Marquette Golden Eagles (18-13, 9-9 Big East)
Big East Tournament Seed: No. 11; play No. 14 Providence Friars on Tuesday (9 p.m. on ESPNU).
Head Coach: Buzz Williams, who's coaching his third year at Marquette, has done a solid job of keeping the Marquette basketball, a 94-year tradition, competitive in the nation's toughest conference. However, the Golden Eagles are still searching for that one Big East accomplishment that could carry the program to the next level.
Team MVP: All season, senior forward Jimmy Butler has been Marquette's most consistent, all-around threat. The 6-foot-7 forward, who is averaging 34-plus minutes per game and earned All-Big East honorable mention, will enter the tournament as the Golden Eagles' leading scorer (16.2 points per game) and second-best rebounder (6.2 rebounds per game).
Playing For: After losing to the Cincinnati Bearcats, March 2, and the Seton Hall Pirates, March 5, to end the regular season, the Golden Eagles enter the Big East Tournament officially on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Currently, Marquette is in, but a first-round loss to a very beatable Providence team could end their NCAA aspirations.
Breakdown: Marquette has a solid trio of Butler, junior guard Darius Johnson-Odom and junior forward Jae Crowder, who will try an earn two wins to help the Golden Eagles earn their six straight 20-win season. Johnson-Odom, 15.9 ppg, can score with the best in the Big East conference, while Crowder can provided a solid inside (Marquette's leading rebound with 6.9 rpg) and outside (36.7 percent from 3-point land) weapon.