MBB Minute – Providence Hits the Road on a Four-Game Tuesday
After a dark Monday, the BIG EAST schedule heats up on Tuesday with four contests. Going into Tuesday, BIG EAST teams have a combined record of 80-24 (.769).
Only Providence is playing away from home. The Friars (6-5), who are coming off an 82-78 win against Stony Brook on Saturday, go to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., to take on Florida in the Air Force Hall of Fame Invitational at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Alpha Diallo and David Duke are tied for the team scoring lead with 13.5 averages. Duke had 21 points against Stony Brook while Diallo had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Florida has already played two BIG EAST teams, beating Xavier 70-65 on Nov. 24 at the Charleston Classic and losing to Butler 76-62 on Dec. 7 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Creighton hosts Oklahoma in a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle at 8:30 p.m. on FS1. The Bluejays (8-2) have won four in a row on the shoulders of guards Mitch Ballock, Marcus Zegarowski and Ty-Shon Alexander. The trio ranks first, second and fourth in minutes played in the BIG EAST. Ballock is first at 35.0 minutes per game followed by Zegarowski, who is second (34.7) with Alexander fourth (33.9).
After a 10-day break for exams, Marquette (7-2) gets back on the court to host Grambling at 8 p.m. on FSN. Markus Howard leads the BIG EAST in scoring with a 25.1 average and is first with 3.8 3-pointers made per game.
Georgetown will be aiming to increase its winning streak to four games when it hosts UMBC at 6:30 p.m. on FS1. Mac McClung has averaged 26.0 points over the past three games and has won back-to-back BIG EAST Player of the Week accolades. The Hoyas (7-3) lead the BIG EAST in rebound margin at +6.3.