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Marquette vs. Butler Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/11/2018
Although Marquette and Butler do not rank among the top three teams in the Big East in terms of offensive production, neither squad is lacking when it comes to players who can create their own scoring opportunities. Three of the league's top four scorers will all be on display Friday when the Golden Eagles visit the Bulldogs.
Marquette's Markus Howard ranks first in the conference and is 11th nationally in scoring (22.8 points), while fellow 5-11 teammate Andrew Rowsey (21.6) is the only other Big East player averaging at least 20 points. Despite coming off a rare down game, Butler forward Kelan Martin (19.2) sits fourth in the conference, while Kamar Baldwin (15.3) ranks 13th. After Howard played a starring role in each of the last two games, it was Rowsey's turn to steal the show Tuesday in an 84-64 win against No. 15 Seton Hall, as the senior guard poured in 31 to reach the 30-point mark for the third time in five games and the fourth time this season. However, Martin (10 points on 5-of-12 shooting) and Baldwin (15 points, 7-of-19) were both kept in check Tuesday, as Butler wrapped up a 1-3 stretch against four consecutive ranked opponents with an 85-74 loss at No. 22 Creighton.
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
ABOUT MARQUETTE (12-5, 3-2 Big East): Howard, who began 2018 with a school-record 52-point effort at Providence on Jan. 3 and averaged 44.5 points over his previous two games, mustered only 12 on Tuesday to continue his recent trend of disappearing at home - 12 points per game over his last four outings with a high of 13. Rowsey resumed his recent dominance at the Bradley Center following a season-low six-point performance in last Saturday's loss at No. 1 Villanova and is averaging 29 points per game over the last four home contests. Howard has been significantly better outside of Milwaukee, however, as he is averaging 37.3 points in the Golden Eagles' three true road games, while Rowsey has produced only 15.3 points per game in those same contests.
ABOUT BUTLER (12-6, 2-3): Despite corralling 11 rebounds Tuesday to notch his fifth double-double of the season, Martin was unable to reach the 20-point mark for the first time in seven outings, failed to hit a 3-pointer for the first time in 12 contests and committed a career-high tying six turnovers. Junior guard Paul Jorgensen (12.1 points), who is the only other Bulldog scoring at least 10 points per game, led Butler with 18 against Creighton and averaged 14.3 points during the team's four-game stretch against ranked foes. Sophomore guard Sean McDermott, who is one of five Bulldogs with at least 20 3-pointers, is averaging 6.4 rebounds during Big East play, although 23 of his 32 boards over that span came in two games.
TIP-INS
1. Butler has won five of the six meetings since Steve Wojciechowski took over Marquette in 2014.
2. Between North Carolina - Asheville and Marquette, Rowsey has scored 1,982 career points for an average of 23.6 points per game.
3. Bulldogs reserve sophomore G Henry Baddley has connected on eight of his last 10 3-point attempts.
PREDICTION: Butler 81, Marquette 75
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/11/2018
Although Marquette and Butler do not rank among the top three teams in the Big East in terms of offensive production, neither squad is lacking when it comes to players who can create their own scoring opportunities. Three of the league's top four scorers will all be on display Friday when the Golden Eagles visit the Bulldogs.
Marquette's Markus Howard ranks first in the conference and is 11th nationally in scoring (22.8 points), while fellow 5-11 teammate Andrew Rowsey (21.6) is the only other Big East player averaging at least 20 points. Despite coming off a rare down game, Butler forward Kelan Martin (19.2) sits fourth in the conference, while Kamar Baldwin (15.3) ranks 13th. After Howard played a starring role in each of the last two games, it was Rowsey's turn to steal the show Tuesday in an 84-64 win against No. 15 Seton Hall, as the senior guard poured in 31 to reach the 30-point mark for the third time in five games and the fourth time this season. However, Martin (10 points on 5-of-12 shooting) and Baldwin (15 points, 7-of-19) were both kept in check Tuesday, as Butler wrapped up a 1-3 stretch against four consecutive ranked opponents with an 85-74 loss at No. 22 Creighton.
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
ABOUT MARQUETTE (12-5, 3-2 Big East): Howard, who began 2018 with a school-record 52-point effort at Providence on Jan. 3 and averaged 44.5 points over his previous two games, mustered only 12 on Tuesday to continue his recent trend of disappearing at home - 12 points per game over his last four outings with a high of 13. Rowsey resumed his recent dominance at the Bradley Center following a season-low six-point performance in last Saturday's loss at No. 1 Villanova and is averaging 29 points per game over the last four home contests. Howard has been significantly better outside of Milwaukee, however, as he is averaging 37.3 points in the Golden Eagles' three true road games, while Rowsey has produced only 15.3 points per game in those same contests.
ABOUT BUTLER (12-6, 2-3): Despite corralling 11 rebounds Tuesday to notch his fifth double-double of the season, Martin was unable to reach the 20-point mark for the first time in seven outings, failed to hit a 3-pointer for the first time in 12 contests and committed a career-high tying six turnovers. Junior guard Paul Jorgensen (12.1 points), who is the only other Bulldog scoring at least 10 points per game, led Butler with 18 against Creighton and averaged 14.3 points during the team's four-game stretch against ranked foes. Sophomore guard Sean McDermott, who is one of five Bulldogs with at least 20 3-pointers, is averaging 6.4 rebounds during Big East play, although 23 of his 32 boards over that span came in two games.
TIP-INS
1. Butler has won five of the six meetings since Steve Wojciechowski took over Marquette in 2014.
2. Between North Carolina - Asheville and Marquette, Rowsey has scored 1,982 career points for an average of 23.6 points per game.
3. Bulldogs reserve sophomore G Henry Baddley has connected on eight of his last 10 3-point attempts.
PREDICTION: Butler 81, Marquette 75
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