It’s a final here in Chicago as Marquette beat DePaul 76-61 at Allstate Arena. I’m not going to say Marquette played well in this one (because they didn’t) but the Golden Eagles did enough to stay undefeated in Big East play and improve their record to 20-2 overall. The Blue Demons, of course, stayed fully defeated in conference and fell to 8-15.

Honestly, it felt like the second half was pro-DePaul, although the Blue Demons never got close enough to matter. Most of the scoring load was shouldered by Will Walker, who ended the game with 30 points. Dar Tuckerdidn’t play, and center Mac Koshwal was limited to 10 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes of play.

Marquette got another strong game from senior guards Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews. McNeal followed up his 27-point, 11-assist game against Georgetown Saturday by dropping 26 points and grabbing four rebounds. He also dished out six assists, had five steals and four blocks.

In all seriousness, McNeal is playing like one of the better players in the country right now. There are periods of time when he simply dominates the game. The Golden Eagles managed to pull this one out besides not playing particularly well in any facet of the game, getting out-rebounded and turning the ball over 10 times.

Oh, and as I write this, Dwight Burke just had a fast break dunk with a little more than a minute left. That bumps his scoring line to two points, one rebound and three fouls. Thanks for coming out D-Burke. Oh, and the “Fire Wainwright” clap–clap–clap-clap-clap chants are raining from the rafters.

That is all.