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-====== Game Preview ======
-MILWAUKEE (AP) - When Marquette's Dominic James was asked if his Golden Eagles were now favorites in an injury-plagued Big East, he dropped to the floor and knocked on wood.
-Bright yellow hardwood.
-The energetic point guard knows No. 10 Marquette (10-1) is good, but with the team starting Big East play against Providence on Thursday, he refused to say anything that other teams could use as bulletin-board fodder.
-"We can't get caught up in who's favorites, and things like that," James said. "The depth that we've had the beginning of the year, I feel like that's big. We're happy with the team that we have and our health, things like that."
-But guard Jerel McNeal says that Marquette has a good opportunity for a quick start in a conference race that includes four teams ranked in this week's Top 25, starting with No. 7 Georgetown.
-"Injuries happen," McNeal said. "Every team is going to experience it throughout the course of the season, but I think this is definitely a point in time right now in our conference that we could definitely step up and make some real big strides and come in, hopefully get a demanding conference lead and get a step closer to a conference championship."
-Several Big East opponents have been slowed by key injuries, including Pittsburgh (Levance Fields, Mike Cook), Syracuse (Eric Devendorf, Andy Rautins) and Louisville (David Padgett, Juan Palacios).
-Providence (9-3) also has had problems in the backcourt, with point guard Sharaud Curry still ailing from a foot injury and backup Dwain Williams day-to-day because of a bruised ankle.
-"I'm trying to take advantage of it," said James, who is averaging a team-high 14.8 points and 4.2 assists. "We've got a great backcourt here and you know that we're a guard-oriented team. Any way we can, we're going to try to take advantage of them."
-Marquette is getting healthier at the right time. Forward Dan Fitzgerald (sprained left wrist) and guard David Cubillan (sprained left ankle) both returned to action last week.
-To stop the Friars, Marquette will have to figure out how to contain 6-8 forward Geoff McDermott and 6-10 center Randall Hanke. McDermott is averaging 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds and was a rebound shy of a triple-double in his first matchup with the Golden Eagles last season. Providence won, 74-59.
-Marquette coach Tom Crean called Marquette's 0-2 conference start last season a total aberration. During a workout last Jan. 1, guards Wesley Matthews and McNeal bumped heads during a rebounding drill and had to go to the hospital as a precaution.
-"A year ago today, we're visiting Jerel and Wesley in the hospital. A year ago yesterday, we're in a situation where Jerel McNeal couldn't speak for three hours, four hours. We had a heck of a 2007 considering the way it started," Crean said.
-Marquette rebounded with a long winning streak and a 24-10 record before losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
-"We know coming into this year you don't want to come out early and get yourself in a big hole," McNeal said. "Last year, we started off 0-2, we had to win eight in a row just to get back in the race for the conference championship."
-The Golden Eagles also have the luxury of playing at home against the Friars. Marquette is 13-3 in conference play at home since joining the Big East in 2005-06, beginning with an upset of then-No. 2 Connecticut two seasons ago at the Bradley Center.
-"You want to start off the Big East with a win and start from there," James said. "This is what we've been working for. This is where you stake your claim ... Our No. 1 goal is to win the Big East championship and this is where it starts."

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