Busting Brackets
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Marquette Basketball: Reviewing 2019-20 non-conference schedule

By Brian Foley

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Theo John #4 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 08: Theo John #4 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half at the Fiserv Forum on December 08, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Russ Pennell of the Central Arkansas Bears signals his players as they take on the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners during the Men Who Speak Up Main Event basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Russ Pennell of the Central Arkansas Bears signals his players as they take on the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners during the Men Who Speak Up Main Event basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Dec. 28 vs. Central Arkansas

Last Year: 14-19 (8-10 Southland)
NCAA Tournament: No
2019-20 Projection: 292nd

Central Arkansas likely evokes memories of Scottie Pippen for the rest of the hoops world, but for Marquette fans, it’s the former home of Markus Howard’s older brother, Jordan, who was the Southland Player of the Year in 2017-18.

UCA took a step backward sans the elder Howard last season, and does not project to be much better in 2019-20. Guard Deandre Jones and center Hayden Koyval figure to be the leading men as juniors this year, and while the rest of the roster has some uncertainties, the Jones-Koyval connection should be strong. The pairing played together at Link Year Prep in Missouri and ironically averaged 12.5 ppg apiece in 2018-19.

And while this holiday matchup could provide a nice Howard family reunion at the Fiserv Forum, UCA will almost certainly damage Marquette’s strength of schedule. Last season, MU played four schools with a national preseason projection of 250th or worse; three of those schools actually outplayed expectations, including Presbyterian, who jumped from 317th in the preseason to 185th by year’s end. Central Arkansas could make a similar leap, but the Bears could just as easily collapse deep into the 300s. That wouldn’t be the end of the world for the Golden Eagles, but it would still be a pock mark on a resume that could be bubblicious come March.

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Outside of the Purdue game, this is not the most thrilling home slate for Marquette, but the overall schedule – especially when paired with an improved Big East catalog – should have more than enough depth to satisfy the committee.

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