No. 2 UConn already has clinched the Big East regular-season title so the Huskies might not have a ton to play for Wednesday when they visit No. 8 and second-place Marquette. UConn is still a solid favorite because the Golden Eagles are without injured All-American point guard Tyler Kolek.

The Huskies are 9-8 all-time against Marquette, a series dating back to 2005-06 when the Golden Eagles joined the Big East. Since UConn’s return to the conference in 2020-21, the Huskies are 6-2 in the series.

UConn Huskies vs. Marquette Golden Eagles Game Information

Wheels up for Wisconsin ✈️ pic.twitter.com/uFyANyeA7Z

— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 6, 2024

• When: Wednesday, March 6th, 2024 at 8:30 pm ET
• Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
• TV: FS1
• Radio: 97.9 FM Fox Sports Hartford (UConn) // WKTI FM-94.5 (Marquette)
• Live Stream: ESPN+
• NCAAB Betting Odds: UConn (-5.5) // Marquette (+5.5)

Why Bet on the UConn Huskies?

UConn (26-3, 16-2 Big East) goes for the season sweep as it trounced Marquette 81-53 on Feb. 17 to take control of the conference race. Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies, and Tristen Newton added 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. They took a 21-point lead at 51-30 after an offensive rebound by Newton, who fed Clingan for an emphatic dunk through the lane. UConn built its lead to as many as 29 points in the second half. Kam Jones scored 15 points and Oso Ighodaro had 14 for Marquette, which came into the game with an eight-game winning streak.

The Huskies played their home finale on Sunday and crushed Seton Hall 91-61 to clinch the school’s first outright Big East championship in 25 years. The team considered the achievement big enough to cut down the nets at Gampel Pavilion after the game. Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond scored the first basket of the second half that made it a 13-point game but the Huskies used a 9-2 run to push their lead to 20, 53-33, at the 17:22 mark of the second half. The game was over.

Freshman Stephon Castle led UConn with a career-high tying 21 points, one of four Huskies to finish in double-figures. Newton and Clingan both recorded double-doubles on the day, with Newton dropping 17 points and dishing out 10 assists while Clingan scored 19 and grabbed 11 boards.

UConn shot a blistering 55.9 percent (33-59) from the field, including a 62.1 percent (18-29) mark in the second half. Conversely, the Huskies held Seton Hall to a 37.7 percent (20-53) shooting. The Huskies dished out 23 assists on 33 field goals and had only five turnovers. Connecticut turned 11 SHU turnovers into a 24-8 edge in points off miscues.

It marks the 18th Big East championship in UConn history, the 11th regular season title and first Big East championship of any kind since the 2011 tournament. The win also capped a perfect home slate for Connecticut, going 16-0 at home for its first perfect home season since 2005-06.

Castle tied a Big East record with his 10th Freshman of the Week honor on Monday. He tied Carmelo Anthony, who set the record for Syracuse in the 2002-03 season and memorably led the Orange to the national title. Overall this season, Castle is averaging 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game – all tops amongst Big East rookies.

Newton has been named a top-five finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, presented annually to the top point guard in Division I. Newton is in the midst of an All-America-caliber campaign for the Huskies, currently leading the team in points per game (15.3), rebounds per game (7.1) and assists per game (6.0).

He has posted nine double-doubles this season and a pair of triple-doubles, currently sitting as the NCAA active leader in career triple-doubles with four. Newton is looking to become the third Husky to win the Cousy Award since its relatively recent inception. Both Kemba Walker (2011) and Shabazz Napier (2014) have won the honor.

Why Bet on the Marquette Golden Eagles?

Marquette (22-7, 13-5) was blown out 89-75 at No. 12 Creighton on Saturday playing without All-American point guard Tyler Kolek due to injury. He will not play again during the regular season due to an oblique injury and will be re-evaluated ahead of next week’s Big East Tournament. Kolek is the reigning Big East Player of the Year and has averaged 15.0 points, 7.6 assists (most in the nation) and 4.7 rebounds per game this season.

He’s arguably the best and most creative passer in the country. The 6-foot-3 senior suffered the injury during Marquette’s win over Providence last week. Kolek was also named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award this week. Forward Oso Ighodaro (illness) also missed Saturday’s game, marking the first time in the last three seasons either player has missed a game. Ighodaro is currently ranked among the national leaders in field goal percentage and owns nine career-double doubles.

The last time Marquette played a game without Kolek or Ighodaro was the season finale in 2020-21 (96-straight games). Both will be honored on Senior Night on Wednesday. Marquette enters the final week of the regular season in second place in the 11-team Big East and can finish anywhere between second and fourth. One more victory, or a Seton Hall loss, would assure the team of a finish no lower than third.

UConn vs. Marquette Betting Trends

• UConn is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games.
• Huskies are 16-1 SU in its last 17 games.
• The total went over in 4 of Connecticut’s last 6 games.
• Marquette is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 games.
• Golden Eagles are 11-2 SU in its last 13 games.
• The total went over in 5 of Marquette’s last 7 games against Connecticut.

UConn vs. Marquette Expert Prediction

UConn will take the win against Marquette on Wednesday night.

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