Marquette Golden Eagles vs Uconn Huskies Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

Marquette and UConn Face Off in High-Stakes Big East Clash

Two of the Big East’s top teams will go head-to-head on Saturday night in Milwaukee as the No. 9 Marquette Golden Eagles (18-3, 9-1 Big East) host the No. 25 UConn Huskies (15-6, 7-3 Big East) in a matchup with major conference implications.

Marquette has won three straight games and sits atop the Big East standings alongside St. John’s, while UConn is trying to find consistency after splitting its last six games.

Can Marquette continue its dominant home form, or will UConn snap its road struggles and get back in the title race?

Marquette: Protecting Home Court and Pushing for Big East Supremacy

Marquette is 11-1 at home this season, with its only loss coming against No. 2 Purdue. The Golden Eagles have been nearly unstoppable in front of their home crowd, using their high-pressure defense and efficient offense to wear opponents down.

In Tuesday’s 78-69 win over Butler, Marquette overcame a seven-point halftime deficit despite leading scorer Kam Jones (18.9 PPG) being in foul trouble.

Instead, Stevie Mitchell stepped up with a career-high 22 points, continuing his red-hot stretch where he is averaging 21.5 points per game in his last two outings.

Coach Shaka Smart praised Mitchell’s effort after the Butler game.

“The response by our team was great,” Smart said. “Stevie really set the tone. At the end of the first half, he got a steal, got a couple of deflections just to give us some life.”

Marquette’s Strengths:

Elite Turnover Control: No. 1 in the nation with just 8.9 turnovers per game

Relentless Defense: 10.2 steals per game, ranking fifth nationally

Capitalizing on Mistakes: 19.7 points per game off turnovers, ranking fifth in the country

Balanced Scoring Attack: Three players averaging at least 12 points per game

If Marquette dictates the pace and forces turnovers, it can control this game and add another marquee win to its resume.

UConn: Can the Huskies Find Road Consistency?

UConn has been inconsistent away from home, with two of its last three losses coming on the road.

However, the Huskies showed resilience in their last game, overcoming a 14-point deficit to beat DePaul 72-61 on Wednesday.

The key was a 14-0 second-half run and improved three-point shooting. After missing its first 10 attempts from deep, UConn drilled seven of its final 12 three-pointers to seal the win.

Coach Dan Hurley was blunt about the Huskies’ first-half struggles.

“I just went in there for like a 45-second tirade and then I left to try to get my thoughts together,” Hurley said.

UConn’s Keys to the Game:

Alex Karaban Needs to Bounce Back: The Huskies’ leading scorer (15.0 PPG) went 1-for-14 against DePaul

Interior Presence Matters: UConn ranks second in the nation in blocks per game with 6.8

Start Strong on the Road: UConn cannot afford another early deficit against a team like Marquette

With Marquette forcing turnovers at an elite rate, UConn must stay composed and play a cleaner offensive game to have a shot at an upset.

Key Matchups to Watch

Kam Jones vs. UConn’s Perimeter Defense

Jones is Marquette’s leading scorer at 18.9 points per game and a deadly shooter from deep. If UConn fails to limit him, it could be a long night for the Huskies.

Marquette’s Turnovers vs. UConn’s Ball Security

Marquette forces over 10 steals per game, while UConn has struggled at times with careless mistakes. If Marquette wins the turnover battle, expect a fast-paced game favoring the Golden Eagles.

Alex Karaban vs. Marquette’s Defense

Karaban needs a bounce-back game after shooting 1-for-14 against DePaul. Can he regain his scoring touch against Marquette’s aggressive, high-pressure defense?

Prediction: Marquette Stays Hot at Home

Marquette has too much firepower, too much defensive pressure, and too much home-court energy for UConn to handle.

The Huskies have struggled on the road, and Marquette’s turnover-forcing defense will make it tough for UConn to stay in rhythm.

Expect a close battle early, but Marquette’s efficiency and defensive pressure will take over in the second half.

Final Score Prediction: Marquette 77, UConn 69

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Final Thoughts

Marquette is trying to stay atop the Big East, while UConn is looking for a signature road win.

• Can Marquette extend its home dominance?
• Will UConn finally find consistency on the road?

One thing is for sure—this Big East showdown is must-watch basketball.