Marquette vs. No. 4/3 Villanova

When: Thursday, Noon

Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, N.Y.)

Television: Fox Sports 1 (Justin Kutcher & Donny Marshall)

Radio: Villanova IMG Network: 610 WTEL AM / villanova.com and TuneIn Radio (Ryan Fannon & Whitey Rigsby)

Series: Villanova leads Marquette series 15-9

Game Notes

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VILLANOVA, Pa. - A flurry of honors have come the way of the Villanova Wildcats since a record setting regular season (29-2 overall, 16-2 BIG EAST) ended Saturday with a 105-68 victory over St. John's.

On Sunday, Darrun Hilliard and Ryan Arcidiacono were named first team All-BIG EAST. JayVaughn Pinkston and Daniel Ochefu were tabbed honorable mention All-BIG EAST. On Monday, Josh Hart was tabbed Sixth Man of the Year by the conference and Hilliard was selected a second team All-American by The Sporting News.

Hilliard becomes just the 19th Wildcats player to earn All-American honors and the first since Scottie Reynolds in 2010.

"All the awards are great for the guys, and we are excited about it," stated Arcidiacono after the Wildcats wrapped up a Davis Center practice session Monday, " but we know it doesn't mean much if we don't do anything in the postseason. We appreciate it and we know how hard we worked for it. We just have bigger goals."

Indeed, for all the talk about the Wildcats - who rose to No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches poll this week and remained at No. 4 in the Associated Press tabulation - the team itself has its attention directed at the BIG EAST Tournament presented by New York Life. Top seed Villanova opens play Thursday against the winner of Wednesday night's battle between No. 8 Seton Hall and No. 9 Marquette.

Last season, Villanova was upended by Seton Hall 64-63 in its BIG EAST Tournament opener on Thursday afternoon.

"We are just trying to take it one game at a time, like we always do," stated Arcidiacono. "I am sure everyone is just focusing on playing that next game, whoever it is, Marquette or Seton Hall.

"We know what happened against Seton Hall (last year) so we are going to go up there with no fear and just play Villanova basketball. If that means we are going to win a game or two, then we do that. If we lose the first game going down playing Villanova basketball, then so be it."

Villanova swept the season series from the Golden Eagles, winning games on Feb. 4 at the Wells Fargo Center and Feb. 21 in Milwaukee.

Wildcats head coach Jay Wright sensed the anticipation at the team's practice sessions on campus before it headed to Manhattan.

"This is definitely the most exciting time of the year for us," explained Wright. "I can tell by the way the guys were practicing that they are fired up and really now just waiting to get up there."

Villanova last played in a BIG EAST Tournament semifinal in 2009 when the Wildcats fell to Louisville. Wright is ready for a new opportunity on the stage at Madison Square Garden.

"It has been a challenge for a number of reasons and I really don't know (why)," stated Wright. "We love going up there and we usually play pretty well. Last year, we got off to a bad start but we came back and had the lead until Seton Hall hit that shot at the buzzer. We are going to go up there positive and see what happens."

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