Marquette Basketball opened its season against Mercyhurst at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with fans needing + to watch the game. It was a straightforward reminder that, in Year Two of the current Big East media deal, not every home date is going to be on traditional TV.
The opener was scheduled as a streaming-only broadcast on +, with Josh Mauer and Jerel McNeal on the call. For supporters who wanted the game on the radio, the broadcast was also available on 94.5 FM.
How fans could watch the opener
The answer was simple: +. That was the main platform for Marquette and Mercyhurst, and it meant the first game of the season was tied to a digital subscription rather than a conventional television window.
That matters for a home opener at Fiserv Forum because it changes the viewing habit as much as the matchup itself. Instead of turning on TV, fans had to go through the streaming route, while still having the option of radio coverage through 94.5 FM.
What the Big East media deal means here
The game was part of the Big East's digital media offerings, and + was also set to carry several Marquette home games during the season. That places the opener in a wider pattern rather than treating it as a one-off.
For Marquette, the basketball side stays the same: a season opener, a home floor, and the usual expectation that Fiserv Forum should feel like a launch point. But the broadcast side is now part of the story too, and fans have to adjust accordingly.
Numbers around the matchup
The published betting line pointed to Marquette as a -31.5 favorite, with a projected score of 87-61. Those numbers underline how heavily the Golden Eagles were expected to control the game before it even tipped.
There was no need to dress that up. The opener was about starting the season cleanly, handling the opponent, and doing it in front of a home crowd that had to follow the action on + rather than traditional TV.
