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MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: CrackedSidewalksSays on February 17, 2009, 06:30:04 AM

Title: [Cracked Sidewalks] Golden Eagles look for 17th in a row at home
Post by: CrackedSidewalksSays on February 17, 2009, 06:30:04 AM
Golden Eagles look for 17th in a row at home

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (Tim Blair)

Marquette (21-4, 10-2 (http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/2008#schedule)) puts its 16-game home winning streak on the line on Tuesday night against the Seton Hall Pirates (14-10, 5-7).  Marquette has won five in a row against the Hall, including a three-game sweep last season.

Fresh off their win against St John's (http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/02/mu-thumps-sju-73-59.html) the Golden Eagles are back in the driver's seat for a double-bye in the BIG EAST tournament.  With West Virginia's win over Villanova last week, MU now enjoys a two-game lead for the free pass in New York City (http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/02/go-huggins-wvu-win-tonight-cold-prove.html).      More importantly, after UConn's home loss last night Marquette is now tied for first place in the loss column (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/conferences/standings?confId=4) with six games remaining (three at home, three on the road).  However with a murderer's row in season's final five games, a slip-up against the upstart Pirates would be costly for both BIG EAST Tournament and NCAA tournament seeding.

Despite a sub-.500 conference record, the Pirates are playing their best ball of the season having won five of six with the lone blemish a tough 62-54 loss at home to UConn on Saturday (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=290452550).  Bobby Gonzalez has a perimeter-oriented squad once again, led by sharpshooter Jeremy Hazell's 23 points per game on 43% shooting from deep.

Duquesne transfer Robert Mitchell has been solid in his first year of BIG EAST action contributing 15 points and eight rebounds per night.  Here's a great story about Mitchell from NJ.com (http://www.nj.com/setonhall/index.ssf/2009/02/seton_halls_robert_mitchell_un.html).  Point guard Eugene Harvey chips in with 13 per outing to go along with 5 assists.  Paul Gause scores eight per game and leads the BIG EAST in steals.

Tonight's game promises to be a high-scoring affair.  MU continues to set the pace in scoring offense in conference games, while the Pirates are one of the worst defensive teams in the league.  Of course, we know Marquette has struggled defensively in league play as well (http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/02/breaking-down-worst-defensive-result-of.html).

Jerel McNeal (http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/jerel_mcneal), Marquette's answer to Hazell's gaudy numbers, should have ample opportunity to extend his current MU record streak of nine games with at least 20 points or more.  McNeal is averaging 23.5 points per game in BIG EAST action, and needs just four steals to become the school's all-time leader in thefts.

Tipoff for tonight's game is schedued for 7pm CT.  The game will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Network, including WMLW in Milwaukee.

Media Notes:
Finally, ESPN's Ombumdsman responded to Rob's grassroots campaign to stifle 'Interactive Tuesday (http://www.fastcompany.com/fast50_09/profile/list/ibm)'.  Great work by Rob, and thanks to all of our readers who aired their respective grievances with the Worldwide Leader.

Also, due to personal travel I missed the deadline for this week's CBS Blog Poll.   Here's the link to Week 2 -- MU checks in at #13 in the nation this time around (http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/view/11123713).

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/02/golden-eagles-look-for-17th-in-row-at.html
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