MARQUETTE (10-1): The Golden Eagles take a No. 10 ranking into their Big East opener. Own a 6-0 home record but have yet to play a quality opponent at the Bradley Center. Toughest game came at Maui Classic, where it lost to Duke in the finals, 77-73. Best win came at state rival Wisconsin, 81-76 ? Crowd of close to 18,000 is expected tonight ? Marquette opens its Big East schedule with three of four games at home ? Have advanced to the NCAAs the last two seasons and four times in eight years under coach Tom Crean ? Playing tough defense, limiting foes to 61 points on 40 percent shooting ? James, McNeal and Matthews are juniors and three-year starters. May be the best three-guard lineup in the country? Big men Barro and Burke have taken turns in starting five. Neither is a scoring threat.
PROVIDENCE (9-3): The Friars enter Big East play riding a season-high four-game winning streak but begin with a stiff test against the nationally ranked Golden Eagles. This is the seventh time in eight seasons that PC has opened conference play on the road. PC is 6-22 all-time in Big East openers ? PC beat Marquette at home last year, 74-59, and lost in Milwaukee, 69-62 ? PC has completed its non-conference slate and boasts some impressive wins. The Friars are 21 on the RPI, third best in the Big East. Marquette is 45th ? Hanke has given the Friars a big lift. He is shooting 73.3 percent from the floor and will start his fourth straight game tonight ? McKenzie did not make a 3-pointer in PC?s last game, against Saint Peter?s. That broke a stretch of four straight games with at least two 3-pointers ?
