BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Marquette @ West Virginia

January 14, 2006


Marquette got its feet wet on the road in the Big East this week with a win at Seton Hall. Things will be much tougher when they travel to Morgantown to face the Mountaineers on Saturday.

Steve Novak scored 25 pts against Seton Hall on Wednesday, including the go-ahead 3-pter in the last 4 minutes as the Golden Eagles were able to hold on at the end. A pair of freshmen guards, Dominic James and Jerel McNeal also form a dangerous tandem in the backcourt and look to be wise beyond their years on the court. They will have to play very disciplined basketball at both ends of the floor against the experience and disciplined style of the Mountaineers.

With Steve Novak standing at 6'10 and averaging 16.4 PPG, shooting 46% from the 3-pt arc (56-123) and the 6'11 Kevin Pittsnogle, who averages 20 PPG and shoots 48% from beyond the arc (37-77), you have a marquee match-up of two of the most unique players in college basketball. Both seniors, they have been known to light it up from deep, but often overlooked is Kevin Pittsnogle's overall offensive game, which he will shown with some tough jump hooks from the block. Novak is simply a pure shooter that can create his look off the bounce as well as any big man I have ever seen. He is much more than a catch and shoot standstill shooter from deep, which he doesn't get enough credit for either.

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The deciding factor in this game will likely be the supporting casts. For the Mountaineers they have Mike Gansey, the do-everything F/G in their system who averages 19 PPG, 6 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game. What is even more impressive is he shoots a mond-boggling 61% from the floor, showing how effecient the WVU offense is. Joe Herber (leads WVU with 5.8 assists/game), Frank Young and Patrick Beilein all average arounf 9-10 PPG. WVU has 5 seniors and a junior in their top 6 rotation and usually will not go past 7 players for significant time. They are prone to being outrebounded badly, but they offset that by only averaging 9 turnovers a game while opponents turn it over 18 times a contest. They also shoot 75% as a team from the line. They will not beat themselves.

Marquette will rely on James and McNeal to attack the WVU 1-3-1 zone trap and deliver the ball to Novak in spaces where he can fire away. They will be without freshmen Wesley Mathews and senior Joe Chapman and sophomore Dan Fitzgerald will try to fill his role as the 3rd guard. Ryan Amoroso starts at the C spot and JUCO Jamil Lott and Osmane Barro also rotate in the front court with Amoroso and Chris Grimm could also give some minutes if needed. Marquette is also an excellent foul shooting team, hitting at a 76% clip as a team. They can get a little antsy and be prone to turning the ball over and their work on the boards could use improvement, but they should be at least even with WVU today in that regard.

So, what is going to happen today?? As much as I do like this Marquette team (probably do not believe it, as I have picked against them each time), I just think this is a case of too much road and too much experience on the other end. WVU just seems to be able to take adantage of any and all opportunities that presents itself and I would be very surprised if they suffered through another subpar shooting effort like that against Georgetown on their home floor.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

West Virginia 78 Marquette 70

Leave your prediction in the comments section!!