Villanova vs Marquette: 5 storylines for first 2020-21 Big East matchup

Do not let Villanova stay close

Easier said than done, but, Marquette has the talent to get the early lead on Villanova, in fact, it is almost a guarantee that they will, and when that happens, they need to keep piling in the baskets as much as possible.

The previously mentioned victories over Creighton and Wisconsin prove that Marquette has the talent, yet the losses to UCLA and Seton Hall is an indication that the Golden Eagles need to learn to lose before they can learn to win. Only then will they be included in the conversation of top teams in the Big East.

Versus Georgetown, the Wildcats turned an 18-point deficit into a 13 point victory. In the season opener, Villanova was down by nine to Boston College with thirteen minutes remaining in the game and would go on to win that game by nine points while never wavering in their style of play.

When Marquette gets the lead that they inevitably will and regardless of how early or late it is in the game Marquette needs to continue to do precisely what they did in order to get that lead. This becomes a double-edged sword for Coach Wojciechowski, risk going to the bench or risk overplaying those who got the lead.

The saying goes ‘you can’t win a basketball game in the first five minutes, but you can lose one.” Coach Wojciechowski has to use the mentality as he breaks the game into four, five-minute games and ensure he wins each one. For if he does not, Villanova will ultimately be the victor.