MILWAUKEE _ On many nights during the previous decade, Villanova might have had a defensive slip-up or two but usually managed to win games by knocking down shots from the 3-point line and creating fouls from drives to the hoop.
But the Wildcats of the new decade, with no scholarship seniors and a rotation that includes three freshmen and three sophomores, are struggling with their play on both ends of the court, and it cost them dearly on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 17,856 at Fiserv Forum.
Striving to come back from a 20-point deficit, the 10th-ranked Cats got their defense together somewhat in the second half against Marquette but had little going on offense and dropped a 71-60 decision to the Golden Eagles.
During one stretch of more than 11 minutes, the Golden Eagles (11-3, 1-1 Big East) missed 15 of 16 shots from the floor after taking a 49-29 lead. The Wildcats (10-3, 1-1 Big East) went on a 14-2 run and did cut the deficit to eight, 51-43, with 7 minutes, 59 seconds remaining, but made only 7 of 22 attempts during that same stretch, or not good enough.
When Markus Howard knocked down a 3-point basket to get the lead to 11, the Cats never got the deficit into single digits until 19 seconds remained.
The Wildcats shot 35.3% for the game and 23.7% (9 of 38) from 3. In their last five games, they are hitting just 26.3% of their attempts from 3-point distance with four games of less than 30%.
Cole Swider was hot early, hitting all four of his threes in the first half, but missed all four from deep in the second half. He and Justin Moore led the Cats with 14 points.
Howard, the Big East's leading scorer, got his points as usual _ 29 in all _ but did it in spurts, scoring 17 of his team's first 27, and nine of its last 20 before fouling out with 37.8 seconds to play. He shot just 2 of 12 in the second half. Teammate Koby McEwen, a transfer from Utah State, provided ample help with 22 points.
Another area of concern for the Wildcats is drawing fouls. They were outscored, 26-3, from the line, getting just five shots.
Swider and Justin Moore led the Wildcats with 14 points apiece.
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