BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: DEPAUL @ MARQUETTE

January 24, 2009

Lowly DePaul travels to Milwaukee to meet former Conference USA rival Marquette for a 2 PM Big East conference showdown. While Marquette has ascended to the top of the Big East standings with their 5-0 start, DePaul has bottomed-out and sits at 0-6 in league play. This once anticipated match-up hardly registers a blip on the radar on the schedule this weekend, even in Chicago.

DePaul and Marquette Meet for 106th Time (debaulbluedemons.com)
Wesley Mathews Leads Marquette Against DePaul (Chicago Tribune)
DePaul Desperate for a Win (Southtown Star)

The pressure has definitely hit a crescendo on Jerry Wainwright and his program. The local papers are all running stories wondering the status of his future as DePaul has fallen to the bottom of the Big East. With no indication of an uptick in their future, the powers that be at DePaul will be taking a long look at the future of the program over the next couple months.

For now, they have more basketball to play and have a nightmare match-up on Saturday afternoon when they visit Marquette. The Golden Eagles are led by their super guard trio of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Mathews. Their strength matches up right with the Blue Demons’ weakness. Marquette has the perimeter athleticism, speed, strength and height to take Dar Tucker and Will Walker right out of the game.

While Marquette’s front line is very undersized, Mac Koshwal should put together solid numbers for DePaul, but MU will counter by disrupting the offensive of DePaul with on the ball pressure on the perimeter, making it very difficult for them to get the ball inside. This one has all the makings of a blow out and the college basketball betting lines have the Golden Eagles as a 16 1/2-pt home favorite. Seems about right…if not a little low.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Marquette 85
DePaul 64