UConn Huskies Marquette Golden Eagles
9-3 (1-0) 12-0 (1-0)
Date: Sunday, December 31st 2023
Time: 1:00 PM
Where: XL Center
Hartford, Ct.
TV: SNY
0
MARQUETTE | UCONN
UCONN LEADS 17-1
H: 7-0 | A: 7-1 | N: 3-0
02/25/06 #8 UConn 74, Marquette 59 Storrs, Conn.
02/03/07 #3 UConn 52, Marquette 48 Milwaukee, Wis.
02/20/08 #1 UConn 95, Marquette 63 Hartford, Conn.
02/07/09 #1 UConn 83, Marquette 49 Milwaukee, Wis.
01/13/10 #1 UConn 68, Marquette 43 Milwaukee, Wis.
12/09/10 #1 UConn 79, Marquette 47 Storrs, Conn.
02/25/12 #4 UConn 85, Marquette 45 Milwaukee, Wis.
01/12/13 #3 UConn 85, Marquette 51 Milwaukee, Wis.
02/05/13 #3 UConn 94, Marquette 37 Storrs, Conn.
02/05/21 #3 UConn 87, Marquette 58 Milwaukee, Wis.
03/01/21 #1 UConn 63, Marquette 53 Storrs, Conn.
03/08/21 #1 UConn 73, Marquette 39 Uncasville, Conn.
02/13/22 #8 UConn 72, Marquette 58 Milwaukee, Wis.
02/23/22 #7 UConn 69, Marquette 38 Hartford, Conn.
03/06/22 #7 UConn 71, Marquette 51 Uncasville, Conn.
12/31/22 #8 UConn 61, Marquette 48 Storrs, Conn.
02/08/23 Marquette 59, #4 UConn 52 Milwaukee, Wis.
03/05/23 #9 UConn 81, Marquette 52 Uncasville, Conn.
Marquette Season to Date
Marquette is off to their best start in their history, undefeated after 12 games. It's always important to look at their schedule to put that kind of start in perspective.
They started the season witn an easy game with a 84-51 win over UT Martin. A much tougher opponent waited in the second game. At the time No. 23 Illinois game the Golden Eagles a tough go but Marquette prevailed winning 71-67 in a really tough battle. Perspecive on this game is that Illinois is no longer receiving votes and is 6-5 on the season.
They then beat IUPUI 92-58, Saint Peter's 96-36, Boston College 73-65, Arkanasas 74-58, Memphis 88-59, and Pennsylvania 87-52.
In the next game, they were able to squeak out a 64-62 win over Illinois State. They needed to outscore the Redbirds 23-15 in the last quarter for the comeback win. How good is Illinois State? Massey has them at 99. Maybe they had an overlook game with Big East team Creighton coming up in the next game? They were able to beat the Blue Jays in a tight game 76-70.
They followed that with a 99-91 win over Appalachian State who is ranked 183 by Massey. They used a big 2nd quarter to take a 10 point halftime lead. Not good they were outscored by 2 points in the second half
In their final game befor playing Uconn they easily handeled Bucknell, winning 67-39.
Comparative Team Statistics
(leader in bold)
UConn Marquette
81.8 PPG 80.9
62.3 Defensive PPG 59.0
19.5 Scoring Margin 21.9
50.7 Field Goal % 49.8
37.7 Defensive FG% 37.9
41.5 Three Point % 41.3
31.5 Defensive 3PT% 28.6
71.7 Free Throw % 75.0
37.2 Rebounds/game 39.3
3.7 Rebounding Margin 9.8
18.9 Assists per game 21.0
14.3 Turnover per game 14.7
1.3 Assists/TO ratio 1.4
10.1 Steals per game 7.5
3.9 Blocks per game 4.1
It's unusual to see a Big East opponent with the advantage in so many categories. Strength of Schedule means so much here. UConn has the No. 1 SOS and Marquette is the 75th SOS. Huge diffence.
UCONN
The player and coaches names for both teams
are clickable to see their Bios
are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Starters
UConn Injuries
Unknown Return
OUT FOR THE SEASON
ACL
Achilles Injury
MARQUETTE
Marquette Starters
Marquette Bench
Game Analysis
Marquette has had a great season. And they really rely on their starters. 82% of their points have come from their starters. Their two players off the bench in competative games have only scored 10.2 PPG combined.
This season's leading scorer is Lisa Karlen, a 6'2" senior forward at 17.2 PPG. She also is second in rebounding at 7.6 RPG. She leads Marquette in blocks at 14. She is a solid three point shooter at 38.9% but only takes a little over 1 per game. She's a terrific rebounder for her size. A great all around game.
Sophomore Mackenzie Hare is the second leading scorer on the team. The 5'9" guard has been shooting lights out for the Golden Eagles. She is averaging 15.8 PPG and is shooting an amazing 41-75 on threes. She takes around 6 per game and hits them at a 54.7% clip. Wow. An unusual loop in her shooting form, it really works for her. She has a really quick release.
5"11" Senior Jordan King is the third double digit scorer at 15.3 PPG and has the most assist as well. Last year she led the team in scoring. This year she is averaging 15.3 PPG and 3.8 APG. She is a three point threat, shooting 42.2% from deep. Not only the one of the best players, she is the team leader as well.
6'1" Grad Student Frannie Hottinger is the leading rebounder for Marquette at 9.2 RPG and is scoring at a 9.4 PPG clip. So close to averaging a double double. The transferred in from Lehigh after playing there for four seasons. Last season she was first team All-Patriot League and Patriot League player of the year. Yes, a lover level league but still a great accomplishment. Remember Lou and what she brought to UConn last year? At 6'1" you wonder how she gets so many rebounds. It's all about positioning and effort. She plays really hard.
5'7" junior guard Rose Nkumu is the fifth starter. She is averaging 8.6 PPG and leads the team with 5 assists per game. She is quick and a clever passer. Terrific on the fast break.
Only two players will see much time off the bench.
6'3" Freshman Skylar Forbes is the size off the bench. Tall but not wide, she really runs the court well. She is averaging 5.8 PPG and 4.4 RPG.
Lee Volker is a 6'1" junior guard. She averages 4.4 PPG and 2.7 RPG. She certainly brings some size to the guard position.
Between the two bench players they are 1-21 on threes. Of course they will each hit one in this game.
In watching Marquette play, they are a terrific and cohesive team. They really play well off each other. Players drive and kick to open players and the Golden Eagles are quick to let it go from deep. Hare is quick as a bunny with her three point release and has no hesitation in that shot. The starters shoot the three pointer at 47%. UConn will have to do a good job getting out on the shooters. It won't be easy.
Defensively, the Golden Eagles play exclusively a man-to-man. They are not a or quick team defensively so the Huskies have an advantage with Edwards. I don't think The Golden Eagles have a player that can guard her.
UConn will try to uptempo this game. They will run on almost every defensive rebound. But Marquette is always very physical and hopefully no one gets hurt. It will be a battle in the paint for sure.
UConn has really turned on their game from beyond the arc so this could be a real shoot out.
Prediction
UConn is the more talented team. And they are playing better and better. Marquette hasn't come close to playing a team as good as the Huskies. But of course, that doesn't mean anything as we know from last seasons upset where Marquette beat UConn 59-52. The Huskies beat the Golden Eagles in the first matchup at home winning 61-48 and UConn got their revenge in the Big East tournament hammering Marquette 81-52. From the scores you know points will be tough to come by.
So how will this play out? I really like UConn having the home court advantage. I wish it was in Storrs but hopefully a good size crowd will be loud at the XL center. I havene't even mentioned Paige Bueckers and I'm sure the physical Marquette team will do what they can to throw her off her game. It won't work. UConn now has too many weapons. This is a great game for Griffin to shine as well. She is just too quick for the slower Golden Eagles.
UConn by 12+
No comments:
Post a Comment