Marquette vs. Xavier: The Golden Eagles' Crossover Examination

Marquette team observations:

-Marquette led in the first half 31 to 22 on 45.5 percent shooting. Defensively the Golden Eagles held Xavier to 37.5 percent shooting and 2-of-12 from three. Marquette led by as much as 11 in the game.

-In the second half, Marquette lost its defensive edge. Xavier shot 52 percent from the field, and 50 percent from three on 8-of-16 shooting.

-Despite its defensive deficiencies in the second half, Marquette continued to shoot the deep ball well. The Golden Eagles actually hit more threes in the second half than twos, four versus three.

-Marquette led for 32:21 minutes of the game to Xavier’s 6:41. The Musketeers grabbed the lead with less than eight minutes left in the second half and never trailed again.

-Xavier took the edge in bench points with 33 compared to Marquette’s three. JaJuan Johnson has been one of Marquette’s first players off the bench this season, but he did not play a minute versus Xavier. Coach Wojciechowski said it was his decision and not due to injury. Wojo did not like the way Johnson performed in practice last week.

Marquette individual observations:

-Matt Carlino was the only Marquette player whose shot was falling versus Xavier. Carlino finished with 27 points, 53.3 percent shooting, 66.6 percent from three and 100 percent from the free throw line. He was 8-of-15 from the field, 6-of-9 from three and 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.

-Derrick Wilson was the only other Marquette player to have himself a game. He only finished with 5 points, but he created offensive other ways. Wilson had three steals, which helped the Golden Eagles get out in transition. He also had six assists, five of which were on Carlino threes.

-Luke Fischer once again disappointed in the second half, failing to score from the field in the second for a consecutive game. Before his last two games, Fischer failed to score double-digits just twice in seven games. But now he has consecutive games of scoring single digits, two points and then seven points.

-Juan Anderson began the season scoring 16.2 points per game in the first four games, with two 20-point games. In his last five games he scored double-digits just once. In that span he has averaged just 8.8 points per game. Versus Xavier he shot 1-of-5 from the field for four points. Once again he made his present felt on the glass, leading Marquette in rebounding with eight.

-Duane Wilson was the only other Golden Eagle aside from Carlino to score double-digit points, with 12. But his shot was not falling, shooting just 3-of-9 from the field and 1-of-6 from three. Free throws were the only shots falling for Wilson versus Xavier, as he shot 5-of-6 from the stripe.

On tap

Marquette has allowed 17 threes in its last two games. Up next, Marquette heads to the Barclays Center to take on St. John’s. In the Red Storm’s last two wins they have hit 16 threes. Marquette will have to defend the three point line to avoid starting 0-4 on the road in conference play.