Villanova vs. Marquette Pick Center

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SPREAD

TOTAL

Villanova

-330

-6.5
(-104)

O 163
(-110)

Marquette

+267

+6.5
(-116)

U 163
(-110)

NCAAB

FINAL (1/28/2018)

Time: 1:00 PM EST MILWAUKEE -- Villanova's last visit to Milwaukee did not go well. The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the country, led by 17 points but allowed a 19-4 run in the final minutes as Marquette rallied for a 74-72 victory -- the school's first against a top-ranked opponent. When the teams face off again Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Center, the Wildcats -- with the same 19-1 record they had a year ago against the Golden Eagles -- will try to prevent history from repeating itself and maintain their one-game lead over No. 8 Xavier atop the Big East Conference standings." Marquette's a team that never quits -- they just keep coming at you," Villanova coach Jay Wright said Thursday. "We had a 17-point lead up there last year. They got hot, defended really well, and pulled it out at the end. We didn't play badly. So we know this is going to be a tough game." The Wildcats (6-1 Big East) handed Marquette a 100-90 loss earlier this month in Philadelphia. Markus Howard, the Big East's leading scorer at 22.1 points per game, scored 37 in that game, but Andrew Rowsey -- second in the conference at 20.1 per night -- was held to six. He wasn't on the court for much of the second half as the Golden Eagles tried to mount a late rally, cutting the deficit to five points with 43 seconds to play after trailing by 17 early in the second half." They've got great offensive balance," Marquette coach Steve 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." Villanova will be without starting guard Phil Booth, who suffered a fractured bone in his right hand late in the Wildcats' 89-69 victory over Providence earlier this week. Booth was averaging 11.6 points in just over 28 minutes per game and was second only to teammate Jalen Brunson with an 11.6 assist-to-turnover ratio in Big East play this season." Phil Booth is a huge loss for us,' Wright said. "It's not just his shooting and defense that we will miss. He's really the most well-respected and loved guy on our team. He's the spirit of this team. This doesn't mean we can't be successful while playing another way, but it's big loss." We'll have to play a little differently, play a little bigger. Hopefully, that can help us on the boards and defensively." Marquette (13-7, 4-4) has split its four games since facing the Wildcats and comes in looking to bounce back after an 89-70 drubbing earlier this week at No. 8 Xavier, leading Wojciechowski to remind his team of the effort needed to take on the nation's top squad and four-time defending conference champion." 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." Sophomore guard Sacar Anim scored 14 points when Marquette last faced the Villanova. He thinks the Golden Eagles are ready for the challenge ahead of them." I think we have to come out with that confidence that we can play with the No. 1 team in the country," Anim 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." Marquette has lost 16 of its last 24 meetings with Villanova, which leads the series 21-10.