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Green is gold for St. Bonaventure basketball
By David B. Lukow
Marques Green stands just 5-foot-7, but he’s become the big man on campus at St. Bonaventure University.
A junior from Norristown, Pennsylvania, Green refuses to let his lack of size keep him down. He currently leads the basketball Bonnies (2-4) in scoring, steals and assists. In the team’s recent 89-68 upset of Michigan, the diminutive guard had 15 points, six assists and four rebounds.
"He’s an amazing athlete," said Gothard Lane, the St. Bonaventure athletics director. "He might not be the biggest kid on the floor, but it doesn’t seem to have hindered him at all. He’s quick, strong and does a great job of driving to the basket."
The Bonnies, under the guidance of second-year head coach Jan van Breda Kolff, enjoyed considerable success last season. The backcourt combo of Green and the now-departed J.R. Bremer played a major role in the squad’s 17-13 overall finish.
Bremer, now with the Boston Celtics, grabbed most of the headlines and a great deal of the glory. And he certainly deserved every accolade. But the emergence of Green, rarely used as a freshman, may have been an even bigger story. He came out of nowhere and finished the campaign with 462 points, 179 assists and 102 steals.
"He wouldn’t be able to play his position, to compete against the players he goes up against, without being an outstanding athlete. The competition is so great," Lane said. "But a lot of what he does is because of hard work. There are a lot of talented players that don’t reach his level. You’ve got to be willing to pay the price. He consistently does that."
St. Bonaventure has gotten off to a relatively slow start this fall, but Lane, like van Breda Kolff, isn’t worried. The inexperienced Bonnies figure to be much improved later in the schedule.
"We’re a very young team, only four regulars have returned from last year," Lane said. "The rest of the team is basically new. Like Jan has said many, many times, this team will be playing better in January, February and March than last year’s team played. Potentially, we’re a lot deeper this season."
Unlike his team, Green’s start has been anything but slow. He is averaging 20.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds. An excellent shooter, he is hitting 82.4 percent of his free throws. Like his former partner, Bremer, however, his contributions aren’t confined to the offensive zone. Through six games, Green’s tenacious defense has netted 15 steals.
"For a youngster that’s just a junior, to be the player he’s become, is a real credit to his ability and attitude," Lane said. "Through his dedication and hard work, he’s done very well."
Bremer may be gone, but his influence lingers on. The example he set is propelling his former teammates.
"J.R. led by example," Lane said. "He was always in the weight room, trying to make himself quicker and stronger. He has an incredible work ethic. Marques is certainly influenced by what he saw J.R. do, and by what he was able to accomplish."
St. Bonaventure remains, at least in a geographic sense, a bit removed from the beaten path. The exploits of Bremer and Green, however, are paving the way for a promising future.
"Success feeds success," Lane said. "If your teams play well, more people will become interested in your program. That holds true for players, students, parents, fans, just about everybody. The presence of a good sports program, for many kids, and I’m not just talking about athletes, can be the deciding factor in picking one school over another. It can be a significant advantage."
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