Marquette, Providence Desperate for a Win in Big East Battle

The No. 21 Marquette Golden Eagles and Providence Friars meet on Tuesday night, both looking to snap their recent struggles and get back on track in the Big East standings.

Marquette (20-7, 11-5 Big East) started conference play on fire but has since cooled off, dropping four of their last six games. Meanwhile, Providence (12-15, 6-10 Big East) has also struggled, losing five of its last six, including a disappointing blowout at Georgetown last week.

With the Big East Tournament approaching, both teams are desperate for a momentum shift—but only one will leave Milwaukee with a much-needed win.

Marquette Searching for Consistency

Just a month ago, Marquette dominated Providence 78-50 on the road to cap off a 6-0 start in conference play. But since then, the Golden Eagles have gone just 5-5, struggling to maintain the physicality and focus that made them a Big East contender.

• Their latest loss, 81-66 at Villanova, was a wake-up call, as they had beaten Villanova by 13 earlier in the season.
• Coach Shaka Smart emphasized that his team must “come together and multiply each other” if they want to turn things around.
• Chase Ross (11 points) and Kam Jones (10 points) were the only starters to score double digits against Villanova.

Marquette needs more production from its starters, especially with Zaide Lowery leading the team off the bench with 25 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from three in their last game.

“We have a lot to figure out with our starting lineup in terms of coming into the game with a level of hunger and passion that we have to have,” Smart said.

If the Golden Eagles hope to stay in contention with St. John’s and Creighton at the top of the Big East, they’ll need to find that hunger—fast.

Providence Reeling After ‘Most Disappointing Loss’

Providence has had a rough stretch, but their 93-72 loss to Georgetown last week might have been the toughest to swallow.

Coach Kim English didn’t hold back after the game.

“That was our most disappointing loss of the season,” English admitted. “The game favors the hungry. The game favors the prideful.”

While Bensley Joseph had a breakout game with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals, the rest of the Friars failed to match his intensity.

The team is also dealing with major injuries:

• Bryce Hopkins (knee) – Out for the season
• Jabri Abdur-Rahim (knee) – Out for the season
• Corey Floyd (whiplash) – Out indefinitely after a car accident

With key wing players missing, English is urging his remaining roster to step up as the Friars try to salvage their season.

“We haven’t posted the ball all year. … We need to be more aggressive,” English said.

Head-to-Head: Can Providence Break the Streak?

• Marquette leads the all-time series 25-15 and has won two of the last three meetings.
• The Golden Eagles dominated Providence on Dec. 31 in a 78-50 rout.
• The Friars are 0-4 against Top 25 teams this season, a troubling sign heading into this matchup.

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Final Thoughts: Who Has the Edge?

Both teams desperately need a win, but Marquette has home-court advantage and a more complete roster.

Providence will need another huge game from Bensley Joseph and strong contributions from its supporting cast to have a chance. Meanwhile, Marquette needs its starting lineup to show up and help end their slump.

Who will rise to the occasion? Tuesday’s game could define the late-season trajectory for both teams.

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