VU Hoops - All PostsVillanova Wildcats Sports, News, & Informationhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49451/vuhoops_FAV.png2024-03-17T22:13:16-04:00http://www.vuhoops.com/rss/current/2024-03-17T22:13:16-04:002024-03-17T22:13:16-04:00Villanova is a No. 1 seed in 2024 NIT, opens against VCU
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Villanova at Seton Hall" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zupwNHm3Tqdd9yyGN7bPuoH_cgs=/1x0:4057x2704/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214297/usa_today_22707752.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wildcats have accepted their invite to play in the 2024 NIT.</p> <p id="pib5Rv">Villanova is headed back to the NIT, this time as a No. 1 seed. </p>
<p id="3M4Aaa">Last year, the Wildcats played in the NIT, but went unseeded and was bounced out in the opening round to Liberty. For the NIT, the committee only seeds the top four seeds in each quadrant of the 32-team bracket.</p>
<p id="bKMcNF">The Wildcats will face VCU in the opening round of the 2024 NIT on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET at Finneran Pavilion. The Rams are 22-13 overall. They finished 11-7 in the Atlantic 10 during the regular season, and they put together a run to the Atlantic 10 tournament finals as the No. 5 seed, where they fell to Duquesne, 57-51.</p>
<p id="JmVKGX">The winner advances to take on either No. 4 seed UCF or South Florida in the second round. On the other side of the bottom-right region of the bracket are second-seeded Utah, third-seeded Iowa, Kansas State and UC-Irvine.</p>
<p id="qgp83v">Earlier on Selection Sunday, three Big East teams got bids to the NCAA Tournament — UConn, Marquette and Creighton. Seton Hall was listed as a first-four out team.</p>
<p id="5kvkjp">There are a total of five teams playing in this year’s NIT — 1-seed Seton Hall, 1-seed Villanova, 3-seed Providence, 4-seed Butler and unseeded Xavier.</p>
<p id="WqvObV">St. John’s declined the invitation to participate in the NIT. Pitt, Oklahoma, Memphis, Ole Miss and Indiana were other notable teams declining invitations.</p>
<p id="SmHRcj">For the NIT, all games are hosted by the higher seed, with exception to the NIT semifinals and championship game, which will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse on April 2 and 4.</p>
<p id="DWyfuC">The only question left for the ‘Cats is will everybody participate? Last season, Justin Moore and Cam Whitmore sat out for the opening round loss to Liberty.</p>
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https://www.vuhoops.com/villanova-basketball/2024/3/17/24104471/villanova-is-a-no-1-seed-in-2024-nit-opens-against-vcuEugene Rapay2024-03-17T08:05:00-04:002024-03-17T08:05:00-04:00Bracket Release: How to Watch
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round Indianapolis Practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zNEmtiNo26ek6p0fBZlvCMjJ0-I=/0x0:5975x3983/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73212982/usa_today_17906941.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="LKoiMW">It’s Selection Sunday.</p>
<p id="F3BUm4">As conference tournaments conclude, the Field of 68 for the 2024 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament will be announced later today.</p>
<p id="GJCBTe"><a href="https://www.vuhoops.com/"><strong>Villanova</strong></a> fans are not expecting an invitation to The Dance but that decision will be confirmed on Sunday evening.</p>
<blockquote><p id="EMS5IL"><a href="http://fanatics.93n6tx.net/4eWdR0" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Buy Villanova Gear now</a>!</p></blockquote>
<p id="e2naAY"><strong>2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show is today, March 17th, at 6p ET.</strong> Here is information on how you can tune in via streaming or cable.</p>
<h2 id="gcUbaK"><strong>2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li id="vkKGHZ">
<strong>Date</strong>: Sunday, March 17 | <strong>Time</strong>: 6p ET</li>
<li id="sPud8c">
<strong>TV:</strong> CBS (<a href="https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r3votn352nio5f"><strong>Watch on YouTubeTV</strong></a>)</li>
<li id="dCkebW">
<strong>Live stream</strong>: on <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paramountplus.com%2F%3Fds_rl%3D1289065%26ftag%3DPPM-02-10aeg8j%26vndid%3Dgoogle%24null%24null%24paramount%2520plus%26gad_source%3D1%26gclid%3DCjwKCAjw17qvBhBrEiwA1rU9w01Ok4WHcdmWvBTLuKC4RFaQdtBAe-YuUple4ZWG8wvuF83Kk7tiFBoCsEAQAvD_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vuhoops.com%2F2024%2F3%2F17%2F24101891%2Fselection-sunday-bracket-announcements-2024-start-time-tv-channel-live-streamvillanova-basketball" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ParamountPlus.com</a> and the Paramount+ app</li>
</ul>
<p id="OxMXvm">Once the pairings are announced, you will be able to check <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox"><strong>betting lines for the NCAA tournament on DraftKings</strong></a>.</p>
<h2 id="YXKjOM"><strong>2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Schedule</strong></h2>
<p id="xrn0Qa">Here is the schedule for March Madness 2024, which begins with Selection Sunday on March 17, 2024:</p>
<ul>
<li id="gVGtuN">First Four: March 19-20</li>
<li id="1RGaB9">First round: March 21-22</li>
<li id="gzqfKm">Second round: March 23-24 </li>
<li id="grW8l7">Sweet 16: March 28-29 </li>
<li id="gSpQIf">Elite Eight: March 30-31 </li>
<li id="arL4fC">Final Four: Saturday, April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.</li>
<li id="qu6RJq">NCAA championship game: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="fi7khm"><strong>2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Sites</strong></h2>
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https://www.vuhoops.com/2024/3/17/24101891/selection-sunday-bracket-announcements-2024-start-time-tv-channel-live-streamvillanova-basketballmike.turay12024-03-15T17:15:48-04:002024-03-15T17:15:48-04:00“Better every year:” Big East announces extension with Madison Square Garden through 2032
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<figcaption>Eugene Rapay/USA TODAY Network</figcaption>
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<p>The Big East locked up a contract extension with Madison Square Garden through 2032, which will be the 50th anniversary of the Big East Tournament.</p> <p id="qRpMkq">Approximately 10 years since the “new” Big East had its first conference tournament after realignment, at first there was plenty of uncertainty, but now, it’s a no-brainer when it comes to the tournament’s prestige and standing.</p>
<p id="b9Lv6w">“When we first started out, we weren’t sure how this ‘new’ conference would be, but to me and to all of us, it’s better,” Madison Square Garden Executive Vice President of Marquee Events Joel Fisher said. “Look at what we’ve seen and the amount of schools. That first year, Creighton made it to the finals, and they had crazy turnout with so many people here. That set the tone going forward and it’s been sold out. We did not skip a beat when it changed and that’s a lot of credit to Val and her standard set right here.”</p>
<p id="3EuBq5">The Big East announced an extension with Madison Square Garden before the Big East Tournament semifinals tipped off on Friday night.</p>
<p id="NAzdIP">The partnership is extended through 2032, which will ensure that Madison Square Garden will host 50 consecutive Big East Tournaments.</p>
<p id="ZU2N5h">“The Big East and Madison Square Garden have been a match made in heaven,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said. “Our relationship is about history. It’s about adult fans telling us they’ve come here for years or decades — first with a grandparent, then a parent and now with kids or grandkids of their own.</p>
<p id="TlfKSn">“We’re so mindful of the proud history of this storied event. We recognize our role as caretakers and we’re thrilled to be in business with a company that respects that history and treasures it, shares our intent to hold onto it so future players, coaches, referees, journalists, security guards, Garden staff and fans will get to see it, hear about it and feel what the moments are all about.”</p>
<p id="YmnqHV">The iconic venue first hosted the tournament back in 1983. The Big East Tournament continues to be college basketball’s longest-running postseason championship event held at the same location.</p>
<p id="nGJRZy">“It’s gotten better and better every single year,” Fisher said. “We didn’t think it could, but every year, it’s gotten better. We’re thrilled that his can continue, and that we’ll get to say 50 years, and then it will go beyond that.”</p>
<p id="JEefbB">Despite the rising costs, Ackerman suggests that money has never been part of the equation when it comes to contract negotiations, stressing the history and significance of tradition.</p>
<p id="KApA87">“Believe it or not, that has never come up,” Ackerman said. “Even our Midwest teams say if we were in Chicago, we could have A-B-C instead of X-Y-Z, but they also say — don’t move it. They love coming here. For our schools, as the case of most conference tournaments, this just becomes a hub of activity for your donors and supporters.</p>
<p id="TGhtQM">“... We don’t involve (money), when it comes to negotiations. This goes back to when we started. We get great pull from our eastern seaboard schools. It’s automatic, they’ll come in and come back. What’s been heartening is our midwest schools — we had an all-midwest final for the first time, but we still had a robust turnout.”</p>
<p id="J2doDp">They ended their official announcement by exchanging gifts to celebrate the deal. Ackerman presented Fisher with a special Big East jersey to commemorate the 50-year anniversary in 2032, plus a signed basketball from all Big East coaches.</p>
<p id="5YqhqP">In turn, Fisher gave Ackerman a golden key to Madison Square Garden.</p>
<p id="7SWqe3">“This was easy in a lot of ways,” Fisher said. “We spoke about it in the beginning of the season, and we stuck to our words to get this done, and we did. It was a no-brainer for the both of us.”</p>
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https://www.vuhoops.com/big-east-news/2024/3/15/24102386/better-every-year-big-east-announces-extension-with-madison-square-garden-through-2032Eugene Rapay2024-03-15T05:04:13-04:002024-03-15T05:04:13-04:002024 Big East Tournament semifinals preview, analysis, odds
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<img alt="NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament - First Round - Albany" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jO8ieFhrQWAtKmr8aU07Ycvz9-E=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73208811/1248467970.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Expect one of the most emotionally-charged Big East Tournament semifinals from start to finish. </p> <p id="4wVaWj">Then there were four.</p>
<p id="XTq6cA">Based on the participating teams and their attached fanbases, this might be one of the most charged up Big East Tournament semifinals since conference realignment. Friday night is always a great one for hoops during Big East Tournament week, but this year’s should be well worth the (steep) price of admission.</p>
<p id="q3hIYK">Here is a look at both semifinal matchups.</p>
<h2 id="gSYZwA">No. 1 UConn (29-3) vs. No. 5 St. John’s (20-12)</h2>
<p id="UGqtyC"><strong>When: </strong>5:30 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="9zAnY9"><strong>Key players for UConn: </strong>#2 Tristen Newton (6-5, 195) Sr., G; #5 Stephon Castle (6-6, 215) Fr., G; #10 Hassan Diarra (6-2, 190) Sr., G; #11 Alex Karaban (6-8, 220) So., F; #12 Cam Spencer (6-4, 205) Sr., G; #32 Donovan Clingan (7-2, 280) So., C</p>
<p id="qvo9h0"><strong>Key players for St. John’s: </strong>#3 Jordan Dingle (6-3, 196) Sr., G; #5 Daniss Jenkins (6-4, 180) Sr., G; #8 Chris Ledlum (6-6, 225) Sr., F; #11 Joel Soriano (6-11, 255) Sr., C</p>
<p id="DzirEW"><strong>2023-24 season series: </strong>UConn swept St. John’s</p>
<ul>
<li id="Ah6DsU">UConn defeated St. John’s at home, 69-65, on Dec. 23</li>
<li id="S3YcEq">UConn defeated St. John’s on the road, 77-64, on Feb. 3</li>
</ul>
<p id="c0wqXS">The third time was definitely the charm for St. John’s, who demolished Seton Hall by scoring 91 points in a 19-point victory. The Red Storm avenged getting swept by Seton Hall throughout the regular season and they hope to get another stroke of good fortune, as they prepare to play UConn after going 0-2 vs. the Huskies.</p>
<p id="O8bj6m">This matchup is ultimately what the Big East was hoping for. Well before the tournament played itself out, this Thursday semifinal opener was slated to be the only non-finals game to be broadcast on FOX, while the double-header closer would be on Fox Sports 1.</p>
<p id="ifTfWu">UConn was certainly expected to be there, but now Rick Pitino vs. Dan Hurley? St. John’s headed to its first Big East Tournament semifinals since 2000, while UConn is aims to keep marching to potentially its first Big East Tournament title since returning to the conference — the excitement will be through the roof, with both rabid fanbases in attendance. It will serve as a great starter to the night.</p>
<p id="vTA9Wi">UConn looked shaky in the first half of its quarterfinal matchup against Xavier, before outscoring the Musketeers 53-27 in a second-half demolition to win, 87-60.</p>
<p id="vi79F1">There were six different Huskies who scored in double figures, with no players scoring more than 13 points — a testament to the Huskies’ arsenal of weapons, talent and ability to deal damage in a variety of ways.</p>
<p id="Ay3DlA">As for St. John’s, the Red Storm are heating up at the right time. St. John’s enters with a six-game winning streak, a stretch where they have scored at least 80 points in every win.</p>
<p id="GQB7Vn">St. John’s gave UConn a scare in Connecticut amid its solid start to Big East play, which included wins in four of five games. After that, the Red Storm struggled and lost eight in a 10-game stretch.</p>
<p id="WOxLI6">It’ll be the first time the Huskies face the reinvigorated Johnnies, who have played at a much higher level since Pitino called out his players.</p>
<p id="NJ7iZw">While St. John’s has been scoring at a consistent rate, it needs to lock down defensively. During the six-game winning streak, it proved it could clamp down on high-powered offenses, limiting Creighton in an 80-66 win, which helped fuel the winning streak.</p>
<p id="HxnOxa">Does Pitino get a marquee moment at the Garden, or do the Huskies charge into the finals?</p>
<p id="rcFS0B"><strong>KenPom predicts: </strong>UConn wins, 78-71, and is a 75% favorite</p>
<p id="UxoosD"><strong>Vegas says: </strong>UConn is a 10-point favorite, according to DraftKings Sportsbook</p>
<p id="S9P1bl"><strong>My prediction: </strong>UConn over St. John’s</p>
<h2 id="PiXfBs">No. 3 Marquette (24-8) vs. No. 7 Providence (21-12)</h2>
<p id="rUkYPP"><strong>When: </strong>8 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="aseM2V"><strong>Key players for Marquette: </strong>#1 Kam Jones (6-5, 200) Jr., G; #11 Tyler Kolek (6-3, 195) Sr., G; #13 Oso Ighodaro (6-11, 235) Sr., F, #23 David Joplin (6-8, 225) Jr., F</p>
<p id="AYKyWu"><strong>Key players for Providence: </strong>#0 Davonte “Ticket” Gaines (6-7, 190) Sr., G; #1 Jayden Pierre (6-2, 180) So., G; #13 Josh Oduro (6-9, 240) Sr., F; #22 Devin Carter (6-3, 195) Jr., G</p>
<p id="dh6mdX"><strong>2023-24 season series: </strong>1-1 series split</p>
<ul>
<li id="DAHOnL">Providence defeated Marquette at home, 72-57, on Dec. 19</li>
<li id="JGNoxj">Marquette defeated Providence at home, 91-69, on Feb. 28</li>
</ul>
<p id="L16B4W">Marquette fended off Villanova’s upset bid to return to the Big East Tournament semifinals in back-to-back years for the first time ever.</p>
<p id="BGCKV2">The Golden Eagles continue to make do without 2023 Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek. In that win, leading scorer Kam Jones got going after a fairly quiet first half, with 13 of his 18 points coming in the second half or in overtime. Stevie Mitchell, Chase Ross and Ben Gold provided some big-time baskets. David Joplin continued to be a solid contributor, while Oso Ighodaro was held in check for 44 of 45 minutes, scoring four points and making only one shot — a dagger with less than 20 seconds left in overtime.</p>
<p id="oSZmvC">Expect a bounce-back game from Ighodaro, who likely won’t be having a season-low performance twice in a row. That frontcourt match with Josh Oduro should be compelling to watch, though.</p>
<p id="X667G5">Kolek’s absence remains an x-factor, but the Golden Eagles have expressed that they’re OK on losing out Kolek for the Big East Tournament, if it means they can have him fully healthy for the NCAA Tournament and make a deep run there.</p>
<p id="6KmDu7">While he was ruled out for Thursday, there is still possibility for a return, but he remains day-to-day.</p>
<p id="U2V2UV">“At this point, he’s not been cleared to play in a game,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “We know it’s soon, but we don’t know if soon is tomorrow or this week. He’s gonna play next week. Obviously, we’d love to win the Big East Tournament, but our guys are showing that we’re not lost without Tyler.”</p>
<p id="6v9wgx">Providence is hoping to build off its winning momentum and produce another upset. The Friars played tough defense against Creighton in the first half, which allowed them to take the lead on the second-seeded Bluejays.</p>
<p id="eTuz8h">When Creighton got going in the second half, Providence was able to weather the storm and battle back into the game. Big East Player of the Year Devin Carter continues to prove any naysayers wrong, delivering another solid Big East Tournament performance. Him and senior forward Josh Oduro make for a formidable one-two punch, and when a third player is able to get going — whether it’s Ticket Gaines on Wednesday or Jayden Pierre on Thursday, they’re a handful.</p>
<p id="j8rdyx">Providence will provide another physical, tough battle for Marquette, and there isn’t plenty of time to recover after a game that finished around midnight. If Kolek doesn’t play, that’ll be a big boost for the Friars. </p>
<p id="e49kTl">Both games were fairly one-sided at each team’s house, who knows what a neutral court and the bright lights of Madison Square Garden will bring.</p>
<p id="5Cs6aB"><strong>KenPom predicts: </strong>Marquette wins, 75-68, and is a 72% favorite</p>
<p id="Ot8nOz"><strong>Vegas says: </strong>Marquette is a 5.5-point favorite, according to Fanduel (DraftKings line not yet available as of 2:32 a.m.)</p>
<p id="leHBSe"><strong>My prediction: </strong>Providence over Marquette</p>
https://www.vuhoops.com/big-east-news/2024/3/15/24101585/2024-big-east-tournament-semifinals-preview-analysis-oddsEugene Rapay2024-03-15T02:20:18-04:002024-03-15T02:20:18-04:00Villanova falls to Marquette, 71-65, in Big East Tournament overtime quarterfinal thriller
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Big East Conference Tournament Quarterfinal-Marquette vs Villanova" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NN0MbaBL-AcsyYic6NB6Yl6_tso=/0x0:3185x2123/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73208742/usa_today_22778443.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wildcats pushed a Tyler Kolek-less third-seeded Marquette into overtime, but fell short. It is Marquette’s first time advancing to the Big East Tournament semis in back-to-back years.</p> <p id="XlDRuS">Nothing is guaranteed or as important as the next 40 minutes, a message that had echoed throughout the season from various Villanova players and coaches in one shape or another.</p>
<p id="muySpA">On Thursday night, Villanova had 45 minutes, and the Big East Tournament quarterfinal overtime thriller with Marquette perfectly encapsulated the Wildcats’ season over the last few months — there were highs and big plays, some lows, moments where they were in front, times where they faced adversity, but ultimately — they lost another heartbreaker. There was no discounting their effort, though, in the overtime battle, but the Golden Eagles had the key baskets and avoided the upset for a 71-65 win.</p>
<p id="hY5gvn">“Give Marquette a lot of credit — they played extremely hard, had a great gameplan, made some tough shots, got some tough stops when they had to, attacked the offensive glass and made it hard for us defensively,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “On our side, I’m really proud of the way our guys kept fighting to get to overtime, and in overtime, they kept fighting until the very end.</p>
<p id="Cym3mw">“I loved the way we came out. I thought they came out with a lot of energy, and we came out great defensively. We just grinded until the very end. Overtime game at the Big East Tournament, going against a really good opponent, the margin is very small. Give them a lot of credit.”</p>
<p id="aVKQu0">Villanova drops to 18-15 overall. As a NCAA Tournament bubble team, the widespread speculation suggested that Villanova needed to reach at least the semifinals and get a marquee win over Marquette to potentially get a shot at an at-large bid.</p>
<p id="d52Gh8">Neptune deferred on speculating what Thursday’s loss potentially means for the rest of the Wildcats’ postseason.</p>
<p id="WG2sHy">“We’re just digesting this right now,” Neptune said. “Obviously, a tough loss for us. Guys in this locker room, we fully expected to play through, get through. We wanted to win this thing. That’s what we’re doing right now — just digesting this.”</p>
<p id="qAlDQQ">Neither team led by double figures in the closely-contested nightcap. </p>
<p id="NRM9ps">Marquette’s Kam Jones hit a three-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 45-36 lead with 12:33 remaining, the largest lead by either team. </p>
<p id="v5UdIM">A 12-3 run helped Villanova claw back into the game, a scoring stretch topped off by a steal by T.J. Bamba that led to a jumper by Justin Moore to give the Wildcats a temporary 51-50 lead. </p>
<p id="IRLKaM">Marquette regained the lead, until Bamba went 3-for-3 after getting fouled to tie it up at 58 apiece, with 1:50 remaining.</p>
<p id="xNtDc1">Neither team would score for the remainder of regulation. Mark Armstrong got another big last-minute block to keep ‘Nova in it, but the Wildcats had a couple of empty-handed possessions to close regulation. </p>
<p id="VLnqsW">Marquette had a suspenseful end to regulation, as Jones seemingly hit the game-winning buzzer-beater, but it was overturned after extensive review.</p>
<p id="ckQnIF">“Initially, we thought the basket was good and the game was over,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “When they took more time to review it, you’re preparing for the possibility of five more minutes to play. ... The guys had good eye contact with one another, and we talked about what we needed to do next.”</p>
<p id="j9jYuM">In overtime, the Wildcats struggled to keep up with Marquette once the Golden Eagles snatched the lead. Villanova only made one shot throughout the five-minute overtime period and finished 1-of-5 as a team, but it did get a few more points from the free-throw line, going 5-of-7 in overtime.</p>
<p id="HWvhzq">Despite that, the game remained close. Villanova never led in overtime, but it was still within reach in the final minute. Armstrong made the Wildcats’ lone shot in overtime, a spinning, tough finish at the basket with 47 seconds left to make it 67-65.</p>
<p id="PsEndG">Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, Oso Ighodaro followed up with the dagger. As the shot clock wound down, he hit a turnaround hook shot to give Marquette a four-point lead with 18 seconds. Villanova tried to answer back, but had an empty-handed possession, and the Golden Eagles followed up with the necessary free throws to ice the game.</p>
<p id="cGjNgu">Villanova failed to advanced past the Big East Tournament quarterfinals for the second straight year, while Marquette is moving onto the semifinals for the first time in back-to-back years.</p>
<p id="g0s2co">Marquette standout Tyler Kolek remained out with an oblique injury. According to Smart, Kolek is practicing and working out, but the team doctor and trainer has not cleared him for game action yet. Smart stated that he will definitely play in the NCAA Tournament opening round next week, but his status for the remainder of the Big East Tournament stays day-to-day.</p>
<p id="wHwlLU">Eric Dixon led the ‘Cats with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Armstrong had 15 points, 13 of which came in the second half or overtime. Armstrong hit some big mid-range jumpers off the dribble and he shot 5-of-7 after halftime. T.J. Bamba added 12 points and five rebounds.</p>
<p id="he8psg">For Marquette, Jones led the way with 18 points, with 13 of those coming after halftime. He also had six boards and four assists. Stevie Mitchell chipped in 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with five rebounds and three steals. David Joplin chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds, while Chase Ross had 11 points.</p>
<p id="qd9Yvc">“Everybody has stepped up in what they do,” said Jones, about the team continuing to win during Kolek’s absence. “When you lose a guy like that, you don’t have to step up and take his spot, you just have to do what you do that much better.”</p>
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https://www.vuhoops.com/2024/3/15/24101491/villanova-falls-to-marquette-71-65-in-big-east-tournament-overtime-quarterfinal-thrillerEugene Rapay2024-03-14T20:00:00-04:002024-03-14T20:00:00-04:00BIG EAST Tournament: Villanova vs. Marquette- How to Watch and chat
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<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>BIG EAST TOURNAMENT- Quarterfinals<br>
Thursday, March 14, 2024</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">9:30pm ET</div>
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<br>Villanova Wildcats [6] (18-14, 10-10) vs.<br> #10 Marquette Golden Eagles [3] (23-8, 14-6)<br><br>
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<b>KenPom:</b> Villanova: 35 |
Marquette: 13</div>
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<b>Where</b>: Madison Square Garden | New York, NY</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.vuhoops.com/big-east-news/2024/3/14/24100380/2024-big-east-tournament-quarterfinals-preview-analysis-odds">Game Preview</a></b></div>
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<b>TV/Streaming</b> : FS1</div>
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<b>Play by Play</b>: Gus Johnson<br>
<b>Analyst</b>: Bill Raftery</div>
<div><i><a href="https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r3votn352nio5f">Subscribe to FuBo TV and save $45</a></i></div>
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<a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="%E2%80%9Chttps://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox%E2%80%9C"><b>Odds by DraftKings</b></a>: Villanova +4</div>
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<i></i><h6><i>Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.</i></h6>
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<p id="1YcUsQ"><a href="https://www.vuhoops.com">Villanova</a> looks to return to form following their waning-second win over DePaul in the first round of the 2024 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-east-basketball-tournament">BIG EAST Tournament</a>. The ‘Cats head to the quarterfinals where they will face #10 (and 3rd seed) Marquette on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.</p>
<blockquote><p id="OJfqA4"><a href="https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/zNG1qx" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Buy the Nike Bench Energy Shirt Now</a>!</p></blockquote>
<p id="rWOI8f">Marquette has won the last six meetings between the schools.</p>
<p id="grZt3k">This is your game thread for discussion. Have fun...and remember, we cannot condone the posting of illegal streams in the game thread. If we see them posted, we will be obligated to remove them. If you need to share them, contact each other via email, Twitter, etc.</p>
<p id="q5JiyN">We’ll have a recap posted shortly after the game.</p>
https://www.vuhoops.com/2024/3/14/24100757/big-east-tournament-villanova-vs-marquette-chat-time-tv-channel-odds-how-to-watchMike J.2024-03-14T05:00:00-04:002024-03-14T05:00:00-04:00BET quarterfinals preview, analysis, odds
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Villanova at Marquette" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Byaj4KSjOuVQDN7L9aUyGRHJeWU=/0x0:4533x3022/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73206034/usa_today_22299640.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The busiest day of the Big East Tournament is upon us!</p> <p id="aEoe07">It’s the busiest day of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/big-east-basketball-tournament">Big East Tournament</a>! Here’s a look at the four-game Thursday quarterfinal slate.</p>
<h2 id="lTOGi9">No. 1 UConn (28-3) vs. No. 9 Xavier (16-16)</h2>
<p id="P246qr"><strong>When: </strong>12 p.m. ET<br><strong>Key players for </strong><a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com"><strong>UConn</strong></a><strong>: </strong>#2 Tristen Newton (6-5, 195) Sr., G; #5 Stephon Castle (6-6, 215) Fr., G; #10 Hassan Diarra (6-2, 190) Sr., G; #11 Alex Karaban (6-8, 220) So., F; #12 Cam Spencer (6-4, 205) Sr., G; #32 Donovan Clingan (7-2, 280) So., C<br><strong>Key players for Xavier: </strong>#1 Desmond Claude (6-6, 207) So.,G; #8 Quincy Olivari (6-3, 200) Sr., G; #20 Dayvion McKnight (6-0, 195) Sr., G; #24 Abou Ousmane (6-10, 244) Sr., F<br><strong>2023-24 season series: </strong>UConn swept Xavier</p>
<ul>
<li id="ANIHUd">UConn defeated Xavier on the road, 80-75, on Jan. 10</li>
<li id="cs9DaD">UConn defeated Xavier at home, 99-56, on Jan. 28</li>
</ul>
<p id="WWDDVt">Xavier’s standout guard trio of Desmond Claude, Quincy Olivari and Dayvion McKnight combined for 65 of the Musketeers’ 76 points in their win over Butler. They also shot the ball pretty well, combining for a 50.9% clip in the winning effort.</p>
<p id="02jXtw">Although Xavier would love a repeat performance or something similar, the key for the Musketeers will be their effort on defense. Xavier came away with the win, but did so mostly by hitting shot after shot, or answering a Butler basket with a make of its own, until it pulled away with a late run in the final minute of action.</p>
<p id="LQXR00">Butler shot 53.6% on the floor in a closely-contested second half. That won’t fly against a talented team like UConn, who’s hellbent on winning a Big East Tournament title.</p>
<p id="nHpZzx">Despite reaching the national summit last season, the Huskies are determined to win their first Big East Tournament title since the Cardiac Kemba Huskies in 2011. They did win an American Athletic Conference tournament in 2016, but that moment will pale in comparison to what a potential title finish could bring.</p>
<p id="5ZnoiN">UConn is blessed with an abundance of talent at all corners of its lineup. All-Big East first teamers Tristen Newton and impact transfer Cam Spencer lead the charge, alongside unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year Stephon Castle and Big East Sixth Man of the Year Hassan Diarra.</p>
<p id="CAGIkp">Frontcourt monster Adama Sanogo moved on, but the Huskies never really missed a beat, with 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan anchoring the interior and stretch big man Alex Karaban building off of his solid freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign. Both players didn’t get much love with Big East awards, with Clingan only earning honorable mention recognition and Karaban getting left off of everything.</p>
<p id="wprGEp">Despite the attention and praise that UConn has received, you can expect Big East Coach of the Year Dan Hurley to get his guys to buy into the “getting slept on” narrative, as they go on a warpath to the top.</p>
<p id="guEwR1">UConn doesn’t have many weaknesses, and they measure well statistically, entering in the top 15 for both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. The Musketeers can’t manage to try and shoot their way to an upset, they’ll need to muck it up and bring their best defensive effort yet.</p>
<p id="aloBpR">Justin hitting a game winner after some tough injuries</p>
<p id="0U27p7"><strong>KenPom predicts: </strong>UConn wins, 81-69, and is an 86% favorite<br><strong>Vegas says: </strong>UConn is a 15-point favorite, <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per DraftKings Sportsbook</a><br><strong>My prediction: </strong>UConn over Xavier</p>
<h2 id="tfg0Xc"><strong>No. 4 Seton Hall (19-11) vs. No. 5 St. John’s (19-12)</strong></h2>
<p id="AELmxK"><strong>When: </strong>2:30 p.m. ET<br><strong>Key players for Seton Hall: </strong>#1 Kadary Richmond (6-6, 205) Sr., G; #2 Al-Amir Dawes (6-2, 185) Sr., G; #14 Dre Davis (6-6, 210) Sr., G; #15 Jaden Bediako (6-10, 240) Sr., F<br><strong>Key players for St. John’s: </strong>#3 Jordan Dingle (6-3, 196) Sr., G; #5 Daniss Jenkins (6-4, 180) Sr., G; #8 Chris Ledlum (6-6, 225) Sr., F; #11 Joel Soriano (6-11, 255) Sr., C<br><strong>2023-24 season series: </strong>Seton Hall swept St. John’s</p>
<ul>
<li id="YHB4oV">Seton Hall defeated St. John’s at home, 80-65, on Jan. 16</li>
<li id="8a2y4y">Seton Hall defeated St. John’s on the road, 68-62, on Feb. 18</li>
</ul>
<p id="XaQG49">A lot has changed for St. John’s, since Rick Pitino lambasted his players after getting swept by Seton Hall on Feb. 18, which marked the Red Storm’s sixth loss in seven games at that point of the season.</p>
<p id="0F0wON">The Red Storm responded by closing the regular season on a five-game winning streak, which includes a 14-point win over Creighton and a 23-point win over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. </p>
<p id="YEoWiU">Have they improved enough to finally defeat the Pirates?</p>
<p id="7kXbnl">Seton Hall has enjoyed an improved year under Shaheen Holloway, finishing 13-7 in Big East play after going .500 in his debut season. The Pirates won seven of their last 10 games to finish the season, a stretch that also includes lopsided losses to <a href="https://www.vuhoops.com">Villanova</a>, Creighton and UConn on the road.</p>
<p id="2KutR6">Kadary Richmond was named first-team All-Big East for his career year, while Dre Davis has also been having big season, with 14.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.4% on the floor — but went unnoticed in Big East accolades. Al-Amir Dawes has been a solid option in the trio, and Jaden Bediako brings a physical presence in the frontcourt.</p>
<p id="1t7OCy">Holloway has always adopted a defense-first, toughness mentality that resonates throughout the roster. The Pirates rank in the top 40 for defensive efficiency for the second straight year. While they may have issues with team-wide scoring consistency, you can always expect a hard-nosed effort from his players.</p>
<p id="HZY92P">Holloway also has some coaching history against Pitino, dating from their days in the MAAC, when Holloway was at Saint Peter’s and Pitino at Iona. </p>
<p id="dPz0D4">St. John’s has been playing well though, dropping 80 or more points on each of their final five games to end the regular season.</p>
<p id="qZHqut">Iona transfer Daniss Jenkins has seamlessly transitioned to the Power 6 level and was named all-conference. Chris Ledlum has provided good minutes, while Joel Soriano has been up-and-down this year — but remains a threat. Penn transfer Jordan Dingle and R.J. Luis Jr. have been scoring well throughout this five-game winning streak. Dingle is averaging 15.4 points per game, and Luis is chipping in 12.6 points per game off the bench.</p>
<p id="Vf0T3Z">Can Seton Hall pour some water on the Red Storm’s red-hot offense, or will the third time be the charm for the Johnnies?</p>
<p id="fvRh2v"><strong>KenPom predicts: </strong>St. John’s wins, 75-70, and is a 66% favorite<br><strong>Vegas says: </strong>St. John’s is a 4.5-point favorite, <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per DraftKings Sportsbook</a><br><strong>My prediction: </strong>Seton Hall over St. John’s</p>
<h2 id="3tHgUq"><strong>No. 2 Creighton (23-8) vs. No. 7 Providence (20-12)</strong></h2>
<p id="YyxNyp"><strong>When: </strong>7 p.m. ET<br><strong>Key players for Creighton: </strong>#1 Steven Ashworth (6-1, 170) Sr., G; #11 Ryan Kalkbrenner (7-1, 270) Sr., C; #23 Trey Alexander (6-4, 190) Jr., G; #55 Baylor Scheierman (6-7, 205) Sr., F<br><strong>Key players for Providence: </strong>#0 Davonte “Ticket” Gaines (6-7, 190) Sr., G; #13 Josh Oduro (6-9, 240) Sr., F; #22 Devin Carter (6-3, 195) Jr., G<br><strong>2023-24 season series: </strong>1-1 series split</p>
<ul>
<li id="B2I3Gb">Creighton defeated Providence at home, 69-60, on Jan. 6</li>
<li id="TywXb9">Providence defeated Crieghton at home in overtime, 91-87, on Feb. 7</li>
</ul>
<p id="74xeP8">Creighton is ready for its Madison Square Garden entrance. The Bluejays have reached at least the semifinals in each of the last three years, and they hope to continue that streak.</p>
<p id="Lo9zGN">The Bluejays enter the postseason after staving off a Villanova comeback attempt with a last-second shot by Trey Alexander, which allowed Creighton to close the regular season with wins of seven of its last eight games. </p>
<p id="jMqHe5">They did suffer a 16-point loss to St. John’s on the road during this stretch, but they also got impressive wins over UConn (19 points) and Marquette, which helped them lock in the No. 2 seed.</p>
<p id="ff1Dq6">Creighton is an all-around machine this season, headlined by three-time Big East Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner, and all-conference picks Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander. They rank in the top 25 in offensive and defensive efficiency in the country. They’re also shooting 61.0% inside the arc, and a solid 36.5% from three-point range as a team. </p>
<p id="HhuP3I">Interestingly, they have the lowest fouling rate in the country, so they’re just playing straight-up good old fashioned defense. They did split the season series with Providence, though, with the overtime loss coming in a game where they failed to keep Devin Carter and Josh Oduro in check as they combined for 60 points.</p>
<p id="clQpe9">Providence faltered down the stretch to close out the regular season, losing three of its last four games, before bouncing back with an opening round win over Georgetown. </p>
<p id="Jxa9Yz">Devin Carter is the newly-minted Big East Player of the Year, and he is the lone player since conference realignment to earn the award on a team that is seeded outside of the top five. As a result, there are dissenting opinions regarding the validity of his crowning moment, and he’ll enter Thursday with something to prove against one of the top teams in the conference and in the country.</p>
<p id="iF9IWV">Him and Oduro have been a one-two punch that has singlehandedly kept the Friars afloat — plus solid coaching from Kim English and a defense-first approach — since Providence standout Bryce Hopkins went down with a season-ending injury. </p>
<p id="0J8mxO">If Carter and Oduro can cook, and get some timely plays or baskets from their teammates, they’ll make it interesting in the first game of the Thursday night session, but it’s an uphill climb for sure.</p>
<p id="S4hOtM"><strong>KenPom predicts: </strong>Creighton wins, 74-67, and is a 75% favorite<br><strong>Vegas says: </strong>Creighton is a 7.5-point favorite, <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per DraftKings Sportsbook</a><br><strong>My prediction: </strong>Creighton over Providence</p>
<h2 id="ce01tX"><strong>No. 3 Marquette (23-8) vs. No. 6 Villanova (18-14)</strong></h2>
<p id="udE6Ca"><strong>When: </strong>9:30 p.m. ET<br><strong>Key players for Marquette: </strong>#1 Kam Jones (6-5, 200) Jr., G; #11 Tyler Kolek (6-3, 195) Sr., G; #13 Oso Ighodaro (6-11, 235) Sr., F, #23 David Joplin (6-8, 225) Jr., F<br><strong>Key players for Villanova: </strong>#0 T.J. Bamba (6-5, 215) Sr., G; #5 Justin Moore (6-5, 210) Sr., G; #43 Eric Dixon (6-8, 255) Sr., F<br><strong>2023-24 season series: </strong>Marquette swept Villanova</p>
<ul>
<li id="0y1GEV">Marquette defeated Villanova at home, 87-74, on Jan. 15</li>
<li id="zRB3BA">Marquette defeated Villanova on the road, 85-80, on Jan. 30</li>
</ul>
<p id="2zxoiW">This was always going to be a tough matchup either way — but it appears the Wildcats may be receiving a lifeline, as 2023 Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek possibly remains out with an oblique injury. </p>
<p id="3jwVJB">Stadium’s Jeff Goodman first broke the news on Wednesday morning, and Marquette coach Shaka Smart elaborated on the situation before the Big East Tournament tipped off by saying, “He’s still day-to-day and not planning on playing tomorrow, but he’s close. The plan is absolutely for him to play next week and he’s really made good progress.”</p>
<p id="tFlhkB">Kolek missed the last three games of the regular season. In the two games against the ‘Cats this year, he scored a combined 53 points and dished out 20 assists. </p>
<p id="uzjjwF">Throughout his career, he is averaging 16.3 points and 7.7 assists per game over the six times he played the ‘Cats.</p>
<p id="W0xRfi">Although Marquette is most definitely talented, the Golden Eagles aren’t as good without him, given the way he makes all of his teammates around him better and dictates the flow of the game. </p>
<p id="jLtdwI">They still have plenty of weapons. Kam Jones has elevated his game even higher during Kolek’s absence. The Golden Eagles’ leading scorer did it all and finished the regular season with a 30-point, 5-rebound, 9-assist performance in an 86-80 win over Xavier. Oso Ighodaro is a dynamic threat inside and was just named to the All-Big East second team. </p>
<p id="xkWUz2">The Wildcats have yet to solve Shaka Smart, since he first came to Marquette. Smart is 6-0 against Villanova, which includes the Final Four season in Jay Wright’s last dance, and continued sweeps against Kyle Neptune.</p>
<p id="y0rx2E">Villanova’s calling card has been defense all-season long, and while there’s been inconsistencies on the scoring end, if it can muck things up and channel a high-intensity effort on defense — the ‘Cats will have a puncher’s chance to pull off the upset. </p>
<p id="YcSiQi">The narrow one-point win over DePaul probably doesn’t instill much confidence, though, but Vegas may have more faith than the fanbase. An hour after the game, the spread was listed Villanova as just 2.5-point underdogs (per FanDuel) against Marquette — which is the narrowest margin of all the quarterfinal games, even with the lacklaster outing against DePaul.</p>
<p id="qIdHSh">Kolek’s absence gives Villanova one less threat to worry about, but Ighodaro and Jones have proven to give Villanova fits. If the ‘Cats can keep them in check, who knows what will happen Thursday night.</p>
<p id="yKaULg"><strong>KenPom predicts: </strong>Marquette wins, 71-67, and is a 37% favorite<br><strong>Vegas says: </strong>Marquette is a 4.5-point favorite, <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/ncaab?referrer=singular_click_id%3d9b9ce4c0-adb3-4227-9d91-dda8bea755ad&wpcid=166791&wpcn=Inartcile&wpcrid=CBB&wpsrc=Vox">per DraftKings</a><br><strong>My prediction: </strong>Marquette over Villanova</p>
https://www.vuhoops.com/big-east-news/2024/3/14/24100380/2024-big-east-tournament-quarterfinals-preview-analysis-oddsEugene Rapay2024-03-14T00:13:18-04:002024-03-14T00:13:18-04:00Moore pushes ‘Nova past DePaul
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Big East Conference Tournament First Round-DePaul vs Villanova" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/REy40LXYAmYHaKO_xWG1ci4KQgU=/0x0:4401x2934/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73205877/usa_today_22767368.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>After a back-and-forth battle, Justin Moore hit a clutch jumper to salvage a Wednesday night win and set Villanova up for a Thursday night game with Marquette.</p> <p id="V4XGhZ">In a game that wasn’t filled with shining moments, there was certainly one at the end for Justin Moore.</p>
<p id="WZQjEo">With Villanova’s season in jeopardy down by two points against a three-win, bottom-seeded DePaul team, Moore gave the Wildcats one more day and the Big East Tournament opening-round 58-57 victory on Wednesday night. </p>
<p id="iNLFxT">“This is March,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “Proud of our guys. We’re a resilient crew. Thank God for Justin Moore. ... We drew up the play. We knew who we were going to and what we wanted to do.”</p>
<p id="fu7eMt">Moore, who had been battling and recovering through various injuries over recent years, hit a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with less than nine seconds on the clock. DePaul raced right down the court after the play and ended up turning it over, as the ‘Cats hung on for the win.</p>
<p id="6SxRxV">A loss would’ve drawn closer to the potential end of his collegiate career, but in that moment, Moore wasn’t thinking about that or the past hardships he endured.</p>
<p id="Y2mAGl">“Just proud of our guys, like our coach said, we were resilient,” Moore said. “That was a tough game, never gave in. Proud of all them.</p>
<p id="XMAtGA">“In the moment, I just wanted to win. Big-time players make big-time plays.”</p>
<p id="AqMXjL">The shot saved the ‘Cats from a devastating loss to DePaul. The Blue Demons finished winless throughout the regular season against Big East competition and lost those games by an average margin of 23.9 points.</p>
<p id="m3KXYb">“We understand the sports game,” Neptune said, when asked about critics and people who question his leadership. “Fans are great because they draw interest and make this game popular. That’s why I have a job and we’re here at Madison Square Garden, but we’ve got to focus on us and the next game. We’re happy to have another game to go to, play in this environment and for the people in our locker room.”</p>
<p id="QYq8fl">Unlike Villanova’s previous wins over DePaul, this game was close from start to finish. The Wildcats even fell behind by as much as eight during the low-scoring duel, after a pull-up trey by DePaul’s Jalen Terry made it 40-32 with 12:57 left in the game.</p>
<p id="j9JC0G">The Wildcats responded with a 13-2 run to briefly snatch the lead and it was a back-and-forth battle all-throughout.</p>
<p id="Del2I0">Da’Sean Nelson hit a crucial and-1 for DePaul, to temporarily give the Blue Demons a 55-52 lead and get the Garden crowd buzzing, as it turned to support the underdog Blue Demons. Eric Dixon silenced the noise with a pull-up three in response to tie things up at 55 apiece with 1:36 remaining.</p>
<p id="aWODyl">DePaul dashed ahead, thanks to a Jalen Terry jumper, to take a 57-55 lead with 1:13 left. After a series of empty-handed possessions, Villanvoa got the desperate answer it needed when Moore hit his game-winning shot.</p>
<p id="n3DmcV">“Nothing changes,” said Neptune, regarding adjustments or approach for tomorrow. “Another game, another opportunity to play for the people in our locker room. It’s now towards the end of the season, I feel like we have a lot of basketball left. I feel like we can get a lot better from this game.</p>
<p id="rcX39h">“Who else can go miss the shots we did and still get stops, and still hold a team to 57 points and find a way to win? That’s how we’re going to look at it.”</p>
<p id="qLaduY">Dixon paced the ‘Cats with 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Mark Armstrong had 11 points, four assists, four turnovers, one block and a steal. Moore chipped in 10 points, six boards and four assists. Jordan Longino had nine points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting from the three-point line, before exiting the game with an apparent knee injury. </p>
<p id="TaUeTt">Villanova shot 22-of-52 overall (42.3%) and 11-of-35 (31.4%) from the three-point line.</p>
<p id="6UUaS2">For DePaul, Terry had an impressive 18-point, 15-rebound double-double, with five assists and a steal. Jeremiah Oden added eight points off the bench.</p>
<p id="9j86ej">The Blue Demons shot 22-of-60 (36.7%) and 9-of-28 (32.1%) from long range.</p>
<p id="Ldwa2v">“We knew it was going to be a grind,” Neptune said. “It’s towards the end of the season. Everyone’s fighting for their lives. We knew they were going to come out with a great game plan, play hard and we wanted to give a full 40 minutes, and we did that defensively. Thank God we did.”</p>
<p id="YLf0cE">DePaul ends its season at 3-28, finishing the season on a 20-game losing streak. The Blue Demons went winless in Big East play, but also after New Year’s.</p>
<p id="hLvK7H">Villanova improves to 18-14 overall, and it will face third-seeded Marquette on Thursday night in the quarterfinal nightcap. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.</p>
<p id="Ie9FoB">Marquette standout, 2023 Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek is unlikely to play in Thursday’s game. He missed the final three games of the regular season with an oblique injury. The news was first reported by Stadium’s Jeff Goodman and later elaborated on by coach Shaka Smart in the hours leading into the Big East Tournament.</p>
<p id="xZVI6S">“He’s still day-to-day and not planning on playing tomorrow, but he’s close. The plan is absolutely for him to play next week and he’s really made good progress.”</p>
<p id="dUPVko">Regardless of his potential absence, the Golden Eagles still have plenty of weapons.</p>
https://www.vuhoops.com/2024/3/14/24100352/villanova-justin-moore-game-winning-shot-58-57-big-east-tournament-opening-win-over-depaulEugene Rapay