#MUBB Honors 2003 Final Four Team vs. Providence

The No. 20 Marquette University men's basketball team (14-5, 6-2 BIG EAST) returns home to host No. 22 Providence (14-4, 6-1 BIG EAST) on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. in BIG EAST action at Fiserv Forum. CBS Sports Network features the television broadcast, with Andrew Catalon (play-by-play) and Steve Lappas (analyst) calling the action.

All-Time Series Provides Plenty Of Highlights

The all-time series between Marquette and Providence consists of 33 games (Marquette leads 20-13) 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 Conference 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 and multiple overtime results (three of last five outings).

The first meeting this season added another matchup to the highlight reel, with the Friars outlasting MU, 103-98, in double overtime at home. Guard Tyler Kolek netted a career-high 29 points and Marquette managed to force a pair of extra sessions despite PC shooting 30 more free throws than the Golden Eagles.

Marquette Celebrating 2003 Final Four Run

The 2022-23 campaign marks the 20th anniversary of the program's most recent run to the Final Four and Marquette will honor the players and coaches from that historic team Wednesday night.

The Golden Eagles finished 27-6 overall and 14-2 in Conference USA action that season, earning a share of the regular season title. The team's tourney run included wins over Holy Cross, Missouri, Pittsburgh and No. 1 Kentucky in the Elite Eight. Consensus All-America selection Dwyane Wade was the leading scorer on a roster that featured Travis Diener, Steve Novak and Rob Jackson.

All players and head coach Tom Crean are expected to be in attendance Wednesday night.

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Players Mentioned

Tyler Kolek