Big East foes are set to clash when Marquette (7-13, 2-7) takes on Butler (12-7, 3-5) at Hinkle Fieldhouse. It’s been a disastrous campaign for the Golden Eagles, in year five under head coach Shaka Smart. They’ll hope to get back on track tonight against a Bulldogs squad looking for their third straight win.
Who will come out on top in this conference showdown? Butler enters as 5.5-point favorites (-115) over Marquette. The total is set at 159.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Friday’s game between the Golden Eagles and Bulldogs.
Marquette vs. Butler prediction, preview
At this point, Marquette’s chances at a fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance look bleak. Still, it’s shocking to see a Smart-led squad fall off this dramatically. The Golden Eagles have the lowest offensive rating (104.9) and second-lowest defensive rating (108.8) in the Big East. Per KenPom, they rank 122nd in the nation when it comes to net rating. It’s a far cry from the fast-paced, havoc-inducing units we’ve seen in years past.
With that being said, it’s not as if Marquette has nobody on its roster worth talking about. Senior Chase Ross leads the team in scoring, putting up 15.7 points per game. He’s joined in the backcourt by freshman sensation Nigel James (15.2 PPG, 4.4 AST). Down low, veterans Royce Parham and Ben Gold have been solid. Still, depth and rebounding remain major issues. No Golden Eagles player is hauling in more than 5.9 boards a night. Marquette’s 35.6 rebounds per game ranks as third-worst in the Big East.
On the flip side, it’s been about as good a start as could be expected for Butler. Projected to finish near the bottom of the conference, Thad Matta’s crew has been feisty this season. Their resume has been bolstered by Quad-1 victories over Virginia and Seton Hall. This is a score-first squad, operating at one of the nation’s fastest tempos on offense. As a result, the Bulldogs are scoring an impressive 83.4 points per game. Leading the way in that regard is the duo of Finley Bizjack (16.9 PPG) and Michael Ajayi (16.3 PPG). The latter of the two has been an all-around menace, posting 11.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists as well.
Butler has plenty of depth, with six different players averaging at least 7.0 points per game. Still, this offense revolves almost entirely around Bizjack and Ajayi. Slowing down even one of those two would go a long way in securing a Golden Eagles upset. However, Marquette offers little reason to believe its defense is capable of such a feat. In fact, neither team has shown much on that end of the floor. The Bulldogs have allowed 75.9 points per game, 244th in college basketball.
Marquette vs. Butler pick, best bet
For what it’s worth, Marquette has had some close calls in recent weeks. The Golden Eagles managed to secure wins vs. Xavier and Providence. In addition, they suffered close losses against DePaul and Villanova. Still, this group is far too erratic to trust, especially on the road. In comparison, Butler has gone 9-2 when playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse. That home field advantage should come in handy on Friday. When looking over these rosters, it’s difficult to imagine anyone stopping Ajayi, one of the nation’s most underrated players. He’s poised for another productive outing en route to a comfortable Bulldogs victory.
