Marquette basketball offers fans early look before Canada trip
Marquette fans got an early look at the Golden Eagles before the team heads to Vancouver for three exhibition games.
MILWAUKEE —
Marquette gave fans an early look at its 2026-27 men’s basketball team Thursday, hosting an open practice for more than 100 spectators at the Al McGuire Center.
Big East Freshman of the Year Nigel James Jr., forward Damarius Owens and transfer Sananda Fru were among the players who put on a show as the Golden Eagles continued preparations for an eight-day foreign tour in Canada.
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Marquette Basketball getting after it on a Thursday night in July during an open practice in front of 100+ fans! Completely different energy for this team compared to last year.
Great night for Nigel James Jr., Damarius Owens, and Sananda Fru pic.twitter.com/ISlRRUHsyo
— Pat Timlin (@pat_timlin) July 24, 2026
Marquette will leave for Vancouver on Monday and play three exhibition games against Canadian college programs. The Golden Eagles will face Calgary on July 29, Trinity Western on July 30 and Fraser Valley on Aug. 1.
Head coach Shaka Smart said the trip will give Marquette an opportunity to grow both on and off the court before the season begins.
“Really a good opportunity for us to do two things really on this trip,” Smart said. “One, come together off the court, continue to build relationships, get to know each other, build trust, build love. And then number two, come together on the court.”
The Golden Eagles’ travel party will spend time in Vancouver and Whistler during the trip, which runs through Aug. 3.
“I think these are valuable, valuable opportunities for us to practice all the different parts of the game and what goes into winning in those parts,” Smart said.
It will be Marquette’s first foreign tour since the program visited Italy in the summer of 2023. The Golden Eagles last traveled to Vancouver for a foreign tour in September 2007.
A recent NCAA rule change now allows college basketball programs to take a foreign tour every year. Teams were previously limited to one trip every four seasons.