BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: UConn @ Marquette
January 3, 2006
The Big East conference kicks off conference play tonight with a very anticipated game for both sides. For the Golden Eagles coached by Tom Crean, it is their first conference game as members of the Big East. On the Connecticut side, they welcome back Marcus Williams after a semester-long suspension for his role in the summer theft of laptops from campus dorms.
READ MORE...CLICK "Read More" BELOW
Pomeroy Ratings Has UConn by 9 tonight at the Bradley Center. The Huskies are 11-0 this season against an RPI SOS of 245. The young Marquette squad is 10-3 against a 175th rated schedule, but are 0-1 against the RPI top 50 and 2-2 overall against the top 100, while UConn is 3-0 against the top 50 after the tournament title in Maui, which was a long time ago (RPI.
Connecticut has not played a road game since November 18th when they opened their schedule against Pepperdine on their way to Maui for the Maui Classic. The last time they played away from home was November 23 in the Maui Classic final and since then they have feasted on some holiday creampuffs (Connecticut Schedule). They are led by Rudy Gay who averages 16.4 PPG and they also get 15 PPG off the bench from Rashad Anderson who is shooting a torrid 51% from beyond the arc. As a team they average 88 PPG and are outrebounding opponents by 13 a contest.
Marquette comes in averaging 76 PPG, which is a little higher than I anticipated them scoring a game after the way they finished the season last year and with all the new players in the mix. Freshmen Dominic James leads the way with 14 PPG and nearly 6 assists and senior Steve Novak also contributes nearly 14 PPG, shooting 43% from beyond the arc and making all 22 of his free throw attempts on the season. Another freshmen, Jerel McNeal adds nearly 11 PPG for the Golden Eagles cause.
Having the game at home inthe Bradley Center will no doubt help the young Marquette squad be energized and some added adrenaline. Connecticut likes to run and run some more and how the young guards at Marquette handle this and avoid trying to out-gun UConn at every opportunity will definitely play a factor in how this game plays out.
Marquette is also dealing with some injury news as the thirs member of the three-headed freshmen guard trio, Wesley Mathews, is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his foot. The timing of this news could not have been worse for Marquette. However, Marquette is a versatile team and they have Dan Fitzgerald, a 6'9 sophomore, who can play multiple positions and senior Joe Chapman to add some experience to the mix.
I expect UConn to take a little time adjusting to the new surroundings of playing on the road against a high-major opponent for the first time in a while. They also might have to take some time to iron out their rotation as they have been shuttling players in and out the last month and now add Williams back into the mix. However, the inexperience of Marquette and superior rebounding prowess of Connecticut should be enough for UConn to pull away steadily as the game progresses.
NBE Blogger game prediction:
Connecticut 85
Marquette 68
Leave your game prediction in the comments!
Here are some game preview articles from the media:
Huskies Ready to Introduce Marquette to Big East (New London Day)
Now It Gets Serious (Waterbury, CT Republican American)
Huskies Know Its Tiem to Shift into High Gear (Bristol Press)
There's Plenty New in Big East Opener (Hartford Courant)
MU Challenges Beasts of Big East (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Huskies Face Marquette (News Time Live)
#2 UConn @ Marquette (Connecticut Post)
Best of Big East Rolls In (Cracked Sidewalks)
More on the Return of Marcus Williams:
Williams Return Should Help Boone (Record-Journal)
Williams Looking Forward to Re-joining Huskies (News Time Live)
Williams Working Way Back (Connecticut Post)
Williams Looks for Smooth Transition (New London Day)
Williams Primed for Return (Waterbury Republican American)
Williams Gets Assist from Mom (Hartford Courant)
Also: Calhoun Crunching Numbers (Hartford Courant)
Wesley Mathews Injury:
Mathews Out with Injury Connecticut Post)
Foot Injury Shelves Mathews (Milwaukee J-S)
The Big East conference kicks off conference play tonight with a very anticipated game for both sides. For the Golden Eagles coached by Tom Crean, it is their first conference game as members of the Big East. On the Connecticut side, they welcome back Marcus Williams after a semester-long suspension for his role in the summer theft of laptops from campus dorms.
READ MORE...CLICK "Read More" BELOW
Pomeroy Ratings Has UConn by 9 tonight at the Bradley Center. The Huskies are 11-0 this season against an RPI SOS of 245. The young Marquette squad is 10-3 against a 175th rated schedule, but are 0-1 against the RPI top 50 and 2-2 overall against the top 100, while UConn is 3-0 against the top 50 after the tournament title in Maui, which was a long time ago (RPI.
Connecticut has not played a road game since November 18th when they opened their schedule against Pepperdine on their way to Maui for the Maui Classic. The last time they played away from home was November 23 in the Maui Classic final and since then they have feasted on some holiday creampuffs (Connecticut Schedule). They are led by Rudy Gay who averages 16.4 PPG and they also get 15 PPG off the bench from Rashad Anderson who is shooting a torrid 51% from beyond the arc. As a team they average 88 PPG and are outrebounding opponents by 13 a contest.
Marquette comes in averaging 76 PPG, which is a little higher than I anticipated them scoring a game after the way they finished the season last year and with all the new players in the mix. Freshmen Dominic James leads the way with 14 PPG and nearly 6 assists and senior Steve Novak also contributes nearly 14 PPG, shooting 43% from beyond the arc and making all 22 of his free throw attempts on the season. Another freshmen, Jerel McNeal adds nearly 11 PPG for the Golden Eagles cause.
Having the game at home inthe Bradley Center will no doubt help the young Marquette squad be energized and some added adrenaline. Connecticut likes to run and run some more and how the young guards at Marquette handle this and avoid trying to out-gun UConn at every opportunity will definitely play a factor in how this game plays out.
Marquette is also dealing with some injury news as the thirs member of the three-headed freshmen guard trio, Wesley Mathews, is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his foot. The timing of this news could not have been worse for Marquette. However, Marquette is a versatile team and they have Dan Fitzgerald, a 6'9 sophomore, who can play multiple positions and senior Joe Chapman to add some experience to the mix.
I expect UConn to take a little time adjusting to the new surroundings of playing on the road against a high-major opponent for the first time in a while. They also might have to take some time to iron out their rotation as they have been shuttling players in and out the last month and now add Williams back into the mix. However, the inexperience of Marquette and superior rebounding prowess of Connecticut should be enough for UConn to pull away steadily as the game progresses.
NBE Blogger game prediction:
Connecticut 85
Marquette 68
Leave your game prediction in the comments!
Here are some game preview articles from the media:
Huskies Ready to Introduce Marquette to Big East (New London Day)
Now It Gets Serious (Waterbury, CT Republican American)
Huskies Know Its Tiem to Shift into High Gear (Bristol Press)
There's Plenty New in Big East Opener (Hartford Courant)
MU Challenges Beasts of Big East (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Huskies Face Marquette (News Time Live)
#2 UConn @ Marquette (Connecticut Post)
Best of Big East Rolls In (Cracked Sidewalks)
More on the Return of Marcus Williams:
Williams Return Should Help Boone (Record-Journal)
Williams Looking Forward to Re-joining Huskies (News Time Live)
Williams Working Way Back (Connecticut Post)
Williams Looks for Smooth Transition (New London Day)
Williams Primed for Return (Waterbury Republican American)
Williams Gets Assist from Mom (Hartford Courant)
Also: Calhoun Crunching Numbers (Hartford Courant)
Wesley Mathews Injury:
Mathews Out with Injury Connecticut Post)
Foot Injury Shelves Mathews (Milwaukee J-S)
posted by NBE Blogger @ 8:58 AM
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