#15 Marquette Golden Eagles at DePaul Blue Demons
Allstate Arena – Rosemont, Illinois
Monday, February 6, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Marquette -10
Current Line: Marquette -9 1/2
Opening Total: 156
Current Total: 156
Opening Money Line: Marquette -500 / DePaul +400
Current Money Line: Marquette -500 / DePaul +400
The Marquette Golden Eagles are 19-5 this season and 8-3 in the Big East. The Golden Eagles are tied with Georgetown for second in the conference two games behind Syracuse. Marquette is coming off a 76-59 loss at Notre Dame Saturday, that snapped a 7 game winning streak for the Golden Eagles. Tonight, Marquette travels south to take on the 11-11 DePaul Blue Demons who are 2-8 in conference, a half game ahead of last place Providence. DePaul has lost 7 of their last 8 games including 2 in a row. The Blue Demons lost at Cincinnati Saturday 74-66. This is the 111th meeting between Marquette and DePaul. Marquette leads the series 66-44, and has won 8 of the last 10 meetings. Marquette won 94-64 last year in Milwaukee in the only between the schools.
Marquette is coached by Buzz Williams. The Eagles have losses to LSU, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and Syracuse. Until Saturday, Marquette hadn’t lost a game by more than 8 points. The Golden Eagles have wins over Norfolk St twice, Winthrop, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Washington, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Villanova twice, St, John’s, Pitt, Louisville, Providence, South Florida and Seton Hall.
DePaul is coached by Oliver Purnell. The Blue Demons have losses to Minnesota, Ole Miss, Milwaukee, Syracuse, Villanova, Seton Hall, Louisville, Georgetown, South Florida, and St. John’s. DePaul has wins over Texas Tech, Arizona St, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Cal-Poly, Pitt, and Rutgers.
Marquette is outscoring opponents 75-65. The Golden Eagles are shooting 45.3% from the field and 34.6% from 3 point range. Marquette makes 71.2% from the free throw line. The Eagles average 36.2 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +0.7. Marquette averages 17.4 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 8.8 steals, and 3.6 blocks a game. The Golden Eagles are 6th in assists nationally. Marquette opponents are shooting 40.2% from the field and 33.3% from 3 point range. The Golden Eagles force 17.1 turnovers a game.
Marquette guard Darius-Johnson Odom averages 18 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. He makes 39.4% of his 3 point attempts. Jae Crowder averages 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, to lead the team, 2 assists, 2.3 steals a game to lead the team, and 1 block a game. He makes 37.9% of his 3 point shots. Davante Gardner averages 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. He is questionable with a knee injury. Todd Mayo, Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan, and Jamil Wilson all contribute to the scoring as well. Cadougan leads the team in assists with 5.5 a game. Wilson leads the team in blocks with 1.2 a game. Center Chris Otule is out for the season with a knee injury.
DePaul is being outscored 75.1-74.5 this season. The Blue Demons are shooting 43.9% from the field and 33.9% from 3 point range. DePaul makes 69.3% of their free throws. The Blue Demons average 33.1 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of -6.6. DePaul averages 15.1 assists, 13.8 turnovers, 8.4 steals, and 3.9 blocks a game. Demon opponents are shooting 48% from the field and 33.4% from 3 point range. DePaul forces 17.1 turnovers a game.
DePaul forward Cleveland Melvin averages 18 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game. He leads the Blue Demons in scoring rebounds, and blocks. Brandon Young averages 15.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5 assists to lead the team, and 1.5 steals a game to tie for the team lead. Jeremiah Kelly averages 8.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. He makes 37.1% of his three point attempts, but is questionable for undisclosed reasons. Moses Morgan averages 8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1 assist a game. He makes 36.4% from 3 point range. He is questionable with a knee injury. Jamie Crockett and Worell Clahar will have to pick up the scoring slack if Kelly and Morgan can’t go. Clahar averages 1.5 steals a game. Forwards Montray Clemons (knee) and Tony Freeland (shoulder) are both out for the season.
DePaul is 10-8 ATS and the total is 8-10 this season. Marquette is 10-10-1 ATS and the total is 12-9 this season. The favorite is 13-5 ATS in this series recently, and the over is 5-2 in the last 7. The Golden Eagles are 4-1-1 ATS after a straight up loss, 4-1 in road games, 6-2 in Monday games, 7-3 overall, and in Big east games, 38-18-1 in road games against teams with winning home records, and 2-5-1 after failing to cover. The Blue Demons are 3-1-2 in Monday games, 16-36-1 at home against teams with losing road records, 4-10-1 in Big East games, and 0-5 after failing to cover.
Marquette should be pretty upset after losing to rival Notre Dame Saturday. Now they get a banged up team that wasn’t that deep to begin with, albeit on the road. Still, I think the Golden Eagles win easily tonight.
