Providence vs Marquette Pick, Odds for Wednesday

Big East play rolls on as Marquette gets set to host Providence on Wednesday night. Both teams enter with winning streaks and will look to ride the momentum.

This is the second matchup between these teams this season, with Providence having handed Marquette a 15-point loss in December. However, much has changed for both sides since that meeting.

Providence lost Bryce Hopkins to a season-ending injury and has not been the same team without him, posting just a 7-6 record. It has turned things around recently, though, winning three consecutive games entering Wednesday, including a win at Xavier in their most recent outing.

Outside of Marquette's 28-point loss to UConn, the Golden Eagles have been almost flawless since mid-January. Marquette is 10-1 in its last 11 games, with 7 of those wins coming in blowout fashion. Tyler Kolek has been sensational for Shaka Smart's squad, tallying 28 total assists across his last two games.

Providence needs a win to solidify its NCAA tournament chances, while Marquette still has an outside shot at the No. 1 overall seed come March.

It all starts with defense for Providence. The Friars rank 17th in the nation in defensive efficiency. They rarely give up easy buckets, as their opponents are shooting just 45% on 2s this year.

On offense, Providence excels at getting to the rim and scoring from close range. The Friars are shooting 55% on 2s, and that is by far their biggest strength when scoring the ball. The loss of Hopkins has made things tougher, leaving Devin Carter to become a bit one-dimensional as a go-to option.

They are much more limited from 3, where they make just 33% of their shots, ranking 228th in all of college basketball. They shoot a lot of 3s (47th-most nationally), but they just don't make them. All in all, it equates to the 122nd-ranked offense in college basketball.

Marquette has a huge advantage in the backcourt, where Kolek will look to continue to shine. Kolek was very good in the first game against Providence, tallying 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, but given his recent form, the star guard could be in for an even bigger game this time.

Marquette ranks within the top 25 in the country in both offensive and defensive efficiency, which makes them a prime candidate to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament this year.

They play fast (ranked 66th in tempo), shoot lots of 3s (71st in 3PA rate), and knock them down at a solid clip (35% as a team from 3-point range). It's hard to beat Marquette in their building, where they are 13-1 on the season.

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Eleven of Marquette's 13 wins at home this season have come by double digits. Without Hopkins, Providence just hasn't had the offensive firepower to hang with the best teams in the Big East. Marquette is rolling right now, and it has had revenge on its mind since December. Take the Golden Eagles to cover.

Pick: Marquette -10.5