MILWAUKEE – Of road games, Xavier head coach Chris Mack likes to talk about defeating the opponent’s culture.
Xavier will have plenty of culture to contend with Saturday night when the Musketeers (18-8, 8-5 Big East) battle a desperate Marquette University Golden Eagles side (15-10, 6-7) at what’s expected to be a raucous BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The game is the epicenter of a daylong National Marquette Day celebration that’s had the Golden Eagles’ home arena sold-out for days and hotels booked up throughout downtown Milwaukee.
“They have great pride about their program. National Marquette Day, which is always a big draw for them,” Mack said Friday, indicating his awareness of what the occasion means to the hosts.