Butler @ Marquette preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 30, 2019 ) Marquette 76, Butler 58

Tenth-ranked Marquette and high-scoring junior guard Markus Howard continue their push toward a potential Big East title and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament when they host Butler on Wednesday. Howard, who is fourth in the nation at 25.6 points per game, scored 36 in the Golden Eagles' last contest - a 92-73 victory at DePaul on Feb. 12 that left them one-half game behind No. 16 Villanova for conference supremacy.

"When I think about that, I think of how great of teammates I have," Howard told reporters about how his 1,744 points are approaching the school standard of 1,985 set by Jerel McNeal in four seasons (2005-09). "I wouldn't even be able to be on that list if it wasn't for my teammates. How selfless they are. How each and every day they trust me and my abilities and they're just happy with my success. We're all happy for each other's success." The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games after Saturday's 91-78 victory over DePaul, featuring 25 points from junior guard Kamar Baldwin, and sit fifth in the conference while squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Butler's resurgence began after a 76-58 setback to Marquette on Jan. 30 - its most lopsided home loss since joining the Big East in 2013-14 - marked its third straight setback and concluded a 3-6 January. “It was a terrible way to remind ourselves of what we should be doing,” Bulldogs coach LaVall Jordan told reporters. “But ever since then, win or lose, the spirit and effort and enthusiasm and energy ... guys are sacrificing and playing Butler basketball.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT BUTLER (15-11, 6-7 Big East): Baldwin is sixth in the conference in scoring at 17.5 points game and in free-throw percentage (85.1 percent). Senior guard Paul Jorgensen (11.8 points) has reached double figures in five straight contests - all as a reserve, averaging 13.2 in a span that began 10 against Marquette. Sophomore forward Joey Brunk (8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds) is third in the Big East in field-goal percentage (64.8) while sophomore guard Aaron Thompson (6.2 points) is fourth in the conference at 4.2 assists.

ABOUT MARQUETTE (21-4, 10-2): Howard (team-high 4.1 assists) has scored 31 or more points in four of his last five games, including 32 versus the Bulldogs last month. Junior forward Sam Hauser (15.3 points, club-high 6.8 rebounds) bounced back from a four-point effort in a 66-65 victory over Villanova on Feb. 9 with 17 versus DePaul, giving him double-figure points in nine of his last 10 games. Junior forward Sacar Anim (8.3 points) has reached double figures in four straight games for the first time in his career, averaging 13.8 during that span, after accomplishing the feat five times in the first 21 contests this season.

TIP-INS

1. Golden Eagles sophomore C Theo John leads the Big East in blocks at 2.36 per game and 2.67 in conference contests.

2. Butler's bench has outscored its opponents' reserves by an average of 16.6 points in Big East games.

3. Marquette is second in the Big East in points allowed at 69.0 after finishing last at 78.5 in 2017-18.

PREDICTION: Marquette 82, Butler 69