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Led by Markus Howard, a member of the Big East All-Freshmen team, and Big East Sixth Man of the Year Andrew Rowsey, Marquette is primed for a postseason run.
However, the Big East tournament does present some pitfalls for the Golden Eagles.
On the good side, Marquette enters the tournament at Madison Square Garden having won four of its last five games. The offense is in something of a groove, topping 90 points in three of the last four contests.
Howard, who just recently turned 18 years old, leads Marquette in scoring at 13.1 points per game. He is one of five Golden Eagles averaging double-digit points, the others being JaJuan Johnson (12.0), Luke Fischer (11.2), Andrew Rowsey (11.2) and Katin Reinhardt (10.9).
Since Feb. 1, Howard is averaging 15.3 points per game and Rowsey 14.0.
FIRST-ROUND MATCHUP
One good guess about Marquette's opener Thursday in the Big East tournament is it should be a close game. Not only did the fourth-seeded Golden Eagles and No. 5 seed Seton Hall finish with a 10-8 conference record, but also the two teams split their two matchups this season, with each winning by three points.
Seton Hall has four players averaging in double figures, but three are at over 15 points per game: guard Khadeen Carrington (17.0) and forwards Desi Rodriguez (16.1) and Angel Delgado (15.7).
Like Marquette, the Pirates enter the tournament on a hot streak, winners of four straight -- including a big season-ending win at then-No. 13 Butler -- and five of their last six.
The Golden Eagles will need to find a way to slow down that trio. Carrington had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in Seton Hall's home win on Jan. 1 and 22 points in Marquette's win at home on Jan. 11. Rodriguez poured in 30 points in the Golden Eagles' overtime win. But it is Delgado who might be the key for the Pirates. In the two games combined against Marquette, the 6-foot-10 forward had 32 points and 31 rebounds, including a 19-rebound effort (with 13 offensive) on Jan 11.
The secret weapon for the Golden Eagles against Seton Hall might just be Rowsey. In the first matchup, he had just four points in 15 minutes while in the second contest he played only three minutes.
If Marquette can keep up its offensive pace -- according to TeamRankings.com, the Golden Eagles are ninth in the country in points per possession (1.141) -- it should be able to roll into the semifinals for just the third time since joining the Big East and first since the 2009-10 season.
SEMIFINALS
If Marquette does make it to the semifinals we know the Golden Eagles will have split the season series with its opponent.
Yes, the Golden Eagles went 1-1 against both St. John's and Georgetown, who meet in a first-round game Wednesday night. But we're going to concentrate on the likely opponent for Marquette. That would be Villanova
The No. 2 -- that'd be Associated Press poll ranking -- Wildcats lost just three games all season, including at Marquette on Jan. 24. Villanova is 9-1 since.
The reigning national champions are led by Josh Hart (18.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 spg), Jalen Brunson (14.8 ppg, 4.3 apg) and Kris Jenkins (13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg).
When Marquette beat Villanova, Reinhardt led the way with 19 points off the bench while Fischer had 15. Due to foul trouble, Howard played only seven minutes and didn't score.
The Golden Eagles would need Howard to step up more -- as well as need an all-around team effort -- to topple Villanova. Also, slowing down the Wildcats' pace of play would help. While Marquette is ninth in points per possession, Nova is fifth (1.154).
OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET
The flip side of the Big East tournament bracket is wide open.
Butler is the 2 seed, but is 5-4 since Jan. 28, with losses to Georgetown, Creighton, Providence and Seton Hall -- and three of those defeats were at home. Marquette lost both matchups to the Bulldogs this season, 88-80 and 68-65.
Like Marquette, third-seeded Providence had a 10-8 conference record. The Friars might be the hottest Big East team entering the tournament, having won six straight games to conclude the regular season, including victories over ranked teams (at the time) Villanova, Butler and Creighton. Providence beat Marquette in both of this season's matchups, although buy just a combined five points.
Creighton has not been the same team since losing Maurice Watson Jr. to injury. The Bluejays were considered one of the favorites in the conference early on, but after an 18-1 start, limped to the finish with a 5-7 record, including two losses in the last three games to end the regular season, and are the sixth seed. If the Golden Eagles somehow match up with Creighton in the final, expect a high-scoring affair. Marquette posted 102 and 91 points in two victories over the Bluejays.
