Villanova 102 Marquette 84
Marquette fans, your Golden Eagles are experiencing their first losing streak of the season. If it feels weird, it is because this team has been phenomenal offensively all season, and last night was no exception. Marquette certainly had shooting success. Jerel McNeal dropped 23 points to break the all-time scoring record at Marquette. Lazar Hayward went 8-16, including 4-8 from 3 point land, for 22 points. Dominic James shot an impressive 6-11 for 14 points, and Wesley Matthews made 5 of his 6 FG attempts for a total of 16 points. Had you told me at the beginning of the season that this Golden Eagles squad would go to Villanova and drop 84 points off 50.9% FG shooting, I think most Marquette fans would have welcomed that. But it was not the team’s offense that led to the outcome of Tuesday’s game. Their defense, usually their rallying cry, was shaky at best.
Take into account that this MU squad had allowed an average of 67 points a game. Then take a moment to give credit where credit is due. Villanova shot 19-38 in the first half, and then came out of the lockerroom after recess with visions of perfection dancing in their heads. The Wildcats shot an astounding SEVENTY-TWO PERCENT in the final twenty minutes. Ya, 72%. They were 18 of 25 in the second half, including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Scottie Reynolds had made 11 3-point field goals in his last 8 games. He attempted 11 last night, making 5 of them. He finished with 27 points in 35 minutes. Corey Fisher came off the bench and made what seemed like every shot he took. His stat line reads as follows: 6-10 FG, 4-5 3PT FG, 5-7 FT, 2 REB, 4 AST in 32 minutes of action. Again, give credit where credit is due. Villanova could have beaten anybody in the country last night. They trumped Syracuse on Saturday by dropping 102 points all over the then-20th ranked Orange. They followed that up with their 102 point outpouring on Marquette.
The sky is not falling, Marquette fans. Sure, the guys lost a game they should not have lost, at South Florida. Sure they will drop further in the rankings after this one. But this is the BIG EAST people. Nobody goes unscathed in conference play. And this team is still tied for third in the league, with a 9-2 record. They are back in Milwaukee for a pair of home games that they know they can win. Forget the discussion that includes “must-win.” This is a veteran team that has consistently dealt with adversity.
So, as Buzz says, they will go to work today to preapre for the Red Storm. Come Saturday, they will be ready to play, with a legion of gold and blue behind them because the season’s not over.
It is just getting interesting.
Brad Galli
MUTV Assistant Sports Director