Marquette Basketball: Can Golden Eagles beat Purdue in Maui Invitational title game?
The swarming, chaotic defense of Marquette Basketball takes on the size and experience of Purdue in the championship of the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational.
As the sun set over the shores of Maui on Tuesday night after a chaotic upset of the #1 Kansas Jayhawks, the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational championship stage has been set as the Marquette Golden Eagles will square off against the Purdue Boilermakers later today at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
This championship matchup is a showdown that carries both the weight of the #1 ranking in the country and the thrill of an early season tournament championship. Both Marquette and Purdue have navigated their way through the tournament by way of two differing styles of play. The paint-pounding Boilermakers meet the chaotic pressure of the Golden Eagles in what’s sure to be a thrilling finale on O’ahu.
PURDUE
Purdue, coming off tournament wins over Gonzaga and Tennessee, boasts an unblemished 5-0 record, and has been a formidable force in the paint with one of the nation’s best, Zach Edey. There’s no denying the 7’4” senior’s presence, and he gains full attention on both ends of the floor. Edey found himself in foul trouble in their game against Tennessee, and he still came away with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Rotating with help defense is the key to slowing him down, something Marquette does very well.
Edey is joined by sophomore guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith, who move well without the ball and can knockdown shots. The Boilermakers will have to set their own pace and not get distracted by Marquette’s swarming pressure in order to push past the Golden Eagles and take the tournament.
MARQUETTE
Marquette enters the championship showdown with their own set of weapons, which the national audience got to see on full display Tuesday as they upset the #1 Kansas Jayhawks. Marquette center Oso Ighodaro had a career night against Kansas with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and two arena-pulsing blocks. He was able to all but shut down Kansas standout Hunter Dickenson, and will get another superstar test, tasked with taking on Zach Edey in the championship. All-American point guard Tyler Kolek has risen to the occasion in Honolulu, distributing the ball with precision to the likes of hot shooters Kam Jones and David Joplin.
Purdue will also have to be on the lookout for Sean Jones, who’s speed and quickness is among the top in the nation, and can change the game’s pace single handedly. Marquette’s chaotic defensive pressure was the story of the night on Tuesday against Kansas, and Shaka Smart’s squad will surely be applying it again tonight as the Golden Eagles chase a Maui Invitational Tournament title.
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The tournament final tips off at 4 p.m. CT and fans can expect a basketball spectacle that transcends the Maui sunset — a clash of titans on the hardwood, with ESPN broadcasting every dribble, dunk, and three-pointer. Buckle up, as the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational championship promises an exhilarating showdown between Marquette and Purdue.