A pair of unbeaten groups will sq. off in a neutral-site battle on Saturday morning as No. 15 Marquette meets Georgia in Nassau, Bahamas.
Marquette will make the journey for simply the one recreation, whereas Georgia will tackle No. 22 St. John’s on the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort on Sunday.
The Golden Eagles (5-0) are coming off their first marquee win of the season, 76-58 at dwelling over No. 6 Purdue on Tuesday. After the Boilermakers tied the sport at 12 with 12:31 left within the first half, Stevie Mitchell’s layup gave Marquette a lead it by no means surrendered.
Mitchell scored a career-high 21 factors, whereas Kam Jones grew to become simply the third Golden Eagle to ever file a triple-double, chipping in 17 factors, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, as Marquette snapped Purdue’s 39-game regular-season, non-conference successful streak — the fourth-longest in NCAA historical past.
A rarity on this period of faculty sports activities, Jones and Mitchell are two seniors who’ve caught with this system for 4 years. The duo will look to assist Marquette to its first 6-0 begin since 2011-12, when it started the 12 months 10-0.
“(Jones) has labored his tail off,” Marquette coach Shaka Good mentioned. “He is at all times had higher capability as a playmaker than some would possibly assume, however his position was somewhat completely different after we had Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro, as a result of these guys have been such good passers. We nonetheless want him to attain, however he additionally has the ball in his palms extra, and we’d like him to create alternatives for different guys.”
As for Mitchell, Good mentioned he helps to make the workforce run.
“I do not assume till Stevie graduates and strikes on will we totally really feel what we have now in him,” the coach mentioned. “I simply encourage everybody to get pleasure from this 12 months whereas we have now him right here. He is a mix of will, toughness, coronary heart, and he is extraordinarily good.”
Jones leads the workforce with averages 22.6 factors and 6 assists per recreation, whereas Mitchell chips in 13.6 factors per contest.
Standing in the best way of Marquette’s potential 6-0 begin is a Georgia workforce that is seen little resistance to start the 12 months. The Bulldogs (5-0) have gained their first 5 video games by a mean rating of 87 to 66.6, most lately blowing out Alabama A&M at dwelling Tuesday, 93-45.
Led in scoring by Asa Newell (16.8 factors per recreation) and sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. (14.6), the Bulldogs are off to their greatest begin since starting 7-0 in 2020-21.
Georgia’s scorching streak will probably be examined within the Bahamas, as coach Mike White’s workforce will see its first large problem on Saturday.
“Marquette will demand our consideration and respect. It is an incredible program,” White mentioned. “Shaka has carried out an outstanding job up there, and from what I’ve heard on the skin wanting in, they have an excellent tradition and actually good gamers. It will be a high-level recreation and an excellent alternative to see the place we’re at.”
The 2 applications have met 3 times, most lately a 73-66 Georgia win in Milwaukee on Dec. 2, 2017.
–Discipline Degree Media
