When they commence Big East action on Tuesday evening in Rhode Island, No. 6 Marquette will strive to bestow upon Providence their first home loss. The Friars (9-2) clinched their eighth consecutive home victory by defeating Sacred Heart 78-64 last Saturday.
In the triumph, Bryce Hopkins spearheaded Providence with 26 points and 12 rebounds, marking his fourth double-double of the campaign. Hopkins is the top scorer (17.2) and rebounder (8.3) for Providence.
Furthermore, Rich Barron achieved a personal best with 14 points while successfully making 4 of 6 3-point tries for the Friars, who were without the services of Devin Carter and Corey Floyd due to practice injuries earlier in the week. Carter and Floyd’s injuries were described as “minor” by Providence coach Kim English.
Carter has been contributing an average of 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 10 games, while Floyd maintained an average of 4.4 points and 21.7 minutes in the first 10 appearances for Providence. English expressed his perspective, stating, “I don’t rely heavily on carrying over momentum from one game to the next.
Every game presents distinct challenges, and we needed a victory. Despite the adversity before the game, we prevailed. I commend Sacred Heart for their intense and commendable performance. I believe we have demonstrated respect for our opponents and upheld our standards during the non-league part of our schedule.”
Marquette (9-2) concluded their nonconference schedule with a 84-79 win over St. Thomas, which was a closer battle than expected. This victory was achieved with five players scoring in double digits for the first time this season. Oso Ighodaro emerged as the top scorer with 21 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, marking his third 20-point performance this season.
Moreover, Marquette recorded a season high in both free throws made (22) and attempted (28), but St. Thomas remained just one point behind, with the score at 73-72 and 3:40 left to play. Acknowledging the challenges faced, Marquette coach Shaka Smart reflected, “Our core focus, as with most coaches, is to strive for excellence. It is about bringing out the best in us every time. Circumstances may vary, making it easier or more challenging.
In the case of the St. Thomas game, we faced situations that made it particularly challenging, yet we found a way to emerge victorious. We are aware of the potential for achieving something remarkable, but we anticipate encountering various ups and downs, such as in games like the one against St. Thomas.”
Marquette, entering the upcoming match on a three-game winning streak, played without Stevie Mitchell in their recent win. Mitchell missed his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury after starting in the first nine games and maintaining an average of 5.8 points per game, in addition to ranking second on the team with 14 steals.
Smart mentioned, “He is making strides in his recovery from the hamstring injury, working closely with the trainers every day. However, it’s the type of injury that cannot be simply toughed out. If it were, he would have already played, considering his exceptional toughness. We need to keep in mind the bigger picture.”
