Marquette Golden Eagles at DePaul Blue Demons

TALE OF THE TAPE (VERIFIED FROM BDL) DePaul Blue Demons Marquette Golden Eagles Record 10-7 ← 6-12 Conf Record 2-4 ← 1-6 Off Rating N/A ←→ N/A Def Rating N/A ←→ N/A Net Rating N/A ←→ N/A Key Injuries None None Gary's Take DePaul’s defensive identity under Chris Holtmann is starting to take hold at the perfect time. The Blue Demons currently lead the Big East in two-point field goal defense, holding conference opponents to a stifling 42% inside the arc. This creates a massive structural problem for Marquette, a team that has struggled with efficiency all season and currently sits at the bottom of the league in field goal percentage. NJ Benson is coming off a record-tying 16-rebound performance and anchors a DePaul interior that should dominate the glass against a Marquette frontcourt that may be missing starting center Ben Gold. Marquette’s road struggles are the other half of this equation. The Golden Eagles have dropped five consecutive road contests and are coming off a demoralizing 24-point loss to St. John’s. While Shaka Smart’s high-pressure system generates plenty of steals (9.2 per game), DePaul’s methodical pace—ranking 324th nationally—is designed to minimize those transition opportunities and force Marquette into the half-court grind they desperately want to avoid. In a half-court battle, DePaul’s superior length and interior presence give them a clear advantage. Ultimately, I’m betting on the team that protects its home floor and is currently playing its best basketball of the season. DePaul is 8-3 at Wintrust Arena and enters tonight on back-to-back conference wins, while Marquette looks like a team searching for answers offensively. CJ Gunn and Brandon Maclin have provided enough secondary scoring to complement Benson’s interior work, and against a Marquette defense that just gave up 92 points, they should find enough clean looks to cover this small number. DePaul wins a physical, low-possession game by 5-7 points. Take the Blue Demons to cover the short spread at home.