2009 Big East Tournament Game Preview: St. John's Red Storm vs. Marquette Golden Eagles

Marquette and St. John's will meet up in the Big East Tournament, for what should be a highly intriguing college basketball match-up. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses, and this game should be much closer than the experts predict.

The Marquette Golden Eagles are really stumbling. The team had an incredible run-clearly among the best teams in the Big East-before they lost their star basketball player. Point guard Dominic James, who many consider to be amongst the Big East's best players out of any position, was lost to a broken foot.

The Golden Eagles have lost four in a row. Marquette's hopes for winning this game will be highly reliant on senior guard Jerel McNeal, who averages 20.1 points per game. In addition, senior guard Wesley Matthews will have to step up in a big way to defeat this tough, hard-nosed St. John's squad. Both players are great rebounders.

In an incredible overtime game against the Georgetown Hoyas, St. John's was able to pull off a stunning upset. Sophomore guard-forward Paris Horne stepped up in a big way for the Red Storm, and he should lead them again in scoring against the Golden Eagles. If Horne can step up in a big way for the Red Storm, they should be able to pull the so-called "upset" against the James-less Marquette squad.

WINNER: St. John's Red Storm