Marquette enters critical stretch of the season
Eagles can pile up wins in next six games
Maybe it was good for Marquette to unexpectedly get a week without a game.
The Golden Eagles were scheduled to play at Villanova last Friday, but the matchup was postponed when the Wildcats paused basketball activities due to a positive test for COVID-19.
After falling apart in the second half and blowing an 18-point lead in a 65-54 loss to Connecticut last Tuesday, MU probably wasn’t ready to face Villanova, which is ranked third in both USA Today’s Ferris Mowers coaches poll and the Associated Press top 25.
Instead, the Golden Eagles (6-6, 2-4 Big East) had time to practice and work on their issues before facing Providence (7-5, 3-3) at 8 p.m. Tues
day at Fiserv Forum.
That kicks off a crucial stretch for MU. In their next six games, the Golden Eagles face opponents who are ranked lower at kenpom.com, a college basketball analytical website.
After playing Providence, MU will be at St. John's on Saturday, then face Georgetown (Jan. 20) and DePaul (Jan. 23) at home before meeting the Friars again on the road Jan. 27. The stretch ends against Butler at Fiserv Forum on Feb. 2.
The Golden Eagles need to find some confidence and consistency after an upand-down start.
One of the positives for MU in the loss to the Huskies was the play of freshman forward Dawson Garcia. The 6-foot-11 left-hander had his best collegiate game with 20 points and 11 rebounds. After struggling with the physicality of college defenders, the 2020 McDonald's All-American played strong down low and showed dexterity by going to his right hand on post moves.
“I thought Dawson had a really good offensive game,” MU head coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “I thought he made really good decisions. He played with great force and was a bright spot for us offensively.”
The Golden Eagles need their other freshman star to get going. Justin Lewis is 0 for 12 on three-pointers and 0 for 5 on free throws over the last four games. The 6-7 Lewis hit some key baskets in MU's comeback win over Georgetown on Jan. 2, but his struggles seemed to affect his confidence against Connecticut. He did not play in the final 12 minutes as the Huskies stormed back.
MU also needs to shore up its perimeter defense.
The Golden Eagles have often lost track of shooters and have been burned by several hot performances. Connecticut's Tyler Polley scored all 23 of his points after halftime and finished 5 for 8 on three-pointers. Villanova's Collin Gillespie was 6 for 11 from behind the arc in the Wildcats' 85-68 victory Dec. 23. Xavier shot 13 for 24 from long distance Dec. 20, including Adam Kunkel's buzzer-beating winner.
Against Providence on Tuesday, MU will need to track 6-5 junior guard David Duke, who scored 30 points and was 7 for 9 on three-pointers in the Friars' 7473 loss to Xavier on Sunday.
MU senior guard Koby McEwen likely will get the assignment to chase Duke. McEwen was upset after the loss to Connecticut and vowed to get his team to play better.
“Whatever is needed at the time,” McEwen said. “If we got to get stops, we got to get stops. I got to lead that. If we got to get a better shot, we got to get a better shot. I got to lead that.
“It doesn't matter what it is. I'm a senior, I'm supposed to lead. (The Connecticut loss) is on me.”
The Golden Eagles will need to play with that determination.