Observations from Villanova’s loss to Marquette as the Wildcats continue to struggle

On Sunday against No. 17 Providence, Villanova battled. On Wednesday against No. 14 Marquette, it was a similar game, with the Wildcats leading for the first 27 minutes.

Yet like on Sunday against the Friars, the Wildcats’ offense sputtered when it mattered most. Villanova was outscored by Marquette, 16-3, in the final six minutes, as the Golden Eagles turned a four-point deficit into a 73-64 victory.

» READ MORE: Villanova falls to Marquette late, St. Joseph’s men win second straight; win streak snapped for La Salle women and more from Wednesday

The result meant Villanova (10-12, 4-7 Big East) missed another chance at a Quad 1 win, dropping to 0-6 against Quad 1 opponents this season. Although the Wildcats still have six more Quad 1 matchups, including their final five games, their current record and resumé mean they will need four straight wins in the Big East tournament to clinch a 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Here are some observations from the defeat.

Before flying to Milwaukee, Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune was asked about his team’s lack of success in close games.

“It’s kind of been the story of our year so far,” Neptune said Tuesday.

Much of these struggles can be chalked up to Villanova not having a go-to guy in the final minutes of games. Eleven of its 12 losses were by 10 or fewer points, with a 2-5 record in games decided by fewer than five points.

The Wildcats are a different team after Justin Moore’s return, but, in the final minutes against Marquette, they looked much like the Wildcats of old. There was no one confidently stepping forward when Villanova needed a basket, as six players missed shots in the final six minutes. The streak was only snapped by a Caleb Daniels dunk with 10 seconds remaining.

The offensive struggles were summed up by the final play. Mark Armstrong blew past defenders and rose to end the game with an uncontested consolation dunk, but the ball rimmed out.

While Moore may become the closer the Wildcats desperately need, he’s not there yet, nor should he be expected to in just his second game back from an Achilles tear.

Moore made strides on Wednesday. After scoring five points against Providence, the senior guard increased his output to nine points against Marquette. There were moments he looked like his pre-injury self, including on a step-back three.

However, Moore did show his rust. He went 2-9 from the field, including 2-7 from three, and was held scoreless in the second half.

Villanova is a noticeably better team with him on the floor, regardless of his capacity, with his defensive efforts and the space he creates on offense. The biggest beneficiary on Wednesday was Daniels, who scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Eric Dixon only played 23 minutes, yet joined Daniels with 14 points. The redshirt junior battled foul trouble but was extremely effective when on the floor, shooting 6 of 8 and grabbing six rebounds.

Dixon was the only Wildcat to have a positive plus/minus, as Villanova outscored Marquette by 10 when Dixon was on the court. Dixon was dominant in the paint and would have had an even better plus/minus if not for Marquette’s final run, as he was plus-20 when subbed in with 6:45 to play.

The near upset was not sparked by Villanova’s veterans, but instead by the team’s bench. Villanova entered the game ranked 330th in the nation in bench points per game, averaging just 13.38 points.

In the first half, Brendan Hausen nearly matched that on his own.

With starters Dixon, Brandon Slater, and Cam Whitmore sitting with two fouls in the first half, Neptune needed key minutes from his reserves. Hausen and Armstrong stepped in, combining for 14 points to give Villanova a 35-34 halftime lead.

» READ MORE: Villanova routs Marquette to pick up its 10th Big East win of the season

However, the Wildcats returned to their old ways in the second half. Hausen was the only reserve to score in the final 20 minutes, adding a three and finishing with 12 points.

With the loss, Villanova fell to 4-9 in games away from home. The Wildcats are 6-3 at Finneran Pavilion and the Wells Fargo Center, but have struggled on neutral courts and in hostile road environments.

The Wildcats continue their road trip Saturday, when they travel to Omaha, Neb., to take on Creighton (14-8, 8-3). The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX29.