BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Marquette @ Villanova

February 4, 2006


This is an interesting game. Watching the experienced Villanova four-guard line-up take on the Marquette team with their excellent stable of young guards could make for some interesting match-ups.

Not too many teams have the ability to match-up with Villanvoa and be able to survive playing that game, but the Golden Eagles might be able to do so, especially now with the return of Wesley Mathews.

Marquette could very easily go with a line-up that features Dominic James, Joe Chapman, Mathews and Jerel McNeal with Steve Novak and try their luck against Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Mike Nardi, Kyle Lowry with Will Sherida.

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Obviously, the Villanova 4-guard line-up will have the edge in experience with seniors Ray and Foye, two 1st team all-league, as well as All-American, candidtaes and the junior Nardi and sophomore Lowry. James is the likely Big East freshmen of the year and McNeal is a definite candidate for the all-freshmen team with Chapman the experienced senior and Mathews rounding back into shape from his foot injury, the Golden Eagles have been banged up of late, but seemed to get healthy late in the game against St. John's the other night with Novak scoring 29 pts and James and McNeal having strong 2nd halfs.

Playing on the road, I do not expect Marquette to pull out the win and with their 6-3 conference start, including a win over UConn, they are on the right side of the NCAA bubble right now. A road upset like this would definitely make a lasting impression on the committee and their schedule has five tough contests against good teams or in tough venues ahead, so it is going to be very interesting to see how this Marquette team keeps their level of play up and avoid hitting any sort of freshmen wall that can happen.

Villanova has skated by for a win in each of their last three games. They have been flirting with a loss in each, but make the plays when they need to, especially when the game breaks down into a possession by possession game because their guards can spread out anyone and take it to the basket for a foul or kick it out for a long range shot.

This game might represent more of a changing of the guard with this years kings of the backcourt in Villanova hosting the future kings of the backcourt in Marquette. I expect Villanova to teach the Golden Eagles a few of the last lessons they will need to take off in the future before they win this game on the road. It will be a fun one to watch, however.

NBE Blogger Preview:

Villanova 80 Marquette 72