Feb. 10, 2009

To Marquette coach Buzz Williams, Villanova's 102-84 victory over his No. 10/12 ranked Marquette Golden Eagles boiled down to one element - the Wildcats' sizzling offensive production.

"They're very potent," stated Williams. "They have eight high-major plus players. They are playing maybe as well as anybody in the country, coupled with UConn. This is a great environment to play in. I can see why teams have struggled in here over the last two years.

"Coach (Jay) Wright is one of the classiest coaches in all of college basketball and I think that the way they play fits perfectly with their personnel. I don't know if they could have played any better in the second half."

It was a pulsating night inside the Pavilion and only the tenth time in the building's 23-year history that both squads were ranked. The Golden Eagles built a 35-27 advantage with 8:13 to go in the first half but from that point forward were outscored 75-49.

Of all the things there were for Wright to like about his team's performance - it posted its sixth straight BIG EAST victory - perhaps the most significant in his mind was who the opponent was.

"We have great respect for Marquette," stated Wright. "We have talked about this as a team - I love the way their team plays, especially those three guards. They compete, they don't say anything, and they're tough. They just come at you and play. They've done it for four years. We just really respect them and that's why it's a good win. They are a very good team."

Wright liked the hardnosed approach his now 20-4 Wildcats displayed.

"We played tough tonight," stated Wright. "With Dwayne Anderson going down, Shane Clark stepped up and Scottie (Reynolds) and Corey Fisher were outstanding. But that's what you've got to do to get this kind of victory."

The 102 point effort is Villanova's third consecutive BIG EAST game of better than 90 points. That's never before happened in the school's three decade association with the conference. Wright isn't ready to anoint his unit as the heirs to the Phoenix Suns of the middle part of this decade as the newest model of run-and-stun.

"We never talk about points in terms of how many we hold somebody to," explained Wright. "Providence goes up and down, Syracuse goes up and down, these guys can do that. There are so many possessions in those games that you can give up some points.

"Sometimes, you've just got to outscore people. We don't like that but it was the only way we were going to do it tonight. Those (Marquette) guards are just that good."

Wright made it clear that his coaching staff is not opposed to the high-paced tempo that has been on display in its most recent contests.

"We don't mind playing that way," stated Wright. "I thought the defensive effort on our part was better in the second half. I just thought we traded baskets in the first half. Even though they shot 46 percent, I thought the second half was pretty good.

"I'm proud of these guys. This is a really tough league. Now you go to West Virginia. I think we have great senior leadership and our guards now -Scottie, Fish, (Corey) Stokes and Reggie (Redding) - are playing like big-time BIG EAST guards. I think our forwards have been doing that all year. And I think that's been the difference.

"Our guards played against three of the best in the country tonight. I thought this was a big step for them."

It is hard to argue with the production. Reynolds connected on 10-of-17 field goal attempts, including 5-of-11 from beyond the 3-point arc, and finished with 27 points. Fisher was 6-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from outside the arc for 21 points. Redding contributed six assists and six rebounds while Stokes added six points, four rebounds and five assists in 21 minutes.

Wright also pointed to his team's ability to go to its bench as a key to the victory.

"I think our depth helped," stated Wright. "A lot of the shots they hit in the first half didn't surprise us. They're great. But I think we were able to wear them down a little bit."

In the end, it was enough to extend the Wildcats' winning streak at the Pavilion to 26 and give Villanova its fifth consecutive 20 win season. That is a first in the rich history of the program.

NOVA NOTE - In his post-game remarks Wright indicated that he was optimistic after hearing the preliminary diagnosis on the left knee injury suffered by senior swingman Dwayne Anderson. Anderson will have the knee examined on Wednesday.

- MIKE SHERIDAN