Marquette at UConn: Do Golden Eagles have a chance? Odds, prediction

4 days ago 2

STORRS, CT - The Marquette men's basketball team is in a bad place, and it doesn't get any easier on Jan. 4.

The Golden Eagles (5-9, 0-3 Big East) have lost five straight games. MU hasn't lost four straight games to start a conference season since starting 0-5 in Conference USA under head coach Mike Deane in the 1998-99.

More: Marquette's Ben Gold trying to salvage a frustrating senior season

Now MU has to go into Gampel Pavilion and face Connecticut (13-1, 3-0), which is ranked fourth in both the USA Today coaches and Associated Press polls.

Follow along for live updates from the game:

Sean Jones won't play with foot injury

MU will be short-handed on the bench against the Huskies, with junior guard Sean Jones sitting out with a foot injury.

Jones has had a frustrating season, missing six games with a shoulder ailment after a long rehab.

MU doesn't have a lot of options with its reserves after Zaide Lowery's departure from the team. Tre Norman is the only true guard option, so starter Chase Ross will also likely assume some ball-handling duties.

Marquette's probable starters

Guards: Nigel James Jr., Chase Ross, Adrien Stevens

Forwards: Ben Gold, Royce Parham

Marquette at UConn prediction

There just isn't a logical way to think that MU has a chance in this one. The Golden Eagles' last road win at UConn came in 2012. This season's UConn team has national title hopes, while MU is trying to avoid its worst conference season since finishing 4-14 in 2014-15. It might be a win for the Golden Eagles to stay within 20 points.

Predicted score: UConn 84, MU, 59