These two teams have already met this year, at the Bradley Center, in a game that Marquette won, in the end quite easily. Louisville got out to the fastest start any team has against the Golden Eagles this year (which is saying something).

When you examine the two teams now and then, there are some similarities. Marquette still relies heavily on their two seniors, and Louisville still can be quite out-of-control at times. But, more significant differences can be found. Here is how both are different…

Marquette

1. The Golden Eagles are starting out games better. Outside of their visit to Cincinnati, this team has gotten into a big rhythm in starting games early, and not digging themselves big holes. Experience is playing a big part in that, with DJO and Crowder leading the Golden Eagles to getting hot early. After getting down 18-2 early against the Cardinals, Marquette had to come back and win. But a start like that seems extremely rare for Buzz Williams’ team now.

2. Marquette relies much more on their fast breaking style, which made them one of the country’s best teams. When they played Louisville, with a healthy Davante Gardner, they were a bit more of a half court team. Even with the Ox getting back into action for the Golden Eagles, they rely on their transition game more now than they did at the start of Big East play, and when they first played Louisville.

Louisville

1. In this game, the Cardinals will have Kyle Kuric. Coach Pitino’s leading scorer is back, and helps them all over the offensive end, with his  long range shooting, and also his ability to find his way into the paint. The Cardinals also have freshman Wayne Blackshear healthy, but he hasn’t played too much of a role off the bench.

2. With Kuric back, they should be able to better score, right? Wrong. As seen in their game against Seton Hall and down the latter part of their season, the Cardinals haven’t been able to put the ball in the basket as well as early on when they were as high as the no. 4 team in the country. As a fast-paced, run and gun team, you need to score if you’re going to have success. Louisville finished as the no. 7 in the Big East because they could not.