Williams expects close games to continue

Marquette’s ability to win close games is going to determine exactly what direction the team heads in this year, according to coach Buzz Williams.

The Golden Eagles won their first four Big East games this year by a combined 21 points before dropping a nailbiter at Cincinnati Saturday night.

For those Marquette fans who think the heart-stopping style of play may come to an end at some point this year, think again.

“If we’re going to have a chance to win this year, I think it’s going to be a possession or two-possession type of game,” Williams said. “If we play the way we did the first 20 minutes (on Saturday), I think it will be incredibly hard for us to win another game at home or on the road.”

In the first half against Cincinnati, Marquette finished with just 13 points and shot a putrid 5-for-28 (17.9 percent), while the Bearcats built a 16-point lead. Sean Kilpatrick equaled the Golden Eagles in points in the first half.

Williams said it may have been the worst half of basketball he’s ever seen from his team.

“As far as our energy, I think it was awful,” Williams said. “As far as the energy and discipline we needed to win on the road, it was the worst we’ve been all year.”

Williams also thinks this group of players is destined to have 14 more close games this year as it continues its Big East campaign.

“We’ve played five games and 80 percent of them have been like this,” Williams said. “The fifth one was a barnburner, we blew them out and beat them (Seton Hall) by seven.”