Marques David Bennett was UD's "big-heart" player in 2004-05, playing through the pain caused by an injury that dated back to his youth soccer days. He fractured his right leg in middle school, and calcification formed around a titanium plate that was placed in his leg. The condition limited his ability to play and practice, but he played through it and did not miss a game. He averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds, and was second on the team with 28 steals in 18.1 minutes of playing time last year, and was third on the team in 3-pt. FG% (.400, 20-50). Even though he is only 6-4, he has played both forwards and even center at times for UD, and earned the team's Best Defender Award for the second straight season.

He had the plate removed during the off-season, and is expected to be fully available in 2005-06.

While his role on the team was not to be a scorer, he made as many critical shots as anyone on the team, if not more. He was named the winner of the Blackburn/McCafferty MVP Trophy in the Xavier win, after he scored all five of his points in the last 38 seconds of that come-from-behind victory. His only field goal tied the game, and the "and one" free throw that followed gave the Flyers the lead for good. He added another two freebies in the final seconds.

Bennett was just as effective as UD's "closer" in three other A-10 wins. At Duquesne, he drilled one with 1:44 left to turn away the Dukes' final comeback. His trey with 5:21 left gave UD the lead for good in the St. Joe win, after UD came back from eight points down. At Rhode Island, a bomb with 3:02 to go gave the Flyers the lead for good after URI led by as much as four.

After barely playing as a freshman, his switch to being a "prime-time player" wasn't a "rags-to-riches" story in 2003-04. His was more of a "splinters-to-floor burns" tale. After playing just 12 minutes in six games as a freshman, and averaging 0.5 points and 0.3 rebounds, he moved into the starting lineup (played in 27 games, starting 22 of the last 23) and increased his productivity to 2.9 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. His move from the bench to the starting lineup was thanks to his defense.

Despite his reduced minutes (in relation to the other starters on the team), Bennett was tied for second on the team in steals (24) and tied for fourth in rebounding (3.5). Bennett was also named co-winner (with classmate Warren Williams) of the Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player Award in 2003-04.

Bennett scored 24 points in 17 games of non-conference play, and then had 54 in 16 Atlantic 10 games.

He came to UD after a fine career at Brebeuf Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana. He led Brebeuf to the #2 ranking in the state before the team was upset in overtime in the state tournament. Bennett averaged 22.2 points and 4.5 assists as a senior, and was named Marion County Player of the Year. Bennett was named the MVP of the 2002 Indiana North South All-Star game after his outstanding senior season.

As a junior, Bennett averaged 21.0 points, 4.1 assists and 4.5 steals for a 16-10 team that caught fire at the end of the year, advancing all the way to the Indiana quarterfinals. He was also a member of Brebeuf's state championship team in 2000. Bennett finished as Brebeuf's #2 all-time leading scorer, behind Alan Henderson.

Bennett has two brothers - Michael who played for Ball State and is now the Cardinals' Director of Basketball Operations, and Matthew who is playing this season at Maine Central Institute.

Personal Data
Son of Dr. Michael and Marcha Bennett
Born April 20, 1984
Major: Economics
High School Coach: Leo Klemm
AAU Team: Indy Warriors

Career Statistics

Year	GP	GS	Min	FG	Att	Pct	3Pt	Att	Pct	FT	Att	Pct	Reb	Avg	Ast	Blk	Stl	Pts	Avg
2002-03	6	0	12	1	2	.500	1	2	.500	0	0	.000	2	0.3	0	0	0	3	0.5
2003-04	27	22	487	29	72	.403	17	52	.327	3	13	.231	94	3.5	32	3	24	78	2.9
2004-05	29	0	524	37	95	.389	20	50	.400	22	31	.710	98	3.4	24	2	28	116	4.0
CAREER	62	22	1023	67	169	.396	38	104	.365	25	44	.568	194	3.1	56	5	52	197	3.2

Career Highs
Points - 14, Temple (2/9/05)
Rebounds - 9, Duquesne (1/5/05)
Assists - 4, twice
Steals - 4, twice
FGs Made - 5, Temple (2/9/05)
3FG Made - 4, Coppin State (11/27/04)
FT Made - 3, three times
Minutes - 33, Duquesne (1/5/05)

Flyer 22's...
Pete Boyle (1950-51), George Woywood (1952-54), Al Sicking (1954-57), Hank Josefczyk (1957-60), Harold Schoen (1960-64), Rudy Waterman (1965-68), Rex Gardecki (1969-72), Bill Frericks (1975-77), John Tomlinson (1979-80), Roosevelt Chapman (1980-84), Steve Pittman (1985-89), Shawn Haughn (1993-97)