Martin Krampelj had 11 points and eight rebounds in 89-53 win over UMKC.
MBB Minute -- Marquette at Home Friday, Saturday Schedule Includes Start of League Play
Marquette is the lone league team in action on Friday. On Saturday, a four-game schedule includes a pair of BIG EAST battles that mark the start of conference play.
Marquette hosts Southern Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. The Golden Eagles (10-2), who have won seven in a row, have not played since last Friday when they knocked off then-No. 14 Buffalo 103-85. Markus Howard scored 45 points and earned BIG EAST and some national Player of the Week honors.
The first league game of the season has DePaul hosting Xavier at 2 p.m. on FS1. The Musketeers have taken the last eight meetings between the two teams including a 65-62 victory at Wintrust Arena in last year’s regular-season finale that gave Xavier the BIG EAST regular-season title. This year, Xavier has a balanced scoring attack led by Quentin Goodin’s 14.3 average. DePaul’s Max Strus ranks third in the league in scoring (19.7) and second in rebounding (8.1).
St. John’s at Seton Hall is the other BIG EAST contest, tipping off at 8:30 p.m. on FSN at a sold-out Prudential Center. St. John’s is 12-0, the best start since 1982-83 when coach Chris Mullin was in his sophomore season as a player. Seton Hall (9-3) has already collected wins against Kentucky, Maryland and Miami. The Pirates took two close decisions last season against the Johnnies, winning 75-70 at home and 81-74 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.
Butler travels to Florida to play the Gators for a second time this season. ESPNU will televise at 4 p.m. The two teams played in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 23 with the Bulldogs winning 61-54. Kamar Baldwin led the way with 19 points. Butler is allowing only 63.5 ppg, best in the BIG EAST and is first in the league in free throw shooting, making 76.6 percent.
Georgetown looks for its 10th win of the season when it hosts Howard at noon on FSN. Jessie Govan leads the Hoyas with a 17.9 scoring average and a 9.3 rebounding mark. The Hoyas are the only team in the BIG EAST with two freshmen averaging in double figures – James Akinjo (14.6) and Mac McClung (12.3).
In Thursday’s lone game, Creighton had little trouble with UMKC, winning 89-53. The Bluejays (9-4) shot 61.8 percent from the field. Ty-Shon Alexander led the scoring with 19 points.
BIG EAST teams have a combined record of 93-30 (.756) record.