Marquette vs. Wisconsin: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

A tantalizing in-state rival will transpire on Sunday afternoon, with Marquette traveling to Wisconsin for a Big East versus Big Ten showdown.

TV schedule: Sunday, November 17, 1:00 pm ET. FS1.
Arena: Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.

Marquette basketball will take the approximately 80-mile trip to Wisconsin for a battle of in-state foes on Sunday afternoon, as the Badgers welcome the Golden Eagles to the Kohl Center in Madison. This encounter between members of the Big East and the Big Ten Conferences provides a critical opportunity for the successful crew to notch a marquee achievement in the non-conference portion of the 2019-20 campaign.

Behind 23 points from junior guard Koby McEwen and 18 points from senior guard Markus Howard, a preseason All-American candidate, Marquette (2-0) landed its first-ever win against Purdue on Nov. 13, by a final count of 65-55. The Golden Eagles, competing at home, crushed the Boilermakers after intermission, 40-17, enabling Marquette to move to 1-9 all-time versus Purdue.

Wisconsin (2-1), meanwhile, has captured two-consecutive conquests on its own turf, 83-63 over McNeese and 65-52 against Eastern Illinois, following its stanza-opening setback to then-No. 20 Saint Mary’s, 65-63 in overtime, on Nov. 5 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Coincidentally, both the Badgers and the Golden Eagles earned No. 5 seeds in the NCAA Tournament held this past spring, and each squad got upset in the first round by a No. 12 seed. Marquette finished at 24-10, while Wisconsin wrapped up the 2018-19 term at 23–11.

The Big Ten preseason poll slotted the Badgers at No. 6 in the league, and it’s conceivable that Wisconsin could hover around the proverbial bubble as it pertains to March Madness, although the Badgers will likely receive an at-large invite.

The Golden Eagles, in the Big East preseason ballot, are tied for fourth place, with Providence. Howard, who claimed the conference’s Player of the Year award in 2018-19, when he generated 25.0 points per contest, is on the All-Big East preseason first unit.

To date in the current campaign, Howard is averaging 28.0 points every 40 minutes, and his shooting numbers are ridiculous. He’s presently at 53.1 percent from the field, 92.3 percent from the charity stripe, and a whopping 58.8 percent from beyond the arc.

On the flip side, Wisconsin spreads its production around more evenly. At this juncture, seven guys on the Badgers’ roster collect a minimum of seven points a game, with junior guard Brad Davison leading the way at 16.0 points per affair.

Marquette and Wisconsin are both solid on defense, however, the Golden Eagles hold a sizable advantage in rebounding, which means that the Badgers must remain laser-focused on the glass.

This pair of programs has a storied history that reaches back to 1917, with Wisconsin out in front overall, 67-58. The teams have split the last 10 duels, and Marquette emerged victorious in 2018-19, needing an extra session to prevail, 74-69, with Howard accumulating 27 points.

From a bigger-picture perspective, I believe that the Golden Eagles are probably the better group, yet the Badgers are quite challenging to dethrone in Madison. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index pegs Wisconsin with a 72.9 percent chance to beat Marquette, and I’ll go with the Badgers in this one, buoyed by a boisterous Kohl Center crowd.

Prediction: Wisconsin 76 – Marquette 72