Preview: Marquette at DePaul

[February 20, 2016]  SportsDirect Inc.
 
 With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, Marquette desperately needs to establish some momentum beginning with Saturday's Big East game at DePaul. The Golden Eagles have been off for a week after suffering a home loss to Creighton but have four winnable games and a home date with No. 1 Villanova remaining prior to the Big East tournament, which they likely would need to win in order to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"Our kids are learning, so I am responsible for getting the message across so they do the things they need to do to win," Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski told the media. "Our guys are busting their butts. I need to help these kids better." While execution in the final two minutes was the problem against Creighton, Marquette has had to rely too much on its starters, who have accounted for 85.6 percent of the team's points and 75.1 percent of its rebounds over the last seven games. The Blue Demons come in with just two conference wins to their name, but one of them came at Marquette on Billy Garrett Jr.'s three-point play with one second remaining. Dave Leitao's team has lost three straight games, all by double digits, and five of its last six.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, FSN

ABOUT MARQUETTE (16-10, 5-8 Big East): Henry Ellenson averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds in two games last week to collect his sixth Big East Freshman of the Week Award, four behind the record established by former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony. The forward is third nationally in rebounding (10 per game) and 15th in scoring (16.6 points) among first-year players. Ellenson's 15 double-doubles rank first in the Big East and second in the nation among freshmen.

ABOUT DEPAUL (8-17, 2-11): After being a model of consistency for most of the Big East schedule, senior Myke Henry endured a pair of sub-par performances in losses to Villanova and St. John's. Prior to that, the 6-6 forward from Chicago scored in double figures in 10 straight games, including the first back-to-back 20-point efforts of his career. Henry, who has played for four different coaches in a career that started at Illinois, has produced three double-doubles this season - with the Blue Demons winning two of those games.

TIP-INS

1. Despite the loss to DePaul on Jan. 20, the Golden Eagles still maintain a commanding 71-46 lead in the series, which dates back to 1917-18.

2. A 52-percent shooter on the season, Henry combined to go 5-of-20 with 14 total points against Providence and St. John's.

3. The Blue Demons won the first meeting with Marquette by grabbing 16 offensive rebounds and scoring 12 second-chance points.

PREDICTION: Marquette 66, DePaul 60

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