10/9 Marquette Welcomes 14/13 Villanova Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT

The No. 10/9 Marquette University men's basketball team (19-4, 8-2 BIG EAST) wraps up a two-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 9 when the squad welcomes No. 14/13 Villanova (19-4, 10-0 BIG EAST) to Fiserv Forum on National Marquette Day. FOX will feature the television coverage, with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Donny Marshall (analyst) and Lisa Byington (reporter) calling the action. Following Saturday's action, MU will travel to DePaul on Feb. 18 before enjoying an eight-day break in the league schedule.

National Marquette Day Returns Feb. 9

National Marquette Day is a tradition dating back to the 1960s that brings the Marquette nation united together in pride and spirit to honor the values of the University.

Friday night's (Feb. 8) outdoor pep rally across the street from the Al McGuire Center, is the official tip-off of the National Marquette Day weekend celebration and will be capped by a fireworks display prior to the women's game vs. Georgetown.

On Saturday afternoon, alumni will gather in Milwaukee and around the world at more than 70 locations representing multiple states from Hawaii to New York to celebrate Marquette and cheer on the men's basketball team.

In its present form, National Marquette Day has been around since 1992. The celebration was preceded by Spirit Day, which dates back to the 1960s.

Marquette Looks To Turn Series Trend

Villanova holds a 23-10 advantage over Marquette in an all-time series that dates back to 1960.

Along with regular season and tournament matchups in league play, the two teams also squared off in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament and the 1980 NCAA Championship. Marquette downed the Wildcats 66-58 in the NIT, but fell 77-59 in the opening round of the NCAA's in Providence, R.I.

The Wildcats have been ranked in the top-10 in each of the last 12 meetings against Marquette.

Sam Hauser Doubles Up Against St. John's

Junior forward Sam Hauser collected his fifth career double-double and fourth of the season Tuesday night against St. John's.

He finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes of action and also chipped in a pair of assists and a steal. Prior to Tuesday, he most recently reached double figures in both categories at Creighton on Jan. 9. The Stevens Point, Wisconsin native has scored double figures in all but one league outing and has missed just one free throw (32-of-33, .970) in BIG EAST action.

Howard Candidate For Multiple National Awards

All-America and BIG EAST Player of the Year candidate Markus Howard's name is in the mix for a variety of national awards and this week he was tabbed to a trio of finalist lists.

In the same week he was named BIG EAST Player of the Week for the fifth time, he was also selected one of 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented to the nation's top point guard. Howard is one of 20 players in contention for the John R. Wooden Award and John R. Wooden All American Team, bestowed upon the nation's best player at a NCAA Division I institution. The Chandler, Arizona native is also one of 12 players selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for its 2018-19 Oscar Robertson Trophy Final Midseason Watch List. The Oscar Robertson Trophy is to be presented by its namesake at the NCAA Final Four and the winner will be honored at the USBWA Awards Dinner on April 15 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Howard is also in the mix for the Lute Olson Award and the Citizen Naismith Trophy Award.