Providence (7-5, 3-3) at Marquette (6-4, 2-2)
Time: 6 PST/8 CST/9 EST
Place: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wis.
TV: FS1
Golden Eagles Lead Series, 19-11:
Marquette owns an 11-3 lead in the series in Milwaukee as the series is even at 5-5 over the last 10 games. Providence won both games a year ago including a n 81-80 overtime decision in Milwaukee.
Vs. The Spread:
Providence:
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of the Friars’ last 9 games
- The Friars are 6-14 ATS vs. Marquette in the last 20 games in the series
- PC is 5-1 ATS in it’s last 6 road games
Marquette:
- The Golden Eagles are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games
- MU is 1-5 ATS in their last six home games
- The Golden Eagles are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games this season
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | +4 (-105) | +165 | O 139 (-115) |
| Marquette | -4 (-115) | -190 | U 139 (-105) |
Last Time Out:
The Friars are in the middle of a stretch where four of five games are on the road. They lost their second buzzer-beater in a row on Sunday when Xavier’s Colby Jones hit a three with .1 seconds remaining to give the Musketeers a 74-73 win. David Duke led the Friars with 30 points as he was 7-of-9 from three. A similar scenario went against Providence on Jan. 2 when Creighton’s Christian Bishop scored on a dunk with one second remaining as the Friars bowed to Bluejays, 67-65.
Marquette was scheduled to play at Villanova last Friday, but the game was postponed due to covid issues in the Wildcats’ program. The Golden Eagles haven’t played for a week as they lost to UConn, 65-54, on Jan. 5. Dawson Garcia led Marquette with 20 points as the Golden Eagles shot only 38.6 percent from the field.
Friars’ Clipboard:
We could potentially be in for an offensive show as both teams are in the Top 50 in offensive efficiency. Both teams also have potential to live off the offensive glass with Nate Watson of the Friars tallying 35 and Garcia and Justin Lewis at 28 each for Marquette.
Junior guard David Duke is trending into Big East Player of the Year conversations as he leads the Friars and ranks third in the Big East in scoring (20.2 ppg) and he is second on the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and assists (4.4 apg). The 6-10, 260-pound Watson gives Providence an excellent as he is s tandem as he is second of the squad in scoring and second in rebounding (18.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg). While the Friars struggle from long range, Watson (61.5%-FG) and Jimmy Wilson, Jr. (57.1%-FG) give them an inside scoring presence.
Golden Eagles’ Clipboard:
Marquette has a tough time in turning the rock over, but the Golden Eagles have five solid three-point threats led by Koby McEwen (41.5% – 3) and Jamal Cain (42.9% -3). Five players have double figures in makes so far and with the Friars giving up an average of around seven per game, this part of the Marquette attack could thrive. The Golden Eagles make 37.2 percent of their triples on the season. Marquette has had a tougher time scoring in Big East play although Garcia, the pre-season Big East Freshman of the Year has picked up his production in as he is shooting 53.6 percent from the field and has collected a pair of double-doubles against Big east foes.
Winner: Marquette (-4) 79, Providence 72
O/U: Take OVER 139
