Xavier Musketeers vs Marquette Golden Eagles Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

No. 9 Marquette Aims to Sharpen Up Against Resilient Xavier

No. 9 Marquette heads to Cincinnati to face Xavier on Saturday, seeking to build momentum in Big East play while the Musketeers look to rebound after back-to-back close losses to ranked opponents.

Marquette’s Resilience on Display

Marquette (10-2, 1-0 Big East) managed an 80-70 victory over Butler on Wednesday despite struggling from beyond the arc, shooting just 20 percent (6 of 30) on 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles’ relentless effort on the boards, highlighted by 20 offensive rebounds, provided enough second chances to secure the win.

“Offensive rebounds, I think that’s just an effort thing,” guard Stevie Mitchell said. “The more misses there are, the more opportunities there are to let our effort show.”

All-American Kam Jones paced Marquette with 23 points and five assists while continuing to showcase his efficiency as a playmaker. Jones has tallied 75 assists this season (6.3 per game) against just 17 turnovers.

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Marquette committed only two turnovers against Butler, their lowest since 2011, a testament to their disciplined approach under coach Shaka Smart.

“The way our guys handled adversity was way better this time around,” Smart said. “That’s what allowed us to win.”

Xavier Looking for Redemption

Xavier (8-4, 0-1 Big East) enters the game with its own aspirations for a turnaround after a tough 94-89 overtime loss to UConn on Wednesday. The Musketeers held a five-point lead late in regulation but couldn’t close it out, marking their second straight loss to a ranked opponent after falling 68-65 to Cincinnati last Saturday.

The Musketeers are now grappling with the absence of No. 2 scorer and leading rebounder Zach Freemantle, who is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Freemantle has averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game this season.

Despite the setback, Xavier coach Sean Miller remains optimistic about his team’s effort. “Very proud of our team. Very proud of our players. I look at it as a positive step for us, but there are no moral victories at this level,” he said.

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Reserve Dante Maddox Jr. stepped up in Freemantle’s absence, scoring 22 points against UConn, while Ryan Conwell added 23 points. Xavier stayed competitive by shooting an impressive 54.2 percent (13 of 24) from 3-point range.

Key Matchup

Saturday’s clash will likely hinge on whether Xavier can maintain its sharp shooting while limiting Marquette’s second-chance opportunities. Marquette has thrived on hustle plays, but Xavier’s resilience in tough situations makes this matchup unpredictable.

The Golden Eagles swept Xavier in last season’s series, but the Musketeers are eager to use their home-court advantage to shift the narrative.

As the Big East season heats up, both teams will look to make a statement in what promises to be an intense battle.