(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – The Marquette University men’s basketball team (12-5, 3-3 BIG EAST) returns to BIG EAST action on the road when the team travels to St. John’s (12-6, 4-3 BIG EAST) for an 11 a.m. CT tip on Saturday, Jan. 20 in Madison Square Garden. FOX features the television broadcast, with Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Jim Jackson (analyst) calling the action. The Golden Eagles, who are making their first regular season appearance at MSG since 2019-20, begin a stretch in the schedule that has the team on the road in 4-of-5 outings.
Al McGuire Ties Marquette And St. John’s
The all-time series (Marquette leads 27-16) began in 1959-60 and prior to the clinching of the BIG EAST title on the last day of the regular season in 2012-13, the series’ top highlight was a 65-53 Marquette victory in the championship game of the 1970 NIT.
MU claimed the NIT title under the direction of legendary head coach Al McGuire, who played for three seasons at St. John’s (1948-51). In his first season with the Redmen, he finished third in scoring with an 8.1 points per game average.
McGuire’s coaching career at Marquette included the 1977 national title, nine NCAA tournament appearances and a 295-80 overall record. The program and university celebrate “Al’s Day” each season when St. John’s plays in Milwaukee.
The Golden Eagles claimed each of the three meetings in 2022-23, including a pair of two-point wins to conclude the regular season and the team’s opening victory en route to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament title.
Marquette Attacks The Paint In Nova Win
Marquette finished with a season-high 60 points in the paint in Monday’s win over Villanova, outscoring the Wildcats 40-18 in the lane.
The Golden Eagles finished the game 30-of-40 (75.0 percent) from inside the 3-point line and a season-best 58.7 percent from the floor overall. Marquette’s point total in the paint was the team’s highest since netting 62 points against Providence (Dec. 20. 2022).
MU also dished out a season-high 24 assists, its most since 23 helpers against Rider in the second game of the season on Nov. 10, 2023.
Marquette Winning Turnover Battle
MU forced 12 turnovers against Villanova, turning those miscues into 15 points, continuing a season-long trend.
Through games of Jan. 17, the Golden Eagles rank first in the BIG EAST and fourth in the nation in turnover margin (+6.3). MU has forced 10-or-more turnovers (16.41 per game, 11th in nation) in each of the 17 outings this season and converted those miscues into an average of 20.1 points per outing.
Against Villanova, the Golden Eagles committed just three turnovers of their own, matching their lowest total since the win at Notre Dame on Dec. 11, 2022.
Through games of Jan. 17, three Marquette players (Tyler Kolek, Stevie Mitchell and Chase Ross) are ranked among the BIG EAST leaders in steals.
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