#MUBB Faces Providence In BIG EAST Semifinals

The No. 10/10 Marquette University men's basketball team (24-8, 14-6 BIG EAST) continues play the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by Jeep on Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. CT when the squad faces Providence (21-12, 10-10 BIG EAST) in the semifinals at Madison Square Garden. FS1 features the nation television broadcast, with Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Jim Jackson (analyst) calling the action. The winner of Friday's matchup advances to the championship game against either UConn or St. John's on Saturday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Marquette Returns To BIG EAST Semis

Marquette is competing in its 18th BIG EAST Conference Tournament and made a trip to at least the quarterfinals for the 17th time.

The Golden Eagles are 16-16 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament and 28-31 in postseason events since joining a league for the first time in 1989-90. MU has now made a total of five trips (1-3) to the BIG EAST semifinals (first time in back-to-back years), including a run to last season's tournament title after three victories in three days. The Golden Eagles defeated St. John's, UConn and Xavier en route to the program's first-ever BIG EAST tourney championship (MU also claimed the regular-season title).

Prior to last season, Marquette's lone league tournament title came in 1996-97 when the team won four games in four days at the Conference USA Championship in St. Louis.

Marquette Protects Ball In Latest Win

Playing without All-American point guard Tyler Kolek, the Golden Eagles valued ball security in Thursday's win over Villanova, turning the ball over just five times in 45 minutes of action.

MU's turnover total was its second-lowest of the season after just three miscues versus Villanova on Jan. 15 in a win at Fiserv Forum. Kam Jones led the way offensively with 18 points for his 11th-straight double-figure game and guard Stevie Mitchell added 15 points, five rebounds and three steals.

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Players Mentioned

Kam Jones

Tyler Kolek

Stevie Mitchell