The Marquette Golden Eagles are an 11-seed and will open the NCAA Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio against Xavier on Friday night (6:27 pm CT).
Marquette beat Xavier last season, in the first round of the Old Spice Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Nov. 26, 2009, a 71-61 win. Marquette forward Jimmy Butler said he expects to see much of the same from Xavier in this game as they saw last season.
AUDIO: Jimmy Butler expects to see much of the same thing from last season :15
Xavier will be playing in their home state. the Muskateers have a 4-hour ride up the freeway from their campus in Cincinnati.
AUDIO: Jimmy Butler on playing Xavier close to their home :08
Xavier joins Michigan State as the only teams that have advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in each of the last three years.
Marquette is one of a record-setting 11 Big East teams to make the expanded 68-team NCAA field.