There are some wins you need to win in college basketball. The ones where you cannot falter because you’re at home and the team is pretty good. Marquette faced that situation yesterday. They had to beat Providence. While the Friars started the Big East season hot this year, they’ve been bad all year with some rough non-conference losses. Providence will have to play perfectly in the Big East season to get into the NCAA Tournament. Marquette stubbed their toe in a classic letdown-lookahead sandwich game as they lose in overtime, 81-80.

Player of the Game: Markus Howard – What a night for the senior. He had 39 points with six made threes. Howard gutted out the final part of the game and overtime with a leg injury. Providence tried their best to contain Howard and they could not do it. This is the sixth time this season that Howard scored 30 or more points in a game.

Honorable Mention: Brendan Bailey – Even though he had a big free throw miss in overtime, Brendan Bailey played an awesome game. He scored 19 points and made four threes. If you want a positive from last night, it is Bailey. He continues to play well in the last five or six games. He figured out his role with this Marquette team. In terms of the second banana power rankings, Bailey moved past Sacar Anim recently.

One Thing I Hate: Steve Wojciechowski coaching blunders
This is a two-tier segment about Steve Wojciechowksi’s coaching. First, in regulation, Marquette is up to three points with 18 seconds left. Watch the final play below, Wojo claims they do not foul because there was too much time on the block. When the Friars make the final pass for the three by A.J. Reeves that tied the game, Marquette should have fouled. At that point, there are six to seven seconds left. The more maddening thing about this is Providence sucks at free throws. They missed a bunch in this game. There is no guarantee that Providence makes both. And even if they do, they have to start the whole process after Marquette’s free throws on the other end.

A.J. Reeves forces OT! pic.twitter.com/InrkHRT83S

— PC Men's Basketball (@PCFriarsmbb) January 8, 2020

The other major issue from Wojo last night happened at the very end of overtime. Marquette trailed by one after Bailey missed the free throw. It took Marquette three seconds to foul which was terrible in its own right, but then with 1.7 seconds left, Wojo burned his final timeout. If he waits to use it when Malik White misses, Marquette may have a halfcourt heave to win the game. Instead, he burns it early leading to Bailey having zero shot to win the game from 75 feet out. Time is up on calling Wojciechowski a young coach. He has been here and should know better.

Next up: Things do not get easier for Marquette as they head to New Jersey to play Seton Hall. The rivalry between Markus Howard and Myles Powell started last season, and it will heat up again. Hopefully, Howard’s leg is fine for this one. Marquette will be an underdog for this one as the Hall has been tough to start the Big East season.

Charlie.