Marquette Men Ranked 34th in KenPom Preseason Ratings
The Marquette men's basketball team earned a 34th-place spot in the initial KenPom projections for the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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KenPom has released its opening season projections for 365 Division I programs, placing the Marquette men's basketball team at 34th overall. This ranking is based on the system's net rating calculation used to generate game-by-game projections.
Why it matters
These preseason ratings provide an early analytical snapshot of the college basketball landscape, offering fans and observers a data-driven look at how teams stack up ahead of opening tip-off. The projections utilize advanced metrics to forecast team quality across a wide field of NCAA programs.
Marquette currently holds a defensive rating rank of 20th and an offensive rating rank of 48th among the 365 Division I teams evaluated. The system projects an 11-9 record within the Big East conference for the squad.
The players
Marquette men's basketball team
The team competes in the Big East Conference and previously secured a conference title during the 2022-23 season.
KenPom
This analytical platform provides statistical rankings and game projections for NCAA basketball teams based on offensive and defensive efficiency.
Michigan
This university's basketball program is scheduled to host Marquette for a non-conference game in Ann Arbor on Nov. 11.
The details
Marquette enters the season as a projected 5-point underdog in their upcoming matchup against Michigan, while also facing a 4-point spread against Virginia and a 3-point underdog status against Texas A&M. The school's overall projected record for the season stands at 21-11.
Timeline
Oct. 12, 2026: KenPom released initial 2026-27 season ratings.
Nov. 11, 2026: Marquette plays Michigan in Ann Arbor.
2022-23: Marquette won the Big East championship.
1990-91: Marquette was last swept by DePaul.
Season Trajectory
The initial KenPom ranking establishes Marquette's statistical baseline relative to fellow Big East competitors like St. John's, Connecticut, Villanova, and Creighton. These projections clarify the team's standing as they navigate a challenging non-conference schedule and aim to reclaim the conference dominance they last achieved in 2023.
Marquette is currently positioned as a 5-point underdog for their Nov. 11 game against Michigan, a spread that directly informs betting expectations for the season opener. The team's 11-9 projected conference record suggests a competitive path through the Big East schedule.
The takeaway
These preseason rankings serve as a statistical preview rather than a guarantee of actual performance on the court. Fans should view these numbers as analytical benchmarks that will shift as the team accumulates real-game data throughout the season.
Further reading
For more information on the team, visit the Milwaukee Basketball page.
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