After next week, most of campus will be heading home to enjoy their month-long Christmas vacation. However, many of Marquette’s student-athletes don’t get much of a break. Classes may be over, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any games to enjoy during the holiday break.
12/16: Men’s basketball vs. Arizona State
TV: Fox Sports 1. Radio: 540 ESPN
It’s the first men’s basketball game of break and arguably the biggest draw. Marquette will battle the Sun Devils for the second season in a row, the Tuesday after finals. Arizona State, who made the tournament last season, defeated Marquette in a close 79-77 game.
The Golden Eagles will enjoy an extra shot in the arm, as sophomore center Luke Fischer will be able to suit up for the first time. Due to his late transfer from Indiana last season, Fischer is ineligible to play until this game. Marquette fans will get their first opportunity to see what Fischer brings to a generally under-sized Golden Eagle lineup.
There aren’t as many expectations for Arizona State this season, largely due to losing Jahii Carson and three other major contributors from last season. Arizona has already lost to Alabama and Maryland, which makes it easy to interpret this as a winnable game for the Golden Eagles.
12/19: Men’s basketball vs. Alabama A&M
TV: Fox Sports 1 Radio: 540 ESPN
The opponent may not be the most intriguing, but this game being the first men’s basketball game played at the Al McGuire Center makes it a memorable one.
12/30: Women’s basketball vs. Xavier
TV: GoMarquette.com
Women’s coach Carolyn Kieger gets her first taste of Big East play from a coaching perspective just before the new year. The Golden Eagles had no trouble with Xavier last season, defeating the Musketeers by 21 at home and six on the road.
Xavier is off to a hot 5-2 start and like many of the other Big East teams they are already playing in-conference opponents. They kicked off their conference play last night with a loss against St. John’s.
12/31: Men’s basketball at DePaul
TV: Fox Sports 1 Radio: ESPN 540
The Golden Eagles begin their Big East schedule as part of the New Year’s Eve Big East Marathon on Fox Sports 1. Luckily for fans, they won’t have to worry about missing the ball drop, as Marquette’s game is at 4 p.m.
DePaul, sitting at 3-1, is tricky to figure out. The Blue Demons lost by 12 to Lehigh two weeks ago, a team that was winless at the time. Four days later, they defeated Stanford by 15, a team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen of last year’s tournament and many experts still have a lot of respect for. The question is, which DePaul team will Marquette see?
1/2: Women’s basketball vs. Georgetown
TV: Fox Sports 1
The Golden Eagles’ first road Big East game of the season is the only nationally televised game during break for the women’s team. The Golden Eagles narrowly beat the Hoyas in a tough 82-80 overtime win on the road last season, and at home they blew Georgetown out by 22.
The Hoyas struggled last season, finishing 10 games under .500. They are on pace for another disappointing season so far, posting a 2-6 record and are currently on a five game losing streak. A win would still be a good opportunity to showcase Kieger’s new system on a national stage.
1/3: Men’s basketball vs. Providence
TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin Radio: 540 ESPN
Steve Wojciechowski will coach his first Big East home game against last season’s tournament champions, the Providence Friars. Providence is now experiencing life without Bryce Cotton, the 2014 tournament MVP who became one of the brightest stars in the new Big East.
The closest thing to a statement win the Friars can brag about thus far is a 75-74 win against Notre Dame. The Friars are fresh off a 20-point loss to Kentucky. Marquette is catching Providence in a very tough part of their schedule, as the Friars will face No. 15 Miami, Creighton, No. 23 Butler and Georgetown in a three week span.
1/6: Men’s basketball at Georgetown
TV: Fox Sports 1 Radio: 540 ESPN
Three days after their Big East opener, the Golden Eagles face an opponent currently sitting just outside the Top-25 polls. The Hoyas, led by junior guard D’Vauntes Smith Rivera, have already earned an impressive win against Florida, who was ranked seventh in the country at the beginning of the season.
The Golden Eagles will be glad to have Fischer back to matchup against Georgetown’s size. Senior forward Mikael Hopkins is one of four Hoyas more than 6-foot-9.
1/9: Women’s basketball vs. DePaul
TV: Big East Digital Network
Just days before students return to campus, Marquette’s women’s team will face arguably its toughest test of conference play. DePaul, the reigning Big East regular season and tournament champions, made it to the third round of last year’s NCAA tournament.
Despite their historic season, the Golden Eagles did manage to steal a game from the mighty Blue Demons at home last season. DePaul, ranked tied for 25th in this week’s rankings, earned its first Big East win yesterday against Butler.
