#MUBB Travels To Chicago To Face Oklahoma In Bad Boy Mowers Series

The Marquette University men's basketball team (4-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) returns to Chicago for the second time this season when the squad faces Oklahoma (4-2, 0-0 SEC) at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 28 at UIC's Credit Union 1 Arena in the Bad Boy Mowers Series. NBC features the national television broadcast, with John Fanta (play-by-play), Nick Bahe (analyst) and Cayleigh Griffing (reporter) calling the action. Marquette played Indiana earlier on Nov. 9 at the United Center. Following Friday's outing, the Golden Eagles return to Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, Dec. 2 to conclude the home portion of the non-conference schedule against Valparaiso.

MU Facing Sooners For First Time, Sort Of

While the Golden Eagles and Sooners will be officially meeting for the first time in program history, the two teams have faced each other in recent action.

Prior to the start of the 2024-25 campaign, the teams met in Chicago for a closed scrimmage at Loyola's practice facility. Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser led the Ramblers for 10 seasons, highlighted by a run to the Final Four in 2018.

Ross Model Of Efficiency In Latest Win

Senior Chase Ross continues to lead the team at both ends of the court and in the latest win over Central Michigan, the versatility of his contributions was on full display.

The Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team selection leads the conference in scoring (20.9 ppg.) through outings of Nov. 24 and against the Chippewas he finished with 27 points, a career-best seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes of action. He was 7-of-8 from the floor and collected personal bests in free throw makes (12) and attempts (14). Ross extended his career-best double-figure streak to seven games (previous best was four-straight in 2024-25) and after entering the season with a pair of career games of 20-or-more points, he now has three in the first seven contests this season.

Through games of Nov. 24, the Dallas native ranks among the league leaders in scoring (1st, 20.9 ppg.), field goal percentage (4th, .518), assists (3rd, 4.3 apg.), steals (7th, 2.00 spg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (13th, 1.76).

Player Development A Work In Progress

Along with Marquette's freshman class, the team's returnees find themselves in new roles on the 2025-26 roster and through seven games the season statistics are illustrating the on-the-court development.

As the team's primary offensive option, guard Chase Ross is averaging a career-best 20.8 points per game this season (10.5 ppg. in 2024-25), but in his 109 career appearances is contributing only 8.0 points per outing. Junior guard Zaide Lowery is playing over 10 more minutes per game and as a result has seen his scoring average jump from 4.1 points to 10.6 points per contest. Sophomore Caedin Hamilton, who averaged just 6.3 minutes per game as a reserve in 29 outings last year, has started all seven contests this season and is playing 18.8 minutes per night.

The freshman class of Nigel James Jr., Adrien Stevens, Josh Clark (redshirt) and Michael Phillips Jr. have combined to play an average of 55.8 minutes per game.

According to KenPom, Marquette ranks No. 13 in minutes continuity, but it's 199th in experience.