No. 16 Marquette Faces Villanova in Key Big East Showdown

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Big East rivals No. 16 Marquette and Villanova will clash on Friday night as both teams vie to solidify their standings in the conference. Marquette (20-6, 11-4 Big East) has won two consecutive games, coming off a three-game losing streak, while Villanova (15-12, 8-8 Big East) is looking to bounce back after losing its last two matches, having previously enjoyed a three-game winning streak.

The Golden Eagles will tip off against the Wildcats at 7 p.m. ET at the Finneran Pavilion. Marquette enters the game as a 1.5-point road favorite, with an over/under set at 142.5 points according to the latest SportsLine consensus odds.

Marquette has recently dominated this matchup, having won their last eight games against Villanova, including an 87-74 victory in their last meeting on January 24. The Golden Eagles’ success this season can be attributed to their ball security on offense and their ability to force turnovers on defense.

Only two teams in college basketball have fewer turnovers than Marquette, which ranks eighth in the nation for steals, forcing the 15th-most turnovers per game in Division I. Coach Shaka Smart’s side has lost the turnover battle in only three of their 26 games this season.

Marquette’s efficient offense is expected to capitalize on a Villanova defense that has struggled to be active. The Wildcats rank in the bottom quartile of Division I teams in both steals and blocks, making it easier for opponents to penetrate their defense. The Golden Eagles’ scoring performance in January against the Wildcats was their highest output in a Big East game this season.

Villanova is not to be underestimated, however, as they boast an elite shooting team. They are third in the nation for free throw percentage and fifth for three-point shooting, allowing them to score from various positions on the court. Eric Dixon, the country’s leading scorer with an average of 22.9 points per game, will be a key player for Villanova as they attempt to turn their fortunes around.

The Wildcats have recently found success against the spread, covering in four of their last five games. In contrast, Marquette has struggled, with just one cover in their last five games. Although Villanova has been a home underdog only twice this season, they have managed to cover both instances, whereas Marquette has a 5-10 record against the spread in Big East play this season.

SportsLine’s model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times, predicting a total scoring of 148 points and indicating one side of the spread is favored to hit in over 60% of simulations. As these two teams gear up for what is sure to be an intense match, fans will be eager to see which side emerges victorious.