Even though fourth-ranked UConn (13-1, 3-0 Big East) and Marquette (5-9, 0-3 Big East) were Big East contenders in recent years, only one has shown to be a contender this year.
It may come as a surprise that Connecticut has won the past five meetings against the Golden Eagles and is 10-2 since returning to the Big East, especially when Marquette had one of the best backcourts in the country with Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones.
However, both have left for the NBA, and with head coach Shaka Smart opting against using the transfer portal and preferring to develop players, he is finding out the hard way that his coaching method is becoming increasingly outdated in the ever-changing college basketball landscape.
Chase Ross headlines the team this year, but the biggest story is starting guard Zaide Lowery’s departure from the program after two and a half years.
Smart and the Golden Eagles hope that this year is just a fluke, that Marquette will bounce back from the troubles of this season.
Marquette is limping into this game with a five-game losing streak, with all but one opponent in the top-50 on KenPom. None of their five wins come against opponents ranked in the top 100 on KenPom, and only one is currently ranked in the top 200 (Valparaiso).
Even though the Golden Eagles are in the midst of their worst season in the Smart era, it doesn’t mean they don’t go down without a fight. On Dec. 30, it looked like Marquette would pull off an upset win over Seton Hall, but the Golden Eagles missed their last 10 shot attempts and gave up a 13-0 Pirates run to end 2025 with a whimper.
That is just one of two second-half leads blown by Marquette in Big East play, with a brutal season-opening loss at home to Georgetown.
The Golden Eagles came up short in losses against Maryland (by six points), Dayton (by six points in overtime) and Oklahoma (by one point).
Ross has put the team on his back this season, averaging 16.6 points per game (third in Big East) on 31.9 minutes per game (tied for third-most in the league). He has anchored the defense with an average of 1.9 steals per game (tied for third-most in the conference).
Sean Jones serves as the team’s best passer, averaging 3.9 assists per game (tied for 6th in Big East). Freshman Nigel James Jr. is not far behind with 3.8 per contest. The latter has improved dramatically over the past seven games, scoring double figures in points in six of those matches.
Among the Big East, the Golden Eagles are the only team in the negatives in net rating and boast the lowest-rated offense, effective field goal percentage, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and true shooting percentage. They allow the most offensive rebounds per game, allowing opponents to get second-chance opportunities.
All of those combined add up to being the lowest-rated team in the conference, and one of two teams to start Big East play 0-3.
On the other hand, NBC Sports broadcaster John Fanta called UConn “a wagon” during the Huskies’ 90-67 win at Xavier on New Year’s Eve. CBS Sports reporter Jon Rothstein said that the “gap is widening” between them and the rest of the conference.
Alex Karaban is contending for Big East Player of the Year thus far, with 14 points per game on 52.5% shooting overall, 45.2% from deep and 88% from the free-throw line.
Expect key bench wing Jayden Ross to be available for the 2026 opener, per CT Insider’s David Borges. He missed the Xavier game with a hamstring irritation, per Storrs Central.
For now, it seems that Sunday will end up being the healthiest UConn has looked. There will be an injury report released by the Big East around noon on Sunday.
UConn holds a 13-8 lead in the all-time series between the two schools. Connecticut has come out on top in every matchup at home against the Golden Eagles, with the most recent home loss in the series on Feb. 18, 2012. The lone win for Marquette at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion came on Jan. 10, 2007.
Sunday will be UConn’s first game at Gampel Pavilion since an 83-59 rout over East Texas A&M on Dec. 5. Tip-off from the Basketball Capital of the World is set for 2 p.m. and is available to watch on NBC and streaming on Peacock.