Notre Dame is looking to settle a score, a 22 point score.  The Marquette Warriors beat the Irish 79-57 in the Bradley Center just 12 days ago.  Knowing that outcome, an ND fan might dread the rematch.  In reality, the match-up couldn’t be more fun to consider because the teams are similar in so many ways.

Marquette will arrive at Purcell Pavilion with a 13-6 record, 4-2 in the Big East.  One game removed from a disappointing collapse at Louisville, the Warriors are ready to re-prove themselves after getting a needed recovery victory over DePaul, the Big East’s favorite slump buster, Tuesday evening in Milwaukee.  Both conference losses came on the road against good teams, Pitt and the aforementioned Louisville, as MU’s shooting suffered away from home.  The Warriors have made 53% of their two point shots and 49% of their threes at home vs. 43% and 37% on the road.  With its next three games against UConn, Syracuse, and Villanova, Marquette really needs this game to assure that it’s in contention for a high conference finish two weeks from now.

Notre Dame enters the game with a 15-4 record, 4-3 in the Big East.  It’s also one game removed from disappointment, two lackluster road losses, after beating Cincinnati Wednesday evening.  All three of ND’s road losses came on the road against good teams largely thanks to poor outside shooting away from the JACC.  The Irish actually shot a little better from two point range on the road, 50% vs. 46% at home, but their three point shooting has been solid at home, 42%, and terrible on the road, 25%.  With a trip to Pittsburgh on Monday, the Irish need this win for both record and confidence.

Both teams feature balanced scoring that is spread among several upperclassmen.  Four Warriors have double digit scoring averages in conference games – junior Darius Johnson-Odom (19.8), junior Jae Crowder (16.3), senior Jimmy Butler (16.3), and senior Dwight Buycks (12.3).  Crowder and Butler are pulling down 7.2 rebounds apiece, and MU is outrebounding Big East opponents by 2.5 per game.  A very good passing team, 61% of Marquette’s baskets have been assisted.

The Irish also spread scoring among upperclassmen.  Three ND players have double digit averages – seniors Ben Hansbrough (16.6), Tim Abromaitis (14.0), and Scott Martin (10.1) – and a fourth senior, Tyrone Nash, scores 9.3 points per game.  Senior Carleton Scott, just back on Wednesday from a hamstring injury, is also capable of a big scoring game.  Martin (6.6) and Abromaitis (5.7) lead ND in rebounding, but the Irish are actually being outrebounded by two per game in conference play so far.  The Irish always pass well in halfcourt offense, and this season is no exception.  An outstanding 68% of their baskets have been assisted.

So what happened in Milwaukee two weeks ago?

Notre Dame couldn’t make a three point shot, and Marquette couldn’t miss one.  The Warriors made 12 of 17 threes, 80%, including several from well beyond NBA three point distance.  In all of its other Big East games, Marquette has made just 37% of its three point attempts.

A hot shooting game by the home team is tough enough to beat, but there’s more.  Marquette defended the perimeter aggressively.  “I’m sure they will be coming after us again,” Mike Brey said after Wednesday’s game.  “They played the best defense against us all year with St. Johns a close second. They’re going to come in ready to harass us.”

The Irish missed some open outside shots in the first game; but the Warriors did a great job of disrupting ND’s halfcourt spacing, stepping into the passing lanes, and challenging outside shots.  It was an outstanding defensive game plan and equally good effort that St. John’s mimicked successfully days later.  It seemed like MU had six defenders on the floor, a concept Mike Brey incorporated into practice by running five against six to prepare for the rematch.

I don’t predict scores, mostly because it’s embarrassing to be wrong so often; but I feel good about ND’s chances in this game.  It’s hard to imagine either team shooting like it did 12 days ago, but it’s easy to imagine the same aggressive Marquette defense and the same Marquette toughness on the boards.  The Irish will have to execute in the face of excellent defense like they did in the Georgetown and UConn games.  ND also won the rebounding battle in those games, although neither of those twois as good on the boards as Marquette.  That ND has done it is reason to believe it will do it, especially at home.

Game Information

#16 Notre Dame vs. Marquette

Saturday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center, Notre Dame, Ind.

Television: BIG EAST Network, WMYS Ch. 69 (Comcast Digital 269) in South Bend.  Check your satellite channels or a local sports channel to see it it’s available in your area.

Internet: ESPN3.com