March 19, 2024

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MILWAUKEE — Marquette University is one of 22 schools sending both men’s and women’s basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament this month, so March Madness will be in full effect on campus this week. The Office of University Relations has compiled a list of campus events open to media, as well as March Madness topic experts for your coverage of the Big Dance — a phrase coined by the late Al McGuire in 1977.

Media interested in visiting campus should contact Kevin Conway, associate director of university communication, at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu, to coordinate coverage.

Team send-offs, game watch parties

Media interested in coming to campus for NCAA Tournament events should contact Kevin Conway at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu. Fans will be invited to send-offs for both teams as they leave campus for their first-round sites, and Marquette will also host alcohol-free game-watching parties for all students, faculty and staff:

Men’s basketball: First Round game vs. Western Kentucky on Friday, March 22, at 1 p.m.

• Send-off (Wednesday, March 20): Al McGuire Center, 770 N. 12th St. Fans asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m.
• Watch party (Friday, March 22): Lower level of the Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave., beginning at 12:45 p.m.

Women’s basketball: First Round game vs. Ole Miss on Saturday, March 23, at 3:45 p.m.

• Send-off (Thursday, March 21): Al McGuire Center, 770 N. 12th St. Fans asked to arrive by 12:45 p.m.
• Watch party (Saturday, March 23): Lower level of the Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave., beginning at 3:45 p.m.

March Madness experts

• Impact on a university: Brian Troyer is the dean of undergraduate admissions. He has direct knowledge of the impact a post-season appearance and surprise extended run in the NCAA Tournament can have on an institution in terms of new student interest and applications. He has been at Marquette since 2016; he previously worked at UW-Milwaukee and Kentucky during national tournament appearances, including UK’s 2012 National Championship. Troyer is available at troyer@marquette.edu.
• NILs and sports marketing: Jim Pokrywczynski, associate professor of strategic communication, has presented on and written papers discussing analytics in a sports/event marketing context and brand tracking on social media. Pokrywczyski can discuss added NIL opportunities and brand value from surprise winners and standout players in the opening rounds of the tournaments, as well as the media darlings of the Sweet 16. He can be reached at james.pokro@marquette.edu.
• Sports medicine, injuries: Chris Geiser is a clinical associate professor and program director of athletic training in the College of Health Sciences. He can discuss athletic training, sports injury and exercise science topics, including dealing with injuries and keeping healthy during a critical time. Geiser can be reached at christopher.geiser@marquette.edu.
• On-the-court physics: Andrew Kunz is chair and professor of physics. He can help break down the physics behind many of the exciting plays on the court, from dunks to long-distance shots. Kunz is available at andrew.kunz@marquette.edu.
• Historical context and materials: Katie Blank is the university and digital archivist at Raynor Library. She is an excellent resource for historical context and archival materials for Marquette men’s and women’s basketball programs. That includes pictures and video from previous post-season runs. Blank can be reached at blank@marquette.edu.

About Marquette University

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.

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About Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.