Big East Conference

Big East and Big Ten Announce Matchups for Gavitt Tipoff Games

May 15, 2018 By Bill Scott

The Big East and Big Ten Conferences have announced the matchups for the fourth annual Gavitt Tipoff Games, with eight men’s basketball contests set for Nov. 13-16, 2018.

The Gavitt Tipoff Games features games matching the best of the Big East and Big Ten Conferences and is named in honor of Hall of Famer Dave Gavitt, founder of the Big East and basketball visionary.

Among the 16 participating schools, six played in the NCAA Tournament last year and three played in the NIT. The NCAA Tournament teams are: Creighton, Michigan, Ohio State, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. The three NIT squads are Marquette, Nebraska and Penn State.

The 2018 matchups follow: [Read more…]

Marquette falls to Villanova in Big East quarterfinals

March 9, 2018 By Bill Scott

Steve Wojciechowski – File Photo (Courtesy of Marquette Athletics)

Marquette’s NCAA Tournament hopes took a big hit on Thursday night when they fell to Big East power Villanova 94-70 in New York.

Jay Wright became the winningest coach in Villanova history with 414 wins (414-165).

The Wildcats (28-4) took control in the second half as they shoot for their third Big East Tournament title in four years. Mikal Bridges hit four three-pointers and scored 25 points. Big East player of the year Jalen Brunson added 21 points. The Wildcats hit 15 of their 29 three’s, including 11 of 17 in the second half.

The Golden Eagles (19-13) got 23 points from Markus Howard and 22 from Andrew Rowsey in the loss.

Marquette will now sit and wait to see if their record, as well as the strength of the Big East Conference will be enough to get them into the NCAA Tournament. It would seem unlikely, but the Golden Eagles will stay prepared for whatever postseason tournament comes calling.

“I believe we’re an NCAA Tournament team,” Coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “But that’s not something I get to decide on. I think our team has had a really good year, especially considering our youth. And I think our team is capable of winning games in the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova moves into tonight’s Big East semifinals against Butler.

Marquette holds off DePaul, advances in Big East Tournament

March 8, 2018 By Bill Scott

Sam Hauser – Photo Courtesy of Marquette athletics.

The Marquette Golden Eagles lived to play another day at the Big East Tournament, holding off the DePaul Blue Demons 72-69 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Andrew Rowsey poured in a game high 25 points, while Sam Hauser added 16 and Sacar Anim 14 for the Golden Eagles, who advanced to Thursday nights matchup against second-seeded Villanova. The Wildcats are the defending Big East Tournament champions.

Hauser scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half. he hit a pair of free throws with 32 seconds left to put Marquette (19-12, 9-9 Big East) up four before DePaul’s Max Strus hit a three pointer to pull the Blue Demons within one, 70-69.

After Rowsey turned the ball over at midcourt, Strus missed a three pointer that would have given the Blue Demons the lead. Rowsey grabbed the rebound and sank two more free throws to give Marquette the three-point win.

Marquette has now advanced to the Big East quarterfinals in every season since it became a league member in 2005-06. Their matchup with Villanova tips off at 6 p.m. tonight on FS1.

Marquette women fall in Big East title game

March 7, 2018 By Bill Scott

Allazia Blockton – File Photo

The Marquette women’s basketball team fell to the DePaul Blue Demons 98-63 in the Big East Championship game.

The Blue Demons outscored the Golden Eagles 30-12 in the second quarter, leading 52-29 at halftime. DePaul hit 7 three-pointers in the second quarter and finished with 16 treys for the game.

Amarah Coleman scored a career high 27 points for the Blue Demons. Amani Wilborn had 12 points to lead Marquette. The Golden Eagles Allazia Blockton, who won Big East Player of the Year honors, was held to just eight points.

Marquette (23-9) has to wait to hear its name called when the NCAA women’s field is announced on Monday night.

Marquette, Green Bay advancing to title games tonight

March 6, 2018 By Bill Scott

Both Marquette and Green Bay are headed back to their respective conference title games today.

Allazia Blockton poured in a career-high 32 points to lead Marquette to a 76-70 win over Creighton in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Monday.

The Golden Eagles (23-8) will take on DePaul (25-7) in the Big East championship game at 6 p.m. tonight.

Amani Wilborn added 16 and Danielle King 12 for the Golden Eagles.

Green Bay advances

The Green Bay Phoenix (28-3) advanced to today’s Horizon League championship game against Wright State. The Phoenix knocked off Youngstown State 66-45 in Monday’s semifinals, reaching the HL championship game for the eighth straight season.

Senior Jessica Lindstrom scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds to set a program Division 1 record with 1,000 career rebounds.

Today’s title game tips off at 11am from Detroit.

Marquette knocks off Georgetown in OT

February 27, 2018 By Bill Scott

Andrew Rowsey – File Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics

Senior guard Andrew Rowsey and sophomore forward Sam Hauser poured in 28 points each to lead the Marquette Golden Eagles to a 90-86 win in overtime at Georgetown.

The Golden Eagles (17-12, 8-9 Big East) hit 18 of 31 from three-point distance, helping offset 14 turnovers and Georgetown’s 26 points in the paint.

Marquette closes out its regular season on Saturday at home against Creighton. That will be followed by the start of the Big East Tournament next week at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Marquette knocks off St. John’s

February 22, 2018 By Bill Scott

Sam Hauser – Photo courtesy of Marquette athletics.

The Marquette Golden Eagles continued its late-season push for a spot in the NCAA Tournament Field by knocking off St. John’s 85-73 on Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Sam Hauser led five Marquette players in double figures with 24 points.

The Golden Eagles (16-11, 7-8 Big East) led by just four points at halftime but separated themselves in the second half. They handed St. John’s (14-14, 3-12) with its first loss in the last five games.

Marquette hit its first four 3-pointers of the second half and helped the Golden Eagles led by as many as 20 points in the stanza.

Senior guard Andrew Rowsey added 19 points and eight assists, while Sacar Anim, Jamal Cain and Greg Elliott had 11 points apiece. [Read more…]

Howard is doubtful for Wednesday against St. John’s

February 20, 2018 By Bill Scott

Markus Howard – File Photo Courtesy of Marquette Athletics

Marquette’s top scorer Markus Howard is doubtful for Wednesday’s rematch against St. John’s at the Bradley Center. Howard suffered a right hip contusion on the Golden Eagles 90-86 win over Creighton on Saturday night in Omaha, Nebraska.

Howard is averaging 21.3 points a game, which ranks second in the Big East behind St. John’s guard Samorie Ponds (21.6 ppg).

Howard was hurt when he was fouled by Creighton’s Toby Hegner on a drive to the basket late in the first half. He landed hard on his right side and stayed on the floor for several minutes. Howard was helped off the court and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

If Howard can’t play on Wednesday, it’ll be the first time he will have missed a game this season.

Marquette (15-11, 6-8 Big East) kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive with their win at Creighton. Now they have to keep it going against St. John’s (14-11, 3-11) when the two teams hook up for the second time this season.

St. John’s won the first meeting 86-78 on February 10. Andrew Rowsey led the Golden Eagles with 34 points in the loss.