Marquette Quotes | Villanova Quotes | Box Score
By SEAN BRENNAN
BIGEAST.com
There was a time, not so long ago, when Villanova made its annual trip up from Philadelphia each March and proceeded to steamroll its way to one BIG EAST Tournament title after another. It was a barrage of greatness by the Wildcats that led them to six championship game appearances and five titles since the BIG EAST realigned for the 2013-14 season.
But even though the Wildcats are just two seasons removed from their last tournament championship, it seems like a lifetime ago. Last season the Wildcats lasted only until the quarterfinal round before they exited. And the Cats also failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament as well.
Not exactly a vintage Villanova season.
So the prevailing theory regarding the postseason this year was if the WIldcats wanted to avoid missing the Big Dance for a second straight year - perish the thought. This is Villanova we’re talking about after all - then they would not only need to win its opening-round game against DePaul (they did, but just barely), but also knock off Marquette and then win a semifinal game against Providence Friday night. Only then could Villanova talk about the tourney.
Anything short of that and it looked to be another lost spring for the former Kings of March.
But just a refresher course on Marquette. They are the defending tournament champions and came into the game ranked 10th in the nation. Yeah, the Golden Eagles were without All-Everything guard Tyler Kolek as he nurses an oblique injury that forced him to miss the final three games of the regular season. But Marquette is not a one-man team. Even without Kolek the Golden Eagles boast two Top 20 scorers in the conference in Kam Jones and Oso Ighodaro as well as the always dependable duo of Stevie MItchell and David Joplin.
So if Villanova was hoping to book an extended stay at the Garden for the BIG EAST Tournament, while also hoping for a return to the NCAA’s spring shindig as well, it was an absolute must that they knock off Marquette and then worry about Friday night when Friday arrived.
But Friday night won’t be coming for the Wildcats.
After Marquette saw its last-second, potential game-winning bucket by Kam Jones waved off at the end of regulation, the Golden Eagles regrouped and got a huge three-pointer from Chase Ross with 2:09 left in overtime to snap a 63-63 tie and give Marquette the lead for good as the Golden Eagles held off Villanova, 71-65, in overtime at a raucous Madison Square Garden.
Joplin added a free throw, Oso Ighodaro added his lone field goal of the game with 18,8 seconds to play and Jones finished off a game-closing 8-2 run with a pair of free throws as the Golden Eagles will now move on to face Providence in Friday night’s semifinals.
Marquette (24-8) is now just two wins away from defending its BIG EAST Tournament crown.
“I thought our guys showed tremendous resiliency,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “You know this team is still learning how to play without arguably the best player in the league.”
That would be Kolek, whose availability for the remainder of the tournament is still very much up in the air. But Ross has filled in admirably in Kolek’s absence and Thursday night it was his three-pointer that proved to be the game-winner and kept Marquwtte’s dream of a BIG EAST Tournament title repeat alive.
“Chase has been great,” Smart said. “He’s been banged up for a majority of the season (with) different injuries. And at times it’s been hard for him to be himself because he’s not 100 percent. But he’s such a warrior. And I thought that the way he battled and was ready to attack was huge for us. (Villanova) was giving Kam and Jop a lot of attention. And they were very physical with Oso. So that meant other guys on our team had to step forward and be ready to make plays.”
And that’s exactly what Ross did. Even if Smart wished he never got that chance to shine in overtime.
“Initially we thought (Jones’) basket was good and we thought the game was over,” Smart said. “But these guys showed who they are. Incredible character, togetherness, toughness. Anytime you have a shot that goes in and you get that high and you feel like you won and it’s taken away from you, that can be dangerous. But I liked the look in the guy’s eyes. This was a testament to our guy’s character.”
Jones led Marquette with 18 points, Mitchell added 15 and Joplin finished with 14, including those five big points to open overtime. Eric Dixon was tops for Villanova (18-15) with 19 points and 11 rebounds in a gutty effort for the Wildcats.
But Thursday night at the Garden, Marquette would not be denied.
So where does this leave Villanova? Is there a long-shot chance the Wildcats will hear their name called on Sunday’s Selection Show? Or is a second straight trip to the NIT in the cards for the Cats?
“We’re just literally digesting this right now,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “Obviously a tough loss for us. The guys in this locker room, we fully expected to play through, to get through. We wanted to win this thing. So that’s kind of what we’re doing right now. We’re kind of digesting this.”