Game #164. Marquette is seeking to get wins any way it can to leave nothing to chance; Seton Hall is coming off a great win earlier this week.
Marquette brings almost as many questions as answers tonight when they visit Seton Hall tonight. The Golden Eagles, projected to finish 9th in the preseason coach’s poll, sit in a three-way tie for 9th with Connecticut and Villanova, two teams projected to do better this season. Should Marquette win and all other scenarios fall in place, the Golden Eagles would dodge the Tuesday round in Madison Square Garden next week with an 8th place finish. In any case, Coach Buzz Williams would prefer to draw DePaul (whom they beat by 30 in January) in their first round game, rather than Providence (whom they beat by 20 last week) or South Florida (they escaped with a one point win on February 9). Marquette utilizes a guard-oriented drive to the basket offense, combined with a series of man and zone defenses to keep their opponent off balance. Marquette’s back court combines a pair of veterans, Darius Odom-Johnson and Dwight Buycks with a trio of freshmen, Vander Blue, Davante Gardner and red shirt Junior Cadougan. The trio could use more game time to prepare for the Big East Tournament and the post season beyond. Though a shorter, quicker squad, the Golden Eagles will slash and drive to earn their points, rather than pass around the perimeter and look for a catch-and-shoot play from the three point line. Seton Hall has secured the #12 seed in the Big East Tournament, but the Pirates have more than a few questions still to answer in this, their last regular season game at home. Coach Kevin Willard would like to see the Hall win their second consecutive Big East Conference game, a feat they have only accomplished once this season, and build some confidence as they prepare to face in state rival Rutgers, seeded #12, in their first round game on Tuesday.