:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48399039/usa-today-8992222.0.jpg)
Winners of their last seven games, the Marquette Golden Eagles (8-2) are back at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Monday night. Led by the play of freshman Henry Ellenson as well as fellow big man Luke Fischer, the Golden Eagles currently hold the second-longest winning streak of any BIG EAST team, with the first obviously being the Xavier Musketeers, who stand at 11-0 through this point of the season.
In their penultimate nonconference affair, Marquette will welcome the Chicago State Cougars to the 414. At 4-9, the Cougars are coming off a win over the Western Illinois Leathernecks. That 77-70 victory snapped an eight-game losing streak that featured losses to fellow BIG EAST rep DePaul as well as Northwestern, Valparaiso, Illinois and Minnesota. It's been tough sledding for Tracy Didly's team this year, and it does not figure to get any easier when his Cougars trek up I-94 to meet MU in Milwaukee.
How to watch, listen or stream
Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Radio: WVON 1690 AM (Chicago State) || ESPN 540 AM Milwaukee (Marquette)
Online Streaming: This game will be available for streaming on the FOX Sports GO app where available.
[placeholder for gambling info]
3 things to watch
1. Rust?: Marquette had gone through a stretch from the opener on November 13 to their last meeting against Wisconsin on December 12 where the longest gap between games was merely five days. As the 21st of December approaches, Marquette has not hit the court in nine days. Last season, Marquette experienced a similar drought following the Wisconsin game, not taking the floor until 10 days thereafter. They won against Arizona State 78-71. Is there enough to suggest Marquette isn't particularly bothered by rust? Maybe not. We'll see how it plays out on Monday.
2. Duane's December progression: Sophomore guard Duane Wilson had a very shaky start to the season. Not proving to be very efficient, Wilson's slump wore him down for much of the month of November. In December though, the Milwaukee native appears to have turned a corner. In his last four games, Wilson has scored an average of 9.0 points per game, averaging 4.5 rebounds, and dished out an average of 3.75 assists per game as well. Further, his average ORtg has checked out at 108 per KenPom.com, and has shot 46.4 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from the 3-point line. His eFG% has been an impressive 60.7 percent through the month of December, which is certainly what you like to see especially from a young player. Against the Cougars, all eyes will be on Wilson to see if his progression continues.
3. The Big Fisch: Luke Fischer has been one of Marquette's most productive offensive players through its first 10 games of the season, if not the most. Per Sports-Reference.com, the big man's put up 26.3 points per 100 possessions, with an ORtg to complement that of 126.2, the highest of any Golden Eagle on the team. He'll likely be up against Chicago State's Quron Davis, a 6-foot-10 center from Chicago and an alum of the famed Simeon Academy. Davis has been somewhat a liability on defense, with his DRtg standing at 104.6 through Chicago State's 13 games played this season, so Fischer could be in line for another big night if all pans out.