Key Big East Matchup Pits Musketeers vs Golden Eagles

The Golden Eagles (13-6, 5-3) have been soaring of late, winning five straight conference games, including upsets of the Seton Hall Pirates and Villanova Wildcats in their last two contests. Marquette has climbed up to within a game of first-place Providence and sits percentage points behind the three-way tie for third place in the standings.

If you want to bet online on this Big East clash, the college basketball lines have made Xavier a 1½-point favorite on the road, with the over/under set at 147 points.

Getting By

The Musketeers have won their last two games, but the victories have come by a total of eight points, including the one-point win over DePaul, which has won just once in Big East play this season. While the wins all count the same, Xavier must play better if it is going to pull out the victory against a red-hot Marquette squad.

It’s been a balanced offense that has propelled the Musketeers this season, with four players averaging between 11.0 and 12.6 points per game. Leading the way is 7-0 junior forward Jack Nunge, who is averaging 12.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 52.6% from the floor. Nunge played big against DePaul, scoring 23 points, and he had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds in the Musketeers’ win over Marquette in the first matchup of the season on Dec. 18.

Guard Nate Johnson opens things up on the interior with his 43.3% shooting from 3-point range, and his 42 makes from beyond the arc are leading the Musketeers. Johnson is averaging 11.6 points per game, though he’s scored a total of just five points over the last two games.

Sophomore guard Dave Odom is averaging just 6.0 points per game this season, but he had a career night in the first meeting with Marquette, going for 19 points. That was the first of two straight double-digit scoring games for Odom, but he’s scored just five points in the four games since, all of which came after a long COVID-19 break for the Musketeers.

On a Roll

The Golden Eagles are feeling confident, especially after winning at Villanova’s Finneran Pavilion for the first time to snap the Wildcats’ 29-game winning streak of on-campus games. After starting 0-3 in conference play, Marquette has climbed back into the race for the Big East title with its five straight victories.

“I really give them credit in that they’re playing for each other,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said after Wednesday’s win. “I told them that’s the only way to come in here and win. You’re not beating Villanova as a bunch of individuals. You’ve got to play for each other.”

Freshman forward Justin Lewis has been playing well during the winning streak, averaging 16.6 points, including going for 21 points in the win over Villanova. Lewis is averaging 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds this season while shooting 30.3% from 3-point range, but he buried five triples in the upset of the Wildcats.

Senior guard Darryl Morsell is the other double-figure scorer for Marquette this season, averaging 13.6 points. Morsell had 26 points in the Golden Eagles upset of Seton Hall on Jan. 15, and the Maryland transfer has connected on 8-of-15 from 3-point range over the last three games.

Freshman guard Tyler Kolek will be a key to Marquette’s success on both ends of the floor. Kolek is averaging 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals to lead the Golden Eagles in both categories, and he had eight points, five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 22 minutes against Xavier in the first meeting.

Marquette Pulls Upset

The Golden Eagles are hitting on all cylinders right now, and they’ll be very comfortable at home. The Musketeers haven’t been the same team after their two-plus-week break due to COVID-19, and that catches up with them in this one.

When making your college basketball picks, take Marquette to win at home.

Pick: Marquette Golden Eagles +1½