Marquette women’s basketball coach Megan Duffy has joked over the years that she feels bad for her point guards because she is so demanding of them.

Duffy was a heady guard herself at Notre Dame from 2002-06, and she played 46 games in the WNBA.

“I think the standard that Coach Duffy holds, not only her point guards but her players to, there’s something to be said about that,” MU senior guard Jordan King said. “I think about the way that we come in here every day and her energy doesn’t drop. The standards she’s holding for us doesn’t drop. It’s the same every day.”

Duffy and the 5-foot-11 King are entering their fourth season together with the Golden Eagles, and King has been a starter since Day 1.  King was named to the preseason all-Big East team and will be a driving force for the Golden Eagles, who open the season against Fairleigh Dickinson at noon Monday at the Al McGuire Center.

“I’ve always been able to challenge her,” Duffy said. “That’s in one-on-one meetings. That’s on the court in front of her teammates. She’s got thick skin.

“She cares about the people around her. She works on relationships with her teammates.  Those key staples allow her to do what she does when the lights turn on in front of a big crowd.”

King averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals last season as MU advanced to the third round of the WNIT. Like all talented guards, she’s constantly figuring out the right measures of scoring and playmaking.

“As I develop more of a scoring role, it’s going to be important to balance my playmaking skills to not completely disregard the way that I put my teammates in position to succeed in the past three years and just focusing on 'I have to get to the basket' or 'I have to score here,' ” King said. “There’s going to a balance of I get to the paint, I’m kicking it out to my shooters or I’m dropping it down to the post. And then, at the same time, if I got a shot at the rim, I have it.”

Her coach will definitely not be shy in telling King the right play to make.

“I think as a basketball player you have to take coaching,” King said. “It’s hard to get better, it’s hard to create a team if you can’t take the criticism to get better and to grow as a player.

“So just being able to trust that whatever criticism is being said toward me is coming from a meaningful place. She wants you to get better. She sees the potential in you and I think that’s something you need to get past maybe how it’s being said. Just listening to what the message is.”

King will have familiar targets for her passes, such as fifth-year forward Chloe Marotta, versatile threat Liza Karlen and Claire Kaifes, who sat out last season with an ACL injury.

The newcomers include three freshmen and an intriguing graduate transfer in speedy Nia Clark, who was recruited by Duffy at Miami (Ohio) and also played at Xavier.

“I like the way that our team shares the ball,” Duffy said. “That’s been something that’s been important to us over the years, too. Equal opportunity. Ball movement. Inside-out play. And we’ll continue to do that.”

King likely will be the fulcrum of that offense. And, after graduating in three years, she plans to take advantage of her extra season of NCAA eligibility.

“I am starting my masters in school counseling and it’s a two-year program, so I will be finishing next year,” King said. “It’s definitely nice. I’m really excited about just being able to spend another year here and just putting in the time with this coaching staff and these players has been amazing.

“It’s an experience I will forever cherish and I want to take full advantage of."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jordan King playing senior season at Marquette for coach Megan Duffy