Game #149. The Kemba Walker Show moves on at UConn tonight as the Huskies play their first game after getting hit with sanctions by the NCAA.
Although Joe Lunardi has Marquette slated as a #11 seed in his latest Bracketology (February 21st), Buzz Williams and his squad will no doubt be treating their game with UConn, as well as their remainder of games in the regular season, as “play-in” games for the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament. Standing at 16-11 overall and 7-7 in the Big East, the Golden Eagles are 5-7 in their last 12 games, but do have solid wins against Syracuse and Notre Dame during this stretch; a “W” versus Connecticut would certainly make them feel better about their standing heading into the Big East Tournament as this is their last chance to pick up a signature win against a top team. The Huskies—like Marquette—have had a rollercoaster ride in their past six games, going an even 3-3, but prior to that they were 17-2. While there is no doubt UConn is a tournament team, a win versus Marquette would definitely help their seed come selection time. Kemba Walker is back to his old ways of making the competition look like glorified AAU squads as he is averaging 23 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.7 rebounds over the past three games. Before these games he was in a mini slump—if you want to call it that—averaging just over a shade of 15 points a night. In the first meeting between these two squads, Marquette held Walker to a pedestrian 14 points, but it was the play of freshman Jeremy Lamb who poured in a career high 24 points that led UConn to the win. Buzz Williams and his troops are well aware how important this game is for their tournament hopes: win and you’re probably in, lose and the bubble becomes that much thinner. Join me on Thursday evening from the XL Center in Hartford, CT for a great night of Big East Hoops.