At Marquette, a Lunchtime Basketball Tradition Endures for Nearly 40 Years

Key facts

• Noon Hoops has been running for nearly 40 years at Marquette University.
• Games take place every Monday and Thursday at the Straz Rec Plex.
• Participants include professors, lawyers, alumni, and students.
• Tom Lonzo has played since his undergraduate days at Marquette.
• Cy Cullen, age 67, still sprints and hits game-winning shots.
• Jeff Jensen played against Doc Rivers in the 1980s.
• The group did not have jerseys until November 2025.
• Mehrzad Moin joined three years ago when a player invited him.

A 94-Year-Old Photograph and a Timeless Tradition

In 1932, as New York City was being built into a metropolis, a photographer captured the iconic image known as 'Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,' showing eleven ironworkers eating lunch on a steel beam 800 feet above the ground. That photograph, now 94 years old, embodies a lunchtime ritual that contrasts sharply with the modern breakroom. At Marquette University, another lunchtime ritual has become equally timeless: 'Noon Hoops,' a midday basketball tradition that has endured for nearly four decades. Every Monday and Thursday at lunchtime, a group of professors, lawyers, alumni, and students gathers at the Straz Rec Plex. They play pickup basketball—no organized league, no trophy, just the purest form of the game, as the self-proclaimed 'old-timers' describe it.

The Core Roster: Players Who Have Stayed for Decades

Unlike many college activities that see turnover every four years, Noon Hoops has maintained a longstanding roster. Tom Lonzo, a 1984 graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences, has been playing since his undergraduate days. 'I've always enjoyed playing with them,' he said. 'Although people have come and gone, it's been a good group of guys. We've all gotten along together.' Cy Cullen, at 67 years old, still sprints up and down the court and hits game-winning shots. Jeff Jensen, 66, recalls that in the 1980s, Marquette men's basketball players would occasionally stop by. 'I was in a noon ball game with Doc Rivers one time,' he said.

Changes Over the Years: From Shirts vs. Skins to Jerseys

The group has adapted to numerous changes over its long history. They used to play every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but now play only twice a week. They previously held games at Helfaer Recreation, but tightened guest policies made attendance difficult for many participants who are no longer directly affiliated with the university. For more than 40 years, the players used a 'shirts vs. skins' system to distinguish teams. It was only in November 2025 that campus recreation provided them with jerseys, ending that tradition. 'We'd like to say that we're more traditional,' Lonzo said. 'We set picks and we get rebounds and are not real flashy with driving to the basket.'

New Blood Keeps the Game Alive

While the core group has remained, some players have moved away or graduated, reducing the roster from about 30 to a smaller number. Younger players have joined to fill the gaps and provide extra competition. Mehrzad Moin, a graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, joined three years ago when a player invited him during a game. 'One of them came over and invited me, and then I found out it's a recurring group,' he said. The infusion of new participants ensures that Noon Hoops continues, even as the original members age. The tradition, rooted in a simple love of basketball, shows no signs of ending.

Noon Hoops: Basketball in Its Purest Form

The players do not bring the latest equipment or keep statistics. They play for the love of the game, valuing fundamentals over flash. 'We set picks and we get rebounds,' Lonzo said, describing their style as traditional. The group's longevity speaks to the power of a shared ritual that transcends generations. For nearly 40 years, Noon Hoops has been a constant in the lives of its participants—a lunchtime escape that builds community and keeps the spirit of pickup basketball alive.

The bottom line

• Noon Hoops at Marquette University is a nearly 40-year-old lunchtime basketball tradition.
• The group includes professors, lawyers, alumni, and students, with a core of long-term players.
• Players like Cy Cullen (67) and Jeff Jensen (66) still compete regularly.
• The tradition adapted to policy changes and now uses jerseys after decades of shirts vs. skins.
• Younger players have joined to maintain the roster, ensuring the tradition continues.