The Marquette men’s basketball team managed to snap its six-game losing streak on January 7, securing its first Big East victory with a nail-biting 66-65 win over Xavier. With their overall record now at 6-10 and a conference standing of 1-4, the Golden Eagles aim to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Villanova on Saturday, January 10, at Fiserv Forum.
Historically, Marquette has performed well against Villanova, winning seven of their last eight encounters. The Golden Eagles have not lost to the Wildcats at home since December 2020, which adds optimism going into this matchup. However, Villanova comes into the game ranked 24th in the USA TODAY coaches poll, marking their first ranking since November 2023. The Wildcats hold a respectable record of 12-3 and are currently 3-1 in the Big East.
Villanova’s recent performance has raised eyebrows, especially under new coach Kevin Willard, who has led the team to exceed expectations after being pegged for a seventh-place finish in the Big East. In the last matchup, they suffered a home loss to Creighton but are still considered a formidable opponent due to their solid record and ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes. Key to this game will be points off turnovers, an area where Marquette has struggled against higher-ranked teams, failing to secure a victory against any top 50 NET teams thus far.
For Marquette, freshman Nigel James has emerged as a scoring leader in the Big East, averaging 15.4 points per game. Meanwhile, Chase Ross is on the verge of a significant milestone, needing just 23 points to become the fifth player under Coach Shaka Smart at Marquette to reach 1,000 career points.
Fans eager to watch the game can tune in on TNT and truTV, with streaming available through the WatchTNT app and Sling for those with subscriptions. The game is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. CT. Radio broadcasts will also be available on ESPN Milwaukee WKTI FM-94.5, WCUB 980 AM, and other local stations.
As Marquette approaches this critical game, the Golden Eagles are hopeful that their recent victory can serve as a springboard for further success in the challenging Big East landscape.