#MUBB Welcomes Central Arkansas Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. CT

The Marquette University men's basketball team (9-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) wraps up the non-conference portion of its 2019-20 campaign at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 28 when the squad hosts Central Arkansas (3-9, 0-0 Southland) at Fiserv Forum. FS1 features the national television broadcast, with Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) calling the action. Following Saturday's action, the Golden Eagles will open BIG EAST Conference action at Creighton on New Year's Day.

Defense Continues To Develop

Marquette's defense, which was one of the most improved units in the country last season, has picked up where it left off and continues to make life difficult for opposing offenses.

MU's opponents are shooting just 38.1 percent from the floor overall (21st-best in country and tops in the BIG EAST) and 30.4 percent from behind the 3-point line through games of Dec. 26. The Golden Eagles are seventh in all of NCAA Division I in defensive rebounds per outing (30.3 drpg.), the top average in the BIG EAST.

Led by Theo John (4th in league, 2.1 bpg.), the Golden Eagles are blocking 5.1 shots per game, the 34th-best effort in the country.

Marquette's Shooting Ability Has Range

The new 3-point line distance this season in college basketball hasn't had much of an impact on Marquette's offensive attack from distance.

MU is currently first in the BIG EAST and third in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.419) and each of the team's seven active perimeter scholarship players have contributed at least one made triple.

Marquette has made a BIG EAST-best 109 3-pointers on the year and three players ranked among the league's top players (Sacar Anim, Markus Howard and Brendan Bailey) in 3-point field goal percentage.

Howard is one made 3-pointer away from setting Marquette's all-time record for career treys. He is currently tied at 354 with former standout Steve Novak (2002-06).

Howard Claims BIG EAST Honors, Again

Senior guard Markus Howard averaged 29.0 points per game in wins over Grambling State and North Dakota State, earning BIG EAST Player of the Week accolades for the third time this season and 11th in his career.

Howard is now tied with Troy Murphy (Notre Dame) and Kerry Kittles (Villanova) for first in league history with 11 weekly accolades.