MILWAUKEE - Let’s cut through the noise. Pull up the official numbers from the 2024 - 25 campaign, and the chatter about Marquette’s junior class running the show? It doesn’t match the tape. The Golden Eagles were a veteran-led machine, and the assist column told the truth: the seniors owned the rock. The hype machine wants you to believe the juniors were piling up dimes like they were playing a video game on rookie mode. Reality says otherwise. The older guys controlled the tempo, set the table, and made the tough passes. For the juniors on that roster, the job description was simple - lock in on defense, knock down shots, and create when the moment called for it. Not run the show.
Here’s the thing about that 2024 - 25 squad: they weren’t built for a single star to hoard the ball. They were a collective, and the assist numbers reflected that balance. But the pecking order? Unmistakable. The junior class wasn’t asked to be the primary facilitators, and the stats prove it. That’s not a knock - that’s a role. In a season where every game mattered, roles were everything. So before you go digging for a mythical “junior year assists chart,” let’s break down what actually happened and why that chart isn’t what you think it is.
Why the Junior Class Didn’t Lead the Playmaking Charge
The simple truth? Kam Jones was the engine. As a senior, he averaged a team-high 4.3 assists per game and totaled 137 on the season. That kind of usage leaves very few opportunities for underclassmen to step into primary facilitator roles. For the juniors on that roster, their jobs were about defense, shooting, and secondary creation - not dictating the tempo. When you’ve got a senior who can break down any defense and find the open man, you ride that horse. Marquette did, all the way to the finish line.
Look at the numbers, and the picture gets clearer. Stevie Mitchell was the top junior distributor, but his 62 total assists (2.1 per game) came from aggressive drives and kick-outs, not from running the offense. Chase Ross wasn’t far behind with 55 assists, but he functioned more as a combo guard - a weapon, not a quarterback. Forward David Joplin rounded out the junior assist leaders with just 21, proving his scoring was the priority. Check the table below and see for yourself - the junior class wasn’t slacking. They were playing their positions.
| Player | Position | Games | Total Assists | Assists Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevie Mitchell | Guard | 30 | 62 | 2.1 |
| Chase Ross | Guard | 32 | 55 | 1.7 |
| David Joplin | Forward | 32 | 21 | 0.7 |
📊 14.8 assists per game as a team (ranked ~120th nationally) - Marquette’s ball movement was solid, but the senior-led hierarchy kept the junior numbers in check.
The Roster Shift: Where Are the Juniors Now?
Here’s the key wrinkle for the 2025 - 26 season: the “junior class” from that 2024 - 25 team is gone. Both Mitchell and Ross used their extra year of eligibility and returned as seniors. That means the assist production now rests on the shoulders of the senior backcourt. If you’re looking for a “Junior Year Assists Chart” in the official media guide or on GoMarquette.com, you won’t find one. It wasn’t a focal point, and the roster turnover has made that specific dataset obsolete. The team’s identity has shifted, and the playmaking mantle has been passed - right back to the same guys, just with a new class label.
This isn’t a rebuild; it’s a reload. Mitchell and Ross are back, and they’re not just seniors now - they’re the veteran heartbeat of a team looking to make noise in the Big East. The question isn’t “who’s the junior playmaker?” anymore. It’s “can the seniors take the next step?” The assist totals from 2024 - 25 were a preview, not the final act. Now, with the spotlight squarely on them, the pressure is on to match or shatter those numbers. The “junior year” chart is dead. Long live the senior stat line.
