Xavier vs. Marquette, National Marquette Day: Time, TV schedule, odds and preview

While college basketball has far fewer traditions than its gridiron brethren, one of the most under-appreciated in all the land takes place Saturday in Milwaukee, as National Marquette Day takes place.

As our friends at Anonymous Eagle will tell you, National Marquette Day is, well, a BFD (for lack of a better term).

The Golden Eagles also come into the game looking to gain some separation from the bottom tier of the Big East and avoid playing a Wednesday night game at the Big East Tournament for the third straight season.

Marquette’s opponent, the Xavier Musketeers, could also really use a victory. After a nice four game winning streak following the season-ending torn ACL for Edmond Sumner, the Musketeers dropped their next two games to Villanova and Providence. One of those losses is better than the other. However, it’s important to note that Trevon Bluiett played a total of 19 minutes in those two games (all 19 of which came against Villanova) before suffering a sprained ankle. Per Chris Mack, Bluiett is a game-time decision for Saturday’s game.

These teams play each other twice in the next four games, so strap yourself in for some fun times.

How to watch or listen

Game time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: CBS Sports Network (Carter Blackburn, Doug Gottlieb, Evan Washburn)

Radio: ESPN Milwaukee (Marquette), 700-WLW (Xavier)

Gamblin’ Info

Line: Marquette is favored by 3.5 points, but that could very well change if/when Bluiett gets confirmed to be playing.

O/U: 156

Both figures are per OddsShark.

Four Factors

Xavier

KenPom.com

Marquette

KenPom.com