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Big East Tournament: Xavier's Defense Woes Clash with Marquette's Rebuilding Year
11 Mar
Summary
- Xavier's defense struggles, allowing 80 points in 17 games.
- Star player Tre Carroll's hip injury adds uncertainty for Xavier.
- Marquette enters tournament with recent wins after roster changes.
Xavier enters the Big East tournament facing significant defensive struggles, having allowed 80 points in 17 games this season. Coach Richard Pitino openly admitted the team's defensive shortcomings, stating, "We guard nobody. We just guard nobody." The team's woes are compounded by a hip injury to star player Tre Carroll, who was named to the All-Big East first team and averaged 18 points per game. His availability is day-to-day, potentially impacting the team's offensive firepower.
Marquette, despite losing key players from last season, has shown recent improvement, winning three of their last four games. Their defense has tightened, allowing fewer than 70 points in their final four regular-season contests. A notable victory came against fourth-ranked UConn on Saturday. Coach Shaka Smart emphasized the need to balance offensive and defensive performance to succeed in March, highlighting the team's progress as they head into the tournament.
Wednesday's opening-round game between Xavier and Marquette marks a rematch from last season's quarterfinals, but with drastically different seeding. Xavier, the 10th seed, is on the verge of its second losing season in three years, while Marquette sits as the seventh seed. The winner will advance to face second-seeded UConn.
