1 overall seed Kentucky Wildcats. Not only was Kentucky supposed to beat Marquette — they were supposed to win the whole tournament.
Wade didn’t flinch.
In one of the greatest performances in NCAA Tournament history, Wade posted 29 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and four blocks in the 83-69 rout, willing his team to the Final Four.
Marquette would fall to Kansas, despite Wade’s team-leading 19 points.
Wade averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists on the season, but his tournament performance made him the Heat’s first-round pick (No.5 overall) in the NBA Draft later that year.
The rest is history.
Nick Crandell is a staff contributor at Inside the Heat.
He can be reached at nick.crandell33@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @nickcrandell
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