Nov 19, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Good talks with guard Kam Jones (1) throughout the second half in opposition to the Purdue Boilermakers at Fiserv Discussion board. Obligatory Credit score: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Pictures 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 profitable streak — the fourth-longest in NCAA historical past.
A rarity on this period of school 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 skill as a playmaker than some would possibly suppose, however his position was slightly totally different once 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 arms 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 suppose till Stevie graduates and strikes on will we absolutely really feel what we’ve got in him,” the coach mentioned. “I simply encourage everybody to get pleasure from this 12 months whereas we’ve got him right here. He is a mixture 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 way in which 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 median rating of 87 to 66.6, most just 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 finest begin since starting 7-0 in 2020-21.
Georgia’s sizzling streak will likely 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 ideal program,” White mentioned. “Shaka has achieved an outstanding job up there, and from what I’ve heard on the surface trying in, they have tradition and actually good gamers. It’s going to be a high-level recreation and alternative to see the place we’re at.”
The 2 packages have met 3 times, most just lately a 73-66 Georgia win in Milwaukee on Dec. 2, 2017.
–Subject Degree Media