Feb. 5, 2010

Milwaukee -

MU-Providence Game Notes (PDF)  | Television Information | ESPN360.com 

The Marquette University men’s basketball team returns to the road for a BIG EAST Conference matchup with Providence Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The BIG EAST Network will feature Saturday’s game of the week broadcast, with Mike Gleason (play-by-play) and Ron Perry (analyst) calling the action. The game will air on WMLW-TV in the greater Milwaukee area. The matchup with the Friars marks the conclusion of MU’s trio (PC, DePaul, Providence) of home-and-home series in league action. Following Saturday’s game, Marquette will return to the Bradley Center to face USF (Feb. 13) and Pittsburgh (Feb. 18) before opening a three-game road swing.

MU Tops Nation In 3-Point Shooting Percentage
Featuring an offensive attack that is averaging 9.1 treys made per game in conference outings, Marquette is currently ranked first in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.424).

Through games of Feb. 4, Marquette has knocked down 177-of-417 from behind the line, edging St. Mary’s’ 42.1 percent (203-of-482) from distance. MU’s effort on the season includes an impressive conversion rate of 44.0 percent (91-of-207) in BIG EAST play.

Sophomore guard Darius Johnson-Odom leads the way with 51 treys, but a total of six players have drained at least 10 3-pointers on the year.

Charity Stripe Key In Victory Over DePaul
On a night when MU shot just 38 percent (19-of-50) as a team from the field, the squad was able to utilize the free throw line in the team’s 80-69 victory over DePaul.

MU, which ranks second in the BIG EAST and 25th in the nation in free throw percentage (.740), finished the game 36-of-44 (81.8 percent) from the line. Junior forward Jimmy Butler led the way with a 14-of-16 effort from the charity stripe. Six of the nine players to see action made at least one attempts.

Marquette’s 36 free throws were the most since knocking down 35-of-50 in a victory over Savannah State on Nov. 21, 2003. The 50 attempts in that contest set a school record and MU’s 44 shots versus DePaul were the most by the team since that game.

Hayward Collects Double-Double In Limited Action
Senior Lazar Hayward had one of his more productive games at Marquette in the win over DePaul, collecting his 20th career double-double (sixth in 2009-10) in just 29 minutes of action.

The Buffalo, N.Y., native finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds while also chipping in three steals, two assists and a block. Five of his boards came at the offensive end.

Hayward and DePaul’s Mac Koshwal are second to Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody (62 double-doubles) among active BIG EAST players.