It’s been just over a week into Big East play and we’ve finally had our first major upset, as Marquette upsets Providence to shake things up in the Big East standings.
Ed Cooley’s group had run off eight straight wins following their loss to Michigan State, looking like a true top-ten team and Final Four contender in the process. Thanks to runs of play from Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, the Friars were the talk of college basketball.
But after holding a 58-50 lead late in the second half, Providence couldn’t seal the win, allowing Marquette to creep their way back in and go on a 15-6 run that was capped by Duane Wilson’s game-winning drive with 30-seconds remaining.
It’s not yet time to worry about Cooley’s group, as they’re still 14-2 on the year, but when you get 48 combined points from Bentil and Dunn, you shouldn’t have much of a problem winning that game. It didn’t help that Dunn recorded seven turnovers, but you have to live with the bad that comes with the good from him.
With the loss, the Friars fell from the group of unbeaten sitting atop the of the Big East standings. Now, just Seton Hall and Villanova remain at 2-0–though, with the two meeting in their next game, only one will remain soon. Conventional thought has the Wildcats winning that game, but in a year where Marquette upsets Providence, who really knows?
For Marquette, the win couldn’t have at a better time. The Golden Eagles dropped their first two conference matches by a combined 30 points, showing that this squad has the resolve to battle through adversity. Star freshman Henry Ellenson finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.
