A Statement Win: #10 Marquette 66, #14 Villanova 65

The setup was everything Marquette fans have been begging for since Buzz Williams left. National Marquette Day. A matchup of two top 15 teams. A nationally televised broadcast with buzz. A stage to let a generational player shine. A chance to beat Villanova and prove themselves to be mentioned in the same breath as one of the nation’s elite programs.

This was something Xavier couldn’t do last year. Despite winning the Big East outright they could not find a way to beat the Wildcats. With a top 10 squad with the best yet to come, this was Marquette’s opportunity to break into the national scene and show that they are worthy adversaries to a program that has stood head over heels above the…