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When: February 11
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Prudential Center, Newark N.J.
How to Watch: Fox Sports 1
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A pair of 13-10 teams will meet for the second time this season, but this time in Newark after a nail-biting 67-66 win by the Marquette Golden Eagles exactly a month ago. It was a game that saw Marquette lead by as much as 16, but the Seton Hall Pirates was able to claw their way back to within one possession. Unfortunately for The Hall, they simply ran out of time.
Todd Mayo led the way for MU with 19 points, shooting a stellar 4-6 from field and 2-3 from deep. However, Marquette struggled mightily from outside, shooting a lowly 3-15. Three-point shooting has been a problem for the Golden Eagles all season, and as a team, Marquette has shot 29.6 percent, 337th in the nation.
Marquette is coming off of a home win against Butler and is looking to string together some quality wins as it tries to make a run toward the NCAA tournament. The Golden Eagles play home games against Xavier and Creighton back-to-back after their road contest with the Pirates.
Both these teams have really struggled to win back-to-back games this year. Seton Hall has not done so since a three-game winning streak in late December. The last time Marquette did so was in mid-December against two non-conference foes.
Marquette is also only one game behind Xavier for third place in the conference, but only one game ahead of Seton Hall. Both teams are trying to secure at least a sixth seed to earn a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
Key to Victory:
Seton Hall loves to shoot the three and they do it pretty well. It will be important for Marquette to play good perimeter defense and to try to eliminate the quick runs that can ensue if the Pirates get a couple fast break threes.
The Golden Eagles seem to go as Mayo goes and one should look for him to have a big game.
But, if Marquette’s going to win, it needs to be all about Davonte Gardner. Gardner will match up against the 270-pound Gene Teague, who leads the Pirates in rebounding.
With the amount of outside shooting Seton Hall has, rebounding from the big men will prove to be extremely important.
Prediction:
Seton Hall has not won in Milwaukee in its last seven tries, but the Pirates are hoping their home court can bring a little luck. However, they’re only 9-6 at home this season and only one of those have come in conference.
I think Chris Otule and Davonte Gardner will be too much inside and Marquette will travel home excited.
Marquette 71 Seton Hall 64
