#MUBB Travels To Providence Tuesday Night

The Marquette University men's basketball team (9-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) continues BIG EAST conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. CT when the squad hits the road for the first time in league play at Providence (9-3, 1-0 BIG EAST). CBS Sports Network features the television broadcast, with Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Steve Lappas (analyst) calling the action. Following Tuesday's outing, the Golden Eagles will scatter across the country to spend time with family and friends in advance of Christmas.

All-Time Series Provides Plenty Of Highlights

The all-time series between Marquette and Providence consists of 34 games (Marquette leads 21-13) and includes a number of memorable contests for MU fans.

The two programs first met in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament and the result was a 70-64 victory by PC. The teams would cross paths four years later in the same event and a slim 81-80 Marquette overtime win helped the squad to a runner-up finish under head coach Al McGuire.

Since the teams began meeting in BIG EAST action, series highlights include a game delayed at the Bradley Center when a bat continued to interrupt play on the court, a wet court at PC in 2016-17 that caused numerous stoppages in play, a league record-tying 52-point performance by Markus Howard in 2017-18 at Providence, multiple overtime results and most recently a game last year that was delayed by a day after a blizzard swept through the Providence area.

Rhode Island native Tyler Kolek finished with 13 points and six rebounds in his return to his home state, one of three players in double figures in the 65-63 setback on Jan. 30, 2022.

Shaka Smart Claims 300th Victory

Marquette's 69-58 win over Creighton on Dec. 16 was the 300th victory for head coach Shaka Smart, whose 14-year career includes stops at VCU, Texas and Marquette.

Smart is 300-158 (.655) has guided 12 teams to postseason competition, highlighted by a run to the Final Four with VCU in 2011 in one of nine NCAA tournament trips by teams he has mentored.

Player Development Critical In 2022-23

Marquette's roster, the fourth-least experienced roster among power six leagues according to KenPom, features just one scholarship player (Oso Ighodaro) who has played more than one season for the Golden Eagles.

Player development across the roster has been a key factor in the team's early success, particularly with its three leading scorers; Kam Jones, Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Oso Ighodaro.

Each player is not only seeing new levels of time on the court, but also making the most of his respective opportunity. The trio has more than doubled it scoring output from 2021-22, despite each averaging less than 30 minutes per outing.