GAME NOTES: The 15th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles welcome the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Milwaukee for a Big East Conference matchup of two strong teams. Notre Dame is set to play its first true road game of the season, as a 10-0 home record has been key to the team's 12-2 start. The Fighting Irish are riding a 10-game winning streak that dates back to November, as the only two losses to date came against Baylor and Georgia Tech on consecutive nights by a total of five points. Notre Dame was most recently in action last Saturday when the club knocked off UConn by a 73-67 final. As for Marquette, it owns the same overall record as Notre Dame at 12-2, and the Golden Eagles are 2-1 in league play after Tuesday's 61-56 triumph over Seton Hall. They are a perfect 9-0 at home to date, an obvious reason for confidence heading into this afternoon's tilt. Notre Dame owns a 76-32 lead in the all-time series with Marquette, including in an 85-73 victory in the most recent meeting last season.

Notre Dame has been strong at both ends of the court this season. The Fighting Irish are netting 79.6 ppg on the strength of their 42.3 percent shooting from three-point range. Defensively, they are limiting opponents to 61.1 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Strong rebounding has been key to the success of Notre Dame, as it is pulling down 10.2 rpg more than the opposition. Luke Harangody leads the Irish with 18.2 ppg on 52.5 percent shooting from the field, and he is ripping down 9.5 rpg. Kyle McAlarney checks in with 14.9 ppg, and Rob Kurz adds 13.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg. The Fighting Irish have used the same starting lineup in all 14 games, and that continuity has been key. In the six- point victory over UConn last weekend, McAlarney exploded for 32 points on 13- of-19 shooting from the field, including 6-of-7 from three-point range.

Marquette is scoring 79.3 ppg on 48.1 percent shooting from the floor, and the club is limiting its opponents to 60.9 ppg on 39.6 percent shooting. There are four double-digit scorers in the lineup for the Golden Eagles, who have achieved outstanding offensive balance. Leading the way is Dominic James with 14.8 ppg, and he has dished out 60 assists against 29 turnovers. Jerel McNeal checks in with 13.2 ppg and 34 steals, while Lazar Hayward is contributing 12.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg. As for Wesley Matthews, he is posting 10.1 ppg. McNeal scored 14 points to lead the way in Tuesday's win over Seton Hall. The Golden Eagles played tremendous defense in that clash, limiting the Pirates to 36.2 percent shooting from the floor. James pitched in 13 points and Dan Fitzgerald added 12 points.

A narrow edge has to go to Marquette based solely on the homecourt advantage. Don't be surprised, however, if Notre Dame has a chance to win this game in the final minute.