There's a reason why they are dubbed student athletes, and not the other way around.

When a player receives a so-called free ride to attend college, it's like winning the lottery out of high school. At Marquette University, a sampling of the men's basketball team reveals that no one takes this opportunity for granted.

"We've got all the support that we need here at Marquette," sophomore point guard Dominic James said. "Anytime you're in an environment like this where people are willing to work just as hard as you, it's easy to go out there and do your best."

James burst onto the scene last season and turned heads on the court with his blazing speed and leadership skills. What you may not know is that this Public Relations major has aspirations off the court.

"I've got goals in the classroom, too," James said. "I'm trying to be an academic All-American, that's my main focus right now. Focus on my studies and try and take it to a different level in the classroom, too."

James' mentality isn't an isolated occurrence. Graduation is a proud badge of honor for Tom Crean and the Golden Eagles. The team media guide devotes several pages to the learning environment available for players at Marquette, and boasts graduating 50 of 52 players over the past 16 years.

"They provide us with a great academic advisor, Adrienne Trice," sophomore forward Dwight Burke said, a sociology major. "She's really on top of things... always taking care of us."

To a man, each player mentioned her involvement in their academic growth, which tells you they are paying attention.

"Adrian has made a big impact on my school work," sophomore guard Maurice Acker said. "It's not easy, but it's OK."

Acker, who transferred to Marquette from Ball State, already has noticed a jump in academic expectations.

"We didn't have as many opportunities with tutors as we do at Marquette," Acker said. "It's big on time management now; I got to take out time for basketball and school, because school is so important. My best friend told me it's no joke, so I came in real focused or I would be behind. I took his word of advice."

A degree from Marquette is saying something. Turning your tassel on graduation day is a statement that these players continue to strive to achieve. Because the bar is set so high for anyone who hits the books at Marquette, there is added value for those who survive. But, there are some who got a good taste of higher education elsewhere.

"I was at Rice, and they have extremely high academic standards," said senior center Mike Kinsella, who transferred to a junior college in Minnesota from Rice before arriving at Marquette. "But, once you get in any school, it's all about trying to learn and work hard in the classroom."

Kinsella took his words of wisdom to heart, and found the academic formula for success. The 7-footer has already earned his degree in Communications Studies.

"I was ready. I came here and got a great education and I'm really excited to have my degree from Marquette, and that's obviously something that will be huge for me when I stop playing basketball down the road," Kinsella said.

Junior forward Dan Fitzgerald was ready for the rigors of life on the Marquette campus when he transferred from Tulane University in 2004.

"Tulane is a very tough school, and it's called the Harvard of the South," Fitzgerald said. "I found out quick it's a very tough academic school, but it definitely got me on the right foot my freshman year. Marquette's no different, it's a very tough business school, but I'm surviving and hope to finish well."

Fitzgerald will be one of the players counted on to provide outside shooting help, particularly with Brown Deer native Steve Novak taking his aerial attack to the NBA's Houston Rockets.

Back home in Minnesota, Dan's parents and family members will keep close tabs not only on his three-point shooting digits, but the numbers and grades he posts in the classroom.

"I'm one of five kids in my family and two of my sisters graduated top of their class, summa cum laude," said Fitzgerald. "We have some very organized and very smart people in my family, and the bar is set high. My parents sent all of us to private schools (St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights), which is also a military school, so they talk every day about being organized, being respectful, doing the right thing."

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