Marquette needs a better showing against No. 1 Villanova

Marquette knows there isn't much margin for error when it faces top-ranked Villanova at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Sunday.

So Golden Eagles head coach Steve Wojciechowski didn't need to dig deep for any motivational tactics. Nobody needs to point out that MU (13-7, 4-4 Big East) must put forth a much better effort after getting torn apart by Xavier on Wednesday.

"The message was received. Loud and clear," Wojciechowski said. "The main thing is there is no shame to losing to Xavier at Xavier. The three teams we've lost to on the road, their combined home record is 33-1.

"We certainly didn't play the way we were capable of. Those are the things that needed to be addressed."

On top of that list is MU's defense, which continuously allowed the Musketeers easy access to the rim. Xavier shot 55.6% and finished with 46 points in the paint. 

"Really it was just effort and competing last game," MU sophomore center Harry Froling said. "That's not acceptable the way we played and we plan on changing that."

It certainly better change against the Wildcats (19-1, 6-1).

Villanova has the most efficient offense in the country. Six players average double figures in points, although junior guard Phil Booth (11.6 ppg) won't play after breaking a bone in his right hand.

The Wildcats still boast national player of the year candidate Jalen Brunson (18.8 ppg), Mikal Bridges (16.7), Donte DiVincenzo (13.2), Omari Spellman (10.5) and Eric Paschall (10.1).

"They've got great offensive balance," Wojciechowski said. "They're an outstanding shooting team but they're more than just that. They're a terrific driving team, too. They pose a lot of problems. There's a reason why they're ranked No. 1 in the country."

To have any shot at replicating last season's stunning upset of Villanova, MU also likely will need leading scorers Markus Howard and Andrew Rowsey to combine their powers.

In Big East play, Rowsey is averaging 27 points per game at home and 11.3 on the road. Howard is putting up 34 points in conference road games and 11.3 at home. 

"When we're both getting things going, we're a tough team to beat," Howard said. "So we just have to show some more consistency, I think, from a home-and-away standpoint."

Neither Howard nor Wojciechowski could explain the scoring splits. Early foul trouble has often affected both guards.

"To think that we're 4-4 in conference and we really haven't had a game when both of those guys really had it going," Wojciechowski said. "It certainly would be nice to see."

Howard had 37 points while Rowsey managed just six in MU's 100-90 loss to Villanova on Jan. 6 in Philadelphia. 

In that game, the Wildcats raced out to an early lead but the Golden Eagles were able to mount a late comeback thanks to the defensive effort from a small-ball lineup of Howard, 6-foot-3 freshman Greg Elliott, 6-5 sophomore Sacar Anim, 6-7 freshman Jamal Cain and 6-8 sophomore Sam Hauser.

Anim thinks MU can learn from that second-half surge.

"I think we have to come out with that confidence that we can play with the No. 1 team in the country," he said. "In the end, we came back from a 15-point deficit, we scrapped our way back into the game.

"If we play with that intensity all the way through, continue to share the ball and believe we can win the game, I think we should be in it at the end."