March 4, 2007

MILWAUKEE - After securing the No. 6 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament on Saturday with a 75-71 defeat of No. 12/12 Pittsburgh, the No. 20/21 Marquette men's basketball team earned a date with No. 11 seed St. John's in the first round of the conference tournament, Wednesday, at 9 p.m. EDT. The Golden Eagles will take on the Red Storm at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals against the No. 3 seed, Pittsburgh.

St. John's secured the No. 11 seed after defeating Providence, 77-64, Sunday afternoon.

The meeting between Marquette and St. John's will be the first this season. The teams played in Milwaukee last season, with the Golden Eagles coming out on top, 81-61. Steve Novak scored 29 against the Red Storm and sophomore Dominic James added 16 in the victory.

MU leads the all-time series, 7-5, and has won the last five meetings between the teams.

Every game of the 2007 BIG EAST Tournament can be seen on ESPN. The tournament champion will earn the conference's automatic bid into the 65-team NCAA Tournament.

Wednesday, March 7 - First Round (ESPN)
Noon - No. 8 DePaul vs. No. 9 Villanova
2:00 - No. 5 Syracuse vs. No. 12 Connecticut
7:00 - No. 7 West Virginia vs. No. 10 Providence
9:00 - No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 11 St. John's

Thursday, March 8 - Quarterfinals (ESPN)
Noon - No. 1 Georgetown vs. 8/9 winner
2:00 - No. 4 Notre Dame vs. 5/12 winner
7:00 - No. 2 Louisville vs. 7/10 winner
9:00 - No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. 6/11 winner

Friday, March 9 - Semifinals (ESPN)
7:00 - Thursday afternoon winners
9:00 - Thursday evening winners

Saturday, March 10 - Championship (ESPN)
9:00 - Semifinal winners