In a pivotal Big East basketball clash, Marquette and Providence are preparing to compete in Milwaukee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Both teams find themselves at the bottom of the conference rankings, each aiming to end recent losing streaks and improve their standings. This encounter is crucial for both programs as they strive to turn their seasons around and make a push for respectability within the highly competitive Big East Conference.
Marquette, with a current record of 6-13 overall and 1-7 in the Big East, recently suffered an 80-75 defeat against DePaul in Chicago. Despite a strong first half where they held an eight-point advantage, the Golden Eagles' performance faltered in the second half. Their shooting efficiency significantly dropped, going from over 60.7% from the field and 8-of-14 from three-point range in the first half to just 37.5% from the field and 4-of-15 from deep in the second.
Coach Shaka Smart of Marquette highlighted the team's lack of defensive intensity in the second half as a key factor in their recent struggles. He emphasized that while the team is capable of scoring points, their defensive mindset needs to be stronger, especially against aggressive opponents on the road. Nigel James Jr. led Marquette with 18 points and eight assists in the DePaul game, supported by double-digit contributions from Royce Parham, Chase Ross, and Damarius Owens.
Conversely, Providence (9-9 overall, 2-5 Big East) enters the game following an impressive 93-88 victory over Creighton. This win provides a much-needed boost for a team that, despite preseason expectations, has experienced a challenging season. Stefan Vaaks delivered a career-high 24 points for Providence, while Jamier Jones contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing a strong performance in their recent success.
Providence coach Kim English praised his team's focus, effort, and defensive energy against Creighton, particularly highlighting their commitment to challenging shots. On the injury front, Providence's senior guard Jason Edwards, who averages a team-high 17.2 points per game, has been sidelined for the past two games due to a foot injury. Marquette has also been dealing with injuries, with guard Sean Jones missing five consecutive games due to a foot issue, although forward Ben Gold, a key rebounder, returned to action against DePaul after recovering from an ankle injury.
Historically, Marquette has had the upper hand in recent matchups against Providence, winning their last four encounters, including a season sweep last year. This marked the first time since 2019 that Marquette secured a victory at Providence. As both teams look to reverse their fortunes in the Big East, this upcoming game promises to be a hard-fought contest with significant implications for their conference trajectories.