Villanova basketball has its tournament hopes hanging in the balance. A win against No. 10 Marquette is a must-win. Read more for a full Villanova vs Marquette prediction and preview.
General Information:
Teams: Villanova (12-8, 5-4 Big East) and No. 10 Marquette (16-3, 7-1 Big East)
Tip-Off Time: 7 p.m. EST
Watch: FS1
Listen: Villanova Sports Radio Network
Latest on Marquette basketball:
Despite a recent stretch of rough performances, the Golden Eagles have continued to prove why they are currently the best team in the Big East.
Senior guard Kameron Jones is one of the most balanced players in the Big East. Jones has averaged 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists this season. He will face one of the other best players in the Big East, Villanova forward Eric Dixon.
Marquette plays both sides of the ball well, but its defense is notable. This season, the Golden Eagles average 10.6 steals per game. They are one of the best teams in the country when it comes to stealing the ball.
In the Big East, Marquette has the top two players in steals per game. Senior guard Stevie Mitchell leads the Big East in steals per game (2.6). Junior guard Chase Ross averages 2.3 steals per game.
Marquette averages 78.8 points per game this season and has allowed opponents 66.5 points.
The Golden Eagles are 0-2 when losing the turnover battle. They need to limit turnovers and force Villanova to make use of every possession.
Latest on Villanova basketball:
Villanova’s run has quieted down, losing three of its last four games. The Wildcats are coming off a 64-63 loss to Georgetown. The Wildcats did not score in the last 4:52 of regulation.
Senior guard Wooga Poplar was ejected early in the first half against Georgetown, which ended up being a crucial piece of Villanova’s loss.
Late-game collapses have been a recent issue for Villanova. In their last three losses, Villanova has led at halftime in two of them.
In the last four games, Villanova has averaged 67.3 points per game while its opponents averaged 71.5. Villanova ranks 51st on KenPom. Notably, KenPom ranks the Wildcats 182nd in defensive efficiency.
Villanova’s tournament chances are running thin. A loss tonight against Marquette gives the Wildcats almost no chance to make the NCAA Tournament.
A big struggle for the offense as of late is when Dixon is doubled-teamed. Dixon will need to be able to handle the double teams he is sure to come across. If he can pass out of double-teams effectively, the offense works well. KenPom ranks Villanova 12th in offensive efficiency for a reason.
[…] Villanova was unable to keep the ball in its possession and score. Many main scorers were limited to single-digit scoring. […]
[…] Villanova was unable to keep the ball in its possession and score. Many main scorers were limited to single-digit scoring. […]