Tag Archives: Marquette University

>Marquette-UConn

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>Marquette at Connecticut

   It’s been a tough week for the Huskies, first losing to Louisville Friday, then this week learning of NCAA sanctions following an investigation of the program since a report by Yahoo! Sports in March 2009 that former team manager Josh Nochimson helped guide recruit Nate Miles to the school, giving him lodging, transportation, meals and representation.

The Huskies will not receive a postseason ban, but the program was hit with scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, permanent disassociation of a booster and three years probation.  They will also be without coach Jim Calhoun this game, as he will be attending the funeral services for his sister-in-law.

   But what the Huskies will really need to focus on is stopping Jimmy Butler, who is averaging 18 ppg and 6 rpg against them in three career games. 

   The Golden Eagles may need to improve on their 2-9 mark against AP Top 25 teams to gain an NCAA tournament berth. Six of those losses have been by five or fewer points.  Prediction: Huskies win 75-69

>St. John’s vs. Marquette

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>St. John’s has put together one heck of a tournament resume in their first year under Steve Lavin.  They’re one of the few teams that have defeated four top-15 teams, three of which came in blowouts.

The Red Storm is led by three seniors who average double figures in scoring.  Dwight Hardy leads the team in scoring at 16.6 ppg and also hauls down three boards a game and dishes out two dimes.  Justin Brownlee is scoring at a 12.6 point per game clip and is tied for second with five boards per game.  D.J. Kennedy is the last senior in double digits throwing in 10 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with over five and a half per contest.

Marquette is ending an extremely tough stretch of its schedule, facing eight ranked teams in their last 10 contests.  They’ve won four of those, but are led by four upperclassmen so it should help them in the future.  Darius Johnson-Odom leads the team with over 16 points per game and is also pulling down three rebounds.  Jimmy Butler is pouring in 15 points a game and second in rebounds with 6.3, while Jae Crowder is putting up 13 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 6.6 a game.  Dwight Buycks is averaging 10 ppg and leads the team in assists, dishing out four dimes a game.  Prediction: Red Storm wins straight up 75-70