Game Notes & Preview: Providence 11-3 (1-0) at Marquette 8-5 (0-1) 1/3/15

Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center – Milwaukee, WI

When: 2:00 PM

How: Fox Sports Network (Brian Anderson & Greg Kelser)/WEEI 103.7 FM and Friars.com (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)/FriarTV

Game Notes

• This will mark the 19th meeting all-time between Providence and Marquette. The series is led by the Golden Eagles, 13-5, with 13 of the 18 meetings taking place since Marquette joined the Big East in 2005-06. Providence is 0-8 against Marquette all-time in Milwaukee. The Friars went 1-1 against Marquette last season including a thrilling double overtime thriller on Senior Night at the Dunk.
• Marquette  welcomes Providence to the Bradley Center following a loss, 61-58, at DePaul on December 31st as part of the Big East’s New Year’s Eve marathon in which all 10 teams were in action.  The Golden Eagles are led in scoring by sophomore big man Luke Fischer, who averages 13.6 points/game. Leading on the glass is senior forward Juan Anderson, who averages 6.8 rebounds/game.
• Providence got off to a 1-0 start in conference play following a 12 point victory over Creighton on December 31st. That win was the first conference opening win for Providence since defeating St. John’s in 2008.
• Senior LaDontae Henton now has 909 career rebounds after pulling down 8 rebounds  against Creighton to pass Otis Thorpe who had 902 career rebounds at Providence. Henton is now 40 behind Bruce “Soup” Campbell for 7th all-time.
• The line opened with Providence as a 2 point underdog. The total is 130.

Kenpom InstaGamePrep™

Note: Stats include games through January 1st vs D-1 teams only

Game Preview

Providence is coming off a home win against Creighton while Marquette is coming off a road loss at DePaul. When you read that sentence it would seem to be a foregone conclusion that the Friars should take care of business against Marquette, even in Milwaukee. Well that might be easier said than done. The Friars are 0-8 all-time at Marquette and road teams went 0-5 during the league’s New Year’s Eve marathon. Providence has yet to win at true road game even if the sample size is small. The Friars also hit the road this time coming off 5 straight wins and the Bradley Center is certainly not Rupp Arena nor are the Golden Eagles the Wildcats.

The largest concern for Providence on Saturday will be sophomore Indiana transfer Luke Fischer. Fischer has been a godsend for new Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski. He only became eligible after the fall semester ended but in the 5 games he has played for Marquette so far this season the Golden Eagles are 4-1 with the lone loss coming last time out at DePaul. Fischer is the team’s leading scorer at 13.6 points/game and is shooting an absurd 85.3% from the field on 29/34. He is also averaging 3.0 blocks/game but it’s the offensive end where Fischer could torment the Friars.

Ed Cooley was not happy with Carson Desrosiers lack of toughness against Creighton. Reserve big man Geoffrey Groselle was Creighton’s leading scorer on the night with 14 points, 1 off his career high. Providence will need a better defensive performance out of Desrosiers if they hope to slow down Fischer. On the perimeter Marquette has graduate transfer Matt Carlino shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc which is 8th in the Big East.

Last season the game at the Bradley Center between these two was a rock fight. I have a feeling it won’t be that much better this time around. The game will be played at a moderate pace in the halfcourt but both team’s defenses are proficient at getting steals so whoever can take care of the ball better and avoid giving up fastbreak points and points off turnovers will likely come out on top.

I see Providence continuing their good play and equaling their longest win streak of the season at 6 and finally taking care of their bugaboo at Marquette. Luke Fischer will be the focus of Providence’s defense and he will probably score around 15 points but they will be hard-fought points and will not be enough for the Golden Eagles to overcome another big game from LaDontae Henton who will score 20 or more points for the 9th time this season.

Prediction: Providence 59  Marquette 57

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Mike Hopkins

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