Marquette is tipping off their season tonight against Mercyhurst, and KenPom.com gives them a ridiculous 99% chance to win, with a projected 87-61 final score. Sounds like a breeze, right? Not if you actually want to watch it, because this opener isn’t hitting traditional TV channels.
Forget Broadcast TV, Get Ready for Streaming Hell
Seriously, trying to watch this game on your regular TV is a no-go. The only way you are tuning into this Monday, November 2, 2026, 6:30 PM Central matchup from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee? ESPN+, with Josh Mauer and Jerel McNeal on the call. The Big East made a deal with ESPN for digital offerings, sure, but who expected it to snag men’s basketball too? This is Year Two of that media deal, and now if you are a true completist, you are shelling out for ESPN+. You absolutely need that subscription if you want to catch this game, plus other home matchups against Northern Illinois, Chicago State, Wagner, New Hampshire, and even the Detroit Mercy game at the McGuire Center. So, get your credit card ready, brother.
The Numbers Say Blowout, But What About the Thrill?
This game might be a viewing headache, but on the court, Marquette is rolling into it with serious confidence. KenPom.com slates them for a 99% win, an 87-61 predicted score. Let’s be real, the “Thrill Score” is a measly 10.0, ranking 91st out of 118 Division 1 games today. It is no Purdue vs. Gonzaga in Las Vegas, which is sitting at an 83.9 score. The line is not even out on FanDuel yet, which tells you everything about how lopsided this one is expected to be.
Still, we get to see the guys: Nigel James is back after dropping 16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.9 apg, and 1.9 spg last year. Adrien Stevens chipped in 7.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.4 spg. Damarius Owens had 4.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg. Royce Parham added 12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg. And keep an eye on Sananda Fru, coming over from Louisville with 9.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, and 1.4 bpg.
So yeah, the broadcast situation is a headache, but it is the season opener. If you are a completist, you are grabbing that ESPN+ subscription. KenPom says this is a done deal, and we will get to see what this Marquette squad looks like. Hopefully, they come out strong and make good on that 99% projection.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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