The 2024 version of the Marquette–Wisconsin men’s basketball rivalry gets under way at 12:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox). Here are storylines to watch.
Last shot for Golden Eagles seniors
MU seniors Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell and David Joplin have never beaten UW and this is their last chance. Joplin, a former Brookfield Central High School standout, has never scored in double figures against UW.
Will UW be hit on the road?
Wisconsin has a veteran group, so going on the road should be no big deal, right? Normally that would be the case, but this will be the Badgers’ first true road game of the season. Last year’s Badgers were 3-9 on the road.
More: Marquette vs. Wisconsin basketball preview: A look at the matchups, plus predictions
More: VOTE: Will Marquette or Wisconsin have the edge when the in-state rivals meet Saturday afternoon?
MU freshmen thrust into the mix
With MU’s Zaide Lowery out with a knee sprain and Chase Ross suffering an ankle injury in a loss to Iowa State on Wednesday, freshmen Damarius Owens and Royce Parham will be forced to play major roles. They combined to play 48 minutes against Iowa State.
Will UW’s defense rebound?
If the Badgers’ bigs defend the way coach Greg Gard wants, then UW will have a the opportunity to get the maximum usage out of 7-footers Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter. The two make for an intriguing combo offensively, but they have to take care of the other end of the floor first.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin vs. Marquette basketball: Four things to watch
