Overview
- Tipoff is 6 p.m. Central at Fiserv Forum, with Marquette 5-10 (0-4 Big East) facing Xavier 9-6 (1-3).
- Marquette guard Sean Jones is out with a left foot injury after also missing time earlier this season with a shoulder issue.
- Analytics and odds project a tight game in Milwaukee, with KenPom giving Marquette about a 59% chance and sportsbooks listing the Golden Eagles around -4.5.
- Marquette enters on a six-game skid following a 73-57 loss at No. 4 UConn, its longest stretch without a win since 2014-15.
- Key matchup numbers point to the stripe and the start: Xavier opponents are 67-of-98 on free throws in league play versus the Musketeers’ 39-of-56, Marquette averages 18.5 fouls per game, and Xavier is 8-0 when not trailing at halftime but 1-6 when behind at the break.