Matchup:
Xavier likes to slash and dash and Marquette defenders have quick hands. When the Musketeers have the ball – it’ll be interesting. On the flip-side, the Golden Eagles might score most of their points in transition. In their last meeting, Marquette beat Xavier 71-61 – last season – in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando.
Xavier
Xavier plays the old penetrate-and-kick game. Guards Tu Holloway (20-ppg, 5-apg) and Mark Lyons (14-ppg, 3-apg) penetrate the lane and kick to center Kenny Frease (11-ppg) and forward Jamel McLean (11-ppg, 8-rpg). The most pertinent piece of information: Xavier has reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in each of the past three seasons.
Marquette
Four of the starting five average about one steal per game. Guard Darius Johnson-Odom and two-three-combo-man Jimmy Butler are the leading scorers and can score easily in transition. Add to that, forward Jae Crowder’s emergence in the Big East Tournament and Marquette could walk away from this one on top.
In [Five] words of less
Defense wins championships
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