On Friday night, the semifinals of the Big East Tournament will kick off with a humongous matchup between the UConn Huskies and Marquette Golden Eagles. These teams split their regular season series, but the winner of this game has a chance for a massive seeding bump going into the NCAA Tournament. Here, we break down the UConn vs Marquette headliner on Friday at the Big East Tournament.
UConn vs Marquette Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | UConn -3.5 |
| ? Recommended Sportsbook Promo: | Bet $5 and Win $150 at DraftKings |
| ? Promo Code: | None Needed – Click the link to activate |
This game will be played at Madison Square Garden at 6:30 PM ET on Friday, March 10, 2023.
Why Bet on UConn:
✅ UConn looked dominant in the quarterfinal round of this tournament, crushing Providence in a game that was much more evenly matched than the game Marquette struggled in against St. John’s.
✅ Marquette comes into this game having played two straight close games against St. John’s, which is not a particularly good sign as they get set for a much tougher opponent here.
✅ Marquette struggled to contain Joel Soriano on the glass for St. John’s, and they will have a tough time dealing with Adama Sanogo as well.
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
UConn Huskies: Flying High Heading Into High-Stakes Matchup
The UConn Huskies have won six games in a row going into this UConn vs Marquette matchup in the Big East semifinals. Perhaps more importantly, they have won those games rather convincingly. That includes a dominant performance against the Providence Friars on Thursday night, despite a late comeback attempt in the second half.
For UConn, their dynamic presence on the glass should be what sets them apart in this contest. Adama Sanogo is a better interior player than Joel Soriano, and he should be able to have his way with a Marquette team that was outrebounded 49-40 by St. John’s.
Going into this game, the Huskies are projected to be a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. But a win against Marquette could change their seeding projections for the better. It would also give them a chance to win the Big East Tournament on Saturday and boost their profile even more.
Marquette Golden Eagles: Weathered the Red Storm
The Marquette Golden Eagles come into Friday night’s Big East semifinal having barely survived an overtime game against the St. John’s Red Storm on Thursday. They allowed St. John’s to get out to a huge first half lead, before fighting back with a second half run and barely holding on down the stretch. Here, another slow start will not be an option, as UConn has the level of talent that can actually put Marquette away in this tournament.
Rebounding will be key for Marquette, as mentioned above. But the Golden Eagles need to shoot the basketball more efficiently from the perimeter as well. They made just nine of their 34 outside shot attempts on Thursday, and another bad shooting night could see them get eliminated and see their projected seeding take a hit as well.
