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Marquette Basketball: 3 reasons why the Golden Eagles will be better than Wisconsin in 2018-19

By Brian Foley

GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – DECEMBER 10: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts to an officials call during the first half of a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on December 10, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – DECEMBER 10: Head coach Steve Wojciechowski of the Marquette Golden Eagles reacts to an officials call during the first half of a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on December 10, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Program Momentum

Not only does Marquette have more stars and superior role players, it also has a different mojo surrounding its program. It has only been one year since the Badgers were coming off back-to-back Sweet 16’s, but with so many questions surrounding the current roster, as well a dominant football team kicking off its season, Bucky’s basketball program is currently sitting on the back burner.

That isn’t the case in Milwaukee, where expectations continue to soar even though the season doesn’t tip-off for over two months. The new state-of-the-art Fiserv Forum has only added fuel to fire. Basketball in the Cream City is flying high right now, and Marquette is a key part of that hoops revolution.

It also helps that Marquette has its first real chance to compete for the Big East championship since they shared the crown with Louisville and Georgetown in 2012-13. Villanova is still ahead of the Golden Eagles in the pecking order, but after sending four players to the NBA, the Wildcats are a little more wobbly than in seasons past. If Villanova stumbles, Marquette should be right there to zoom past for the title.

Wisconsin isn’t too far behind favorite Michigan State in the Big Ten either, but the Badgers will be jockeying for position with Michigan, Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, and Maryland. UW doesn’t stand out as much amid the Big Ten’s second tier as Marquette does within the Big East’s.

dark. Next. Five questions for the Big East in 2018-19

Marquette could settle the debate with a home victory over Wisconsin on Dec. 8, though strangely, home-court advantage hasn’t played much of a role in this rivalry recently. The road team has won each of the last four contests and six of the last eight; we’ll see if the Fiserv Forum can turn the tide for the Golden Eagles.

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