The Marquette Golden Eagles and the Illinois Fighting Illini meet in college basketball action from the State Farm Center on Tuesday night.

Marquette Improves To 2-0

The Marquette Golden Eagles come into this one looking to build on a 95-65 win over Rider last time out. Kam Jones leads the Golden Eagles with 21.5 PPG along with 4.5 RPG and 4 APG while Oso Ighodaro has 13 PPG with a team-high 9 RPG to lead the Golden Eagles on the glass so far this season in addition to 3 APG. Chase Ross has 11.5 PPG with 3 RPG and Tyler Kolek’s added 10 PPG with 5 RPG and a team-high 5 APG to lead Marquette in assists and to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Marquette up to this point in the year. As a team, Marquette is averaging 93.5 PPG on 53.5% shooting from the field, 40% from three and 64.3% from the foul line this season.

Illinois Sneaks By Oakland

The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this one also at 2-0 on the year after a 64-53 win over Oakland last time out. Terrence Shannon Jr. leads Illinois in scoring with 15.5 PPG along with 3.5 RPG and 3 APG as the lone double-digit scorer for Illinois so far this season while Dain Dainja and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn each have 9 PPG with Dainja logging a team-high 6.5 RPG this season. Quincy Guerrier has 8.5 PPG with 5.5 RPG while Coleman Hawkins leads the Illini with 3.5 APG as well this season. As a team, Illinois is averaging 72 PPG on 48.7% shooting from the field, 29.2% from three and 51.3% from the foul line this season.

Chris’ Pick

I’m going to stick with Marquette here. Illinois does have the home court edge here, but Marquette’s been one of the best road teams ATS in the country going back to last season. The Golden Eagles also have a lot more top-tier scoring depth in my opinion and while Illinois is a fairly deep team as well that plays solid defense, I didn’t love what I saw in narrowly getting by Oakland last time out. I think Marquette brings the fight here and leaves Champaign with a win so give me the points with Marquette.