Marquette is trying to stay on course for Big East title through two important road games

Steve Wojciechowski is in uncharted waters as Marquette’s head coach with his team alone in first place in the Big East.

So he’s remaining steady while trying to navigate the Golden Eagles (22-4, 11-2 Big East) to the conference title with five regular-season games remaining.

“We have to stay on message with what has gotten us to this point, and that’s been the total focus on what’s in front of us,” Wojciechowski said on Thursday. “Trying to take care of business in terms of having great preparation.”

MU, ranked 10th in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 11 by The Associated Press, is on a critical part of its journey with two consecutive games on the road.

The Golden Eagles play at Providence (15-12, 5-9) on Saturday and then at second-place Villanova (20-7, 11-3) on Wednesday.

Wojciechowski has lauded his team’s preparation this season.

“We have more veterans this year than we've ever had since I’ve been at Marquette,” the fifth-year coach said. “And certainly having some older guys, who’ve been through it and know what to expect, helps in that way.”

The Friars are coming off a 78-59 victory over St. John’s on Wednesday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Sophomore center Nate Watson led Providence with 21 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Alpha Diallo also had a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards.

Wojciechowski called the Friars “the most physical team in our league, not just in the post but at multiple positions.”

Providence gave MU fits in the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 20. The Golden Eagles had to rally from an eight-point halftime deficit for a 79-68 victory.

MU sophomore big man Theo John had two points, six rebounds and five blocks in the first matchup. He is coming off one of his best collegiate performances with 15 points, 11 boards and three blocks Wednesday in a 79-69 victory over Butler at Fiserv Forum.

John was asked what he wanted to accomplish against the Friars this time around.

“Just dominate,” John said. “Do whatever my team needs me to do. We just got to attack them.”

Providence was without freshman guard A.J. Reeves in its loss to MU. He was averaging 14.2 points per game before getting sidelined for nine games with a foot injury.

Reeves has been back in the lineup for eight games, but is still rounding into form. He scored eight points in 27 minutes against St. John’s.

“He’s very anxious right now playing,” Providence coach Ed Cooley said. “Taking that seven weeks off really set him behind and set us behind a little bit.

“Over the last week, we feel he’s gotten into a better rhythm. We feel he’s getting into better shape. We’re going to need him if we’re going to make a run.”

A victory against the top team in the conference could jump-start a run.

Being in first place means MU gets every team’s best shot. That makes MU’s preparation crucial for every game.

“I don’t think we want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Wojciechowski said. “Every team that’s playing in the Big East is up for grabs. So, for us, in order to reach our goals we have to take it one step at a time.”