Dwyane Wade cheers on Marquette, praises Hurricanes

NEW ORLEANS —    Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade found himself conflicted while watching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He won't face a similar challenge in the Elite Eight.

Thursday night, while preparing for Friday's game against the New Orleans Hornets, Wade watched his alma mater Marquette defeat the University of Miami, a team he had otherwise thrown his support behind this past season.

However, with Indiana losing to Syracuse to set up a Saturday Syracuse-Marquette game in the East Regional final, it won't create a case of mixed allegiances, with Indiana coached by Tom Crean, who coached Wade at Marquette.

"It was an unbelievable season by the Miami Hurricanes, really helping bringing more attention to Miami basketball with the great season they had," Wade said. "Obviously, I'm excited for Marquette to finally get over the hump, going to the Sweet 16 three years in a row and finally getting over that hump. And the performance that they put on was pretty impressive. I'm looking forward to the next challenge."

Wade, though, did take time to tease teammate James Jones, a University of Miami graduate.

Asked what his rooting choice would have been had Indiana advanced to play Marquette, Wade said, "You know what? I wouldn't have had one. I was in a win-win situation if that would have happened. When Indiana got that draw against Syracuse, I knew it was going to be a tough one, but I would have been in a win-win situation."


(sun-sentinel.com)