Marquette Basketball: 2018-19 keys for the Golden Eagles vs. Villanova

3. Three-point accuracy

The three-point line has been the staple of these two offenses for years, and will likely decide the winner on Saturday.

Since the start of 2016-17, Marquette and Villanova are two of three high-major teams to shoot at least 38.5 percent on over 1,700 total three-point attempts (Kansas). In the five games over the previous two years, MU and VU both launched 132 total treys at a combined 41 percent clip (the Golden Eagles’ lone win came when the Wildcats shot just 6-34 in 2017).

This season, even after the departures of the four best shooters on last year’s roster, Villanova is heaving threes at an unprecedented rate. Villanova leads all high-major teams in three-point tries this season (690) and is averaging 35.5 attempts over the last four games.

Marquette, on the other hand, has been much sturdier on the defensive end this year and is limiting opponents to just a 32 percent average from deep. That is partially luck-based, but MU has only allowed 30 three-point attempts in two games this season. The Golden Eagles have managed to run people off the three-point line, funneling shooters towards Theo John, the Big East’s leading shot-blocker.

Villanova has been similarly stingy guarding three’s (though they have been much softer inside than Marquette), so a game that comes down to hitting contested threes and running floaters may favor Howard and the Golden Eagles.

Marquette has grabbed the majority of national headlines among Big East squads this year, but the league still runs through Villanova. Saturday’s game will indicate if the Golden Eagles are ready to take the next step as a potential second weekend team come March.