BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Notre Dame @ Marquette

January 20, 2006


The Big East takes on a Friday night stage this week as Marquette and Notre Dame lock horns at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee this week. On paper, it is probably very hard to find two teams that have more similar numbers in terms of scoring, defense and shooting as these two teams, with similar overall records (Marquette is 13-5 and Notre Dame is 10-5).

However, in terms of perception, both teams are looked at very differently. Marquette sits at 3-2 in the conference and the program has a new buzz of excitement with their entry into the Big East and a young team performing above expectations early on. Dominic James has scored 57 points over the last two games and the freshmen is being touted as one of the best in the country, let alone the Big East. Senior Steve Novak has elevated his game to become the leader and steadying force the young squad needs and everything else is falling into place. Another freshmen guard, Jerel McNeal, adds a fearless persona and aggressive style at the guard position that the rest of the team seems to have fed off of and Marquette has quickly become a team to watch in what many had thought would be a transition year for the program.

Notre Dame is coming off a pair of NIT seasons and, with a bit of a softer conference schedule, were looking to make a run for the NCAA's this season again. However, with a 1-3 start in the conference, things are getting a little impatient in South Bend for better results. The Irish start 2 seniors and 2 juniors and starting conference play 0-3 got them the attention they were not looking for. Irish coach Mike Brey was quick to defuse any potential panic situations and the Irish seemed to play loose in last week's win over Providence. Everyone knows the Irish are skilled and can shoot, but they still have not shown the ability to defend in key situations and tough out the tough situations this conference brings on a nightly basis.

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Marquette is not going to hunker down and try to go after you blow by blow like some of the teams that give the Irish fits in this conference. Neither team is anything normal than adequate on the boards, so they will match-up well there, but where the Irish could be in trouble is against the quickness of the Marquette guards, especially Dominic James. The Irish will most likely have to play zone, which does not help them on the boards and they will be forced to be aware of where Steve Novak is at all times as he can shoot any opponent right out of the game, especially against a zone. Marquette has lost some backcourt depth with the injury of Wesley Mathews, but senior Joe Chapman has stepped up his game in his absence and Dan Fitzgerald is a versatile backcourt player that can add some depth. Marquette will rotate some big people in against the Irish frontcourt and the Irish should have the advantage inside, will they try to use that advantage is entirely another story.

What Marquette needs to do is improve the amount of open looks from the perimeter they give up. Last weekend against West Virginia, the Mountaineers nailed 20 of 38 from beyond the arc and many were wide-open looks. Marquette likes to play fast and sometimes that will allow more opportunities for quick hitting three's and that is what Notre Dame also likes to use to keep them in games.

Marquette will look to explot the lack of speed of the Notre Dame team. When Notre Dame lost earlier this month at DePaul, the lack of quickness of the Irish was evident and Mike Brey pointed it out as a reason they had trouble defending the Blue Demons. There will not be too many combinations as quick as James and McNeal in this league, so the Irish better be ready. Notre Dame also needs to avoid a slow start and match the energy and intensity as best they can from the start. It could be another tough atmosphere for the Irish to compete in, especially if Marquette gets off to a hot start.

This is an absolutely HUGE game for the Fighting Irish as they begin a four game stretch after this game with Georgetown and Villanova at home before travelling to West Virginia and Louisville. Their schedule eases up considerably after that, but this could be a game that determines what they are playing for down the stretch when they finish with a real possibility of winning 6 of their last 7.

For Marquette, this is another test to keep their resume rising for the NCAA selection committee, which was something not too many people were thinking about two months ago. They have a very reasonable schedule in this conference that could allow them to be a major surprise nationally and this is a game that would continue to force people to keep an eye on the Golden Eagles. With a crowd in their corner that will be fired up for Notre Dame, they should get the job done!

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Marquette 78 Notre Dame 73


What is your prediction??