GAME NOTES: The 14th-ranked Connecticut Huskies will be without the services of Jim Calhoun on the bench, when they play host to the Marquette Golden Eagles in Big East action from the XL Center.
Calhoun will miss the game due to the death of his sister-in-law on Monday. The news came shortly after the NCAA had handed down Calhoun a three-game Big East suspension to be enforced next season for recruitment violations regarding former student Nate Miles.
Back to the task at hand, UConn has reached the 20-win plateau this season, but the team resides in the middle of the pack in the Big East at 8-6. The team has split its last eight games and enters this contest off a 71-58 loss at then 16th-ranked Louisville last Friday.
The Golden Eagles are one game behind the Huskies in the standings at 7-7 in league play. Marquette has just three wins in its last eight games, but one of those victories came this past weekend, 73-64 over Seton Hall.
This series is knotted at three games apiece. UConn is seeking the regular season sweep after posting a 76-68 victory in Milwaukee on January 25th.
The Golden Eagles are in 11th place in the conference standings, but a nice run could have them sitting in fourth place, so needless to say, each win means so much as the season comes to a close. Marquette will rely on its offensive prowess the rest of the way, as the team comes into this contest averaging a strong 77.2 ppg on .481 shooting. Marquette has a three-pronged attack, headlined by Darius Johnson-Odom (16.0 ppg) and Jimmy Butler (15.6 ppg). Forward Jae Crowder has bounced in and out of the starting lineup, but usually contributes nonetheless, averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. Despite shooting a mere .250 from behind the arc (3-of-12), Marquette was still able to convert just over 55 percent from the floor overall in a home win over Seton Hall this past weekend. It was a team effort as five Golden Eagles finished in double figures, led by Butler (16 pts). Johnson-Odom was next in line (13 pts), followed by Crowder (12 pts), Dwight Buycks (11 pts) and Chris Otule (10 pts).
UConn relies more on its defensive play, as the team is yielding just 65.8 ppg this season, while holding foes under 40 percent shooting (.393). Despite a defensive mentality, the team boasts of one of the nation's most explosive players in veteran guard Kemba Walker. Both a prolific scorer and deft distributor, Walker is netting 22.9 ppg, while doling out 4.6 apg. He is also pulling down just over five boards per game (5.3) and leads the team with 49 steals. Alex Oriakhi complements Walker's perimeter game by averaging 10.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. UConn failed to find its shot at Louisville last week, converting just 37 percent from the floor. The Huskies were abused inside, getting outscored 34-18 in the paint. Walker and Jamal Combs-McDaniel led the way with 16 points each. Oriakhi added 13 points and eight rebounds in a losing cause.
While the Huskies will be without their leader this evening, the team should find the proper motivation at home. The Golden Eagles haven't been a strong road team this season and will find it difficult to get past UConn at the XL Center.
GAME NOTES: The 14th-ranked Connecticut Huskies will be without the services of Jim Calhoun on the bench, when they play host to the Marquette Golden Eagles in Big East action from the XL Center.
FACTS & STATS: Site: XL Center (16,294) -- Hartford, Connecticut. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Marquette 13-3, UConn 13-2. Away Record: Marquette 3-6, UConn 4-4. Neutral Record: Marquette 0-2, UConn 3-0. Conference Record: Marquette 7-7, UConn 8-6. Series Record: Series is tied, 3-3.
Connecticut 74, Marquette 67