No. 8/9 #MUBB hosts No. 2/2 UConn Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT

The No. 8/9 Marquette University men's basketball team (22-7, 13-5 BIG EAST) wraps up the home portion of its regular season against No. 2/2 UConn (26-3, 16-2 BIG EAST) on Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Central time. FS1 features the television broadcast, with Jason Benetti (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst) calling the action. Prior to the game, the Golden Eagles will honor Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro as part of the program's Senior Night festivities.

Short Series Has Plenty Of Highlights

Marquette has faced UConn on just 17 occasions all-time (Huskies lead 9-8), but the limited series has already provided a number of memories.

The all-time series dates back to the program's first year in the BIG EAST in 2005-06. MU hosted the Huskies at the Bradley Center on Jan. 3, 2006 in the team's first home game as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. Steve Novak finished with 41 points and 16 rebounds and Jerel McNeal chipped in 19 points and 12 boards in a 94-79 Marquette victory over No. 2 UConn to hand the Huskies their first loss of the season.

Other series highlights include a game-winning shot by Jimmy Butler with three seconds left in a 70-68 win on the road on Jan. 30, 2010 and an overtime win by Marquette at home on Jan. 1, 2013 when Junior Cadougan forced the extra session on at 3-pointer as time expired in regulation.

The No. 1/1 Huskies pulled away midway through the first half in the first meeting this season, eventually claiming an 81-53 victory on Feb. 17 at the XL Center. Wednesday night will be Marquette's fourth matchup against at top-five opponent this season, it's most since facing five (two in regular season) in 1973-74.

BIG EAST Play Reaches Final Week

Marquette enters the final week of the regular season in second place in the 11-team BIG EAST and can finish anywhere between second and fourth.

One more victory, or a Seton Hall loss, would assure the team of a finish no lower than third. Should Marquette finish tied with Creighton or SHU, the Golden Eagles would lose either tiebreaker (CU and SHU both defeated UConn).

Kolek, Ighodaro To Be Honored On Senior Night

Guard Tyler Kolek and forward Oso Ighodaro will be honored for their respective contributions during a pregame Senior Night ceremony on Wednesday.

The duo has combined for 197 appearances and until Saturday's game had appeared together in 96-straight outings dating back to the 2021-22 season opener.

An All-BIG EAST Second Team selection in 2022-23, Ighodaro is currently ranked among the national leaders in field goal percentage and owns nine career-double doubles. He is a candidate this season for the Karl Malone award, presented to the nation's top power forward, and is just 14 points shy of becoming the 53rd player in school history with 1,000 career points.

A consensus second team All-American and BIG EAST Player of the Year selection in 2022-23, Kolek is currently second all-time at Marquette in assists with 656 and leads the nation with 7.6 assists per game. Also a consensus preseason First Team All-America honoree in 2023-24, he is a candidate for the Naismith Award, Wooden Award and Oscar Robertson Award recognizing the nation's top player.

The program will also recognize managers Jack Lynch, Ryan McMullen, Joe McGrane and Kaden Lecapitaine during the ceremony.