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Marquette vs. Creighton: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Drew Dinnhaupt

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 20: Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles celebrates with his teammates in the second half against the Providence Friars at the Fiserv Forum on January 20, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 20: Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles celebrates with his teammates in the second half against the Providence Friars at the Fiserv Forum on January 20, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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A pair of Big East foes face off in Creighton and Marquette. How will the Golden Eagles respond after losing to unranked Villanova on Wednesday?

TV Schedule: Sunday March 3 at 3:00PM EST (FS1)

Location: Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

It’s not easy to win at Marquette’s Fiserv Forum. But just like Creighton, however, the only team to win in the new arena was under .500 in Big East play. It will certainly be a difficult task for the Bluejays, who have lost 10 of their last 14 games and sit at 3-7 in road games.

The Bluejays had Marquette figured out in their last meeting, where the Golden Eagles needed a miracle to force overtime and eventually win in the additional period.

The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, have won 12 of their last 14 behind the unbelievable play of potential Big East Player of the Year in Markus Howard. The 5’11” guard posts 25.3 points per contest, the fifth-highest in the nation, along with 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

However, Marquette’s success isn’t entirely credited to Howard. Junior forward Sam Hauser averages 15.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. When Howard struggles (which, yes, does happen), Hauser is the one who steps up. Last weekend, Hauser posted a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds while Howard went 2-for-12 from the field en route to an 18-point victory at Providence.

Creighton may not have the star power Steve Wojciechowski’s group has, but the Bluejays surely have balance and depth. Five players average 10 or more points a night, led by sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander‘s 16.4 points per game. As a group, the Bluejays are 40th in point per game in the country and 25th KenPom’s offensive efficiency measure. But Creighton hasn’t been able to get the job done of the defensive end, as its 75.2 points allowed per game is the 99th worst in the nation.

Next. Unlikely conference tournament runs. dark

Just like the last matchup between the two, Sunday’s contest will very likely be a shootout, with both teams possibly posting upwards of 80 points. It’s hard to not choose the Golden Eagles, even though Creighton did nearly earn an upset win over Marquette almost two months ago.

PREDICTION: Marquette 89, Creighton 77

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