The Marquette Golden Eagles are set to face off against the Creighton Bluejays in Omaha, Nebraska, with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Peacock. As both teams navigate challenging seasons, Creighton enters the matchup as a -7.5 point favorite, with a moneyline of -350 and a total set at 148.5 points.
This matchup comes as a crucial moment for Marquette, which has stumbled recently, losing three consecutive games and dropping to a 5-7 record. Under coach Shaka Smart, the Golden Eagles have opted for internal player development over utilizing the transfer portal, a strategy that has not yet paid dividends. Senior Chase Ross, who began the season on a promising trajectory, has struggled during this losing streak, averaging just 8.6 points per game. Marquette is currently ranked 266th nationally in effective field goal percentage at 48.2%, and while they prefer to push the pace in transition, their half-court offense remains a significant challenge.
Defensively, Marquette is effective at forcing long possessions, ranking in the top 20 nationally for opponent average possession length and 51st in forcing turnovers. However, a lack of interior strength has been a persistent issue. In their last game, Georgetown’s seven-footer Julius Halaifonua capitalized on this deficiency, leading to Marquette’s disappointing 78-69 home loss.
Creighton, meanwhile, holds a 6-5 record and has faced its own struggles, particularly following the departure of key player Ryan Kalkbrenner and a season-ending injury to sophomore Jackson McAndrew. However, the Bluejays showcased their potential in their recent game, dominating Xavier with a 98-57 victory. Austin Swartz has notably stepped up, scoring 27 points, including seven three-pointers. Despite high expectations, junior Owen Freeman has been a letdown, averaging only 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds, likely still recovering from knee surgery.
While both programs find themselves in a difficult season thus far, there remains hope for improvement as the season progresses. With Creighton’s recent strong performance, they appear to have the upper hand. Nevertheless, given the circumstances, one might lean towards Marquette to cover the spread, considering their need for a strong response and their capability to disrupt some of Creighton’s offensive flow, especially if Ross and other quick guards can utilize their speed effectively.
As the teams prepare for this Big East matchup, fans can look forward to an intriguing battle, hoping for a significant turnaround from both squads as the season unfolds. The Golden Eagles may still find their stride, while Creighton looks to build upon their recent success.