DePaul Travels to Old Milwaukee to Face Marquette

DePaul Travels North to Ruin MLK Day for the Marquette Brew Boys

The Setup

DePaul plays the Marquette Golden Eagles on Monday, 1/15/2018 at 8:00 pm Central at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, in front of thousands of cheese eaters.  It will be carried on FS1 (Channel 237 on Comcast) and on the Score (Radio 670).

Marquette comes into the game with 12 wins and 6 losses overall, with a 3-3 record in Big East games after losing at Butler.

DePaul is coming  off another blown opportunity by losing to Providence after being up 12 points in the 2nd half.

Gambling Corner

Vegas is favoring Marquette by 10.5.  Kenpom.com favors Marquette by 10.

Recent History

Marquette swept DePaul last season.  The prior 2 years the teams split.   Since the forming of the new Big East in 2014, the Golden Eagles hold a 6-2 series lead.  Last time DePaul won in Old Milwaukee as in 2016.

Prior to that, it was Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons and Paul McPherson who lead the Demons in beating the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee, back in February of 2000.  I was at that game, and it was glorious.  In the 1st half, ONLY Brian Wardle scored for Marquette.  The 2nd half, McPherson was put on Wardle, he did not score again.  DePaul won 55-35.

Fun Facts about Marquette

Marquette’s first game was in 1917.  The Golden Eagles/Warriors have been to 16 Sweet 16s.

Won the NIT in 1970 under Al Maguire.

Made NCAA Final Four in 1974, 1977, and 2003.  Won in 1977 under Al McGuire, even with stupid uniforms.

DePaul and Marquette have played over 100 times.  Old, consistent rivals.

Here is a great link, written in 2010 by a Marquette fan explaining the DePaul-Marquette rivalry.  I encourage you to read it.  The gist of it is that Marquette fans can’t decide whether DePaul is a rival or not, the pretentious pricks.  In 2010, they have the audacity of thinking Notre Dame is a bigger rival.  Newsflash, Marquette fans, you don’t play Notre Dame every year.  Wisconsin-Madison is probably a bigger rival for sure for Marquette, but hey guys, we have been playing you forever.  Yeah, yeah, Marquette have owned us for a while, but the Demons killed the Warriors in the 1980s, so take that!

Religious affiliation:  Jesuit

 The Current Flavor of Golden Eagles

These guys are an offensive machine.  The sport the 6th most efficient offense in D1 basketball.  The Golden Eagles can really, really shoot.  They shoot 41.0% from 3pt. land which is 18th best in the land, and they shoot 79.5% from the free throw line, which is 5th best in the country.  As could be expected, they do not get to the line that often, because they are comfortable chucking it from the cheap seats.  Of course, their defense is slightly above average.  They score and get scored on.  So, I am telling you, we have a chance.

Who Should Scare the Blue out of Us?

Markus Howard, 5′ 11″ Sophomore.  Went to Findlay Prep High School, in Henderson, NV just like DePaul’s Justin Roberts.  Howard scored 52 against Providence on 11-19 shooting from 3 point land.  He followed that up with 37 against Villanova.  Whoever guards him is going to have their hands full.  Last year, he only shot 54.7% from 3pt. range, which is absolutely amazing.  He was only 1 of 6 freshmen in history who shot better than 50% with at least 100 attempt from 3 pt. land. He hasn’t missed a foul shot this year (51-51).  I guess it is just natural ability.  What’s that you say?  During Summer sessions with his brothers, he shoots between 500-700 shots?

From an  SI article when describing a part of the Howard’s workout:

“He’ll have Markus make 50 threes from one corner. The first 20 do not need to be consecutive makes, but the next 20 do, as well as the 10 after that. Markus will repeat that routine from four other spots (the other corner, the two wings, straight away) as he moves around the arc, and then do it again as he rotates back. Markus aims for a 70% make rate.”

I challenge you reader, to go home and make 20 layups in a row.  If you can do that, make 20 free throws in a row.  Amazing shooter who has worked his butt off.

How does DePaul Matchup?

Let’s go to the tail of the tape.

Offense

The Golden Eagles shoot the 3 real well (41%).  The Demons do not (32.2%).  Neither teams gets to the line much, so hopefully the zebras let the kids play.  Neither team turn the ball over or have the ball stolen.  DePaul rebounds on the offensive end better.  However, the Milwaukee team shoots better from 2 point area and the free throw line (don’t foul Howard….he doesn’t miss).

Advantage:  Marquette

Defense

Marquette is the 91st best at stopping 3 pointers, while the Demons are still crap (286th).  Conversely, DePaul is 54th at stopping the 2 point shot, while the G’ Eagles give up a lay up line.  Holy crap they are terrible inside.  Marquette has allowed opponents to shoot 55.3% from inside the arc.  That is 317th in the nation.  That is dumpster fire awful.  Marquette blocks some shots and steals, but jeez, look at that horrific inside defense.

Advantage:  DePaul  (until you realize that 3 point shots are worth more than 2 point shots.)

In Conclusion

Marquette is an elite offense.  Of the teams that the Demons have faced this year, only Villanova is more efficient.  They have a player who can just go off (even when well guarded (Howard)).  DePaul’s 3pt. defense is god-awful, and Marquette’s 3 pt. shooting is incredible.  I don’t feel good about this one.  Can DePaul’s bigger guards keep up with Marquette’s tiny quick assassins?  Can Maric and McCallum deal with Marquette’s bigs?

I’m guessing the Brew Boys take it by 10, but maybe DePaul makes a ton of layups, and upset the Cheese eaters at home.