Marquette men's basketball coach Buzz Williams evaluates wins the same way after almost every game.

He usually offers a brief moment of praise for his team, then quickly points out where they need to improve. Most of the media expect to hear Williams' typical line about celebrating the win until midnight, then getting right back work.

Perhaps it's because he is consumed by proving his worth as a coach in the Big East. Perhaps he honestly doesn't think his team is any good.

Whatever the reason, following Marquette's 94-82 victory over Georgetown Saturday, Williams beamed like an Oscar winner doling out thanks to all who contributed.

"I think the thing that adds to all of this is the response of the community of Milwaukee, in addition to the students," Williams said. "The students were lined up…out the door and all the way to the other street. I thought the students were absolutely phenomenal in regards to their support of our team."

During the game, Williams could be seen jumping up and down in elation while his team once again demonstrated why it is perched atop the Big East standings.

But Williams and his Golden Eagles aren't so openly jubilant because they suddenly believe in themselves — that belief has always been there. They are celebrating because they are witnessing the fruits of their labor, and coaches, players, fans and talking heads around the nation are beginning to take notice.

"I don't think everybody knows it yet, but Marquette is a tough team," Georgetown guard Chris Wright said.

Wright's assessment of the Golden Eagles is evidenced by the fact that Marquette failed to climb in the polls despite victories over then-No. 22 Notre Dame and then-No. 25 Georgetown.

For the Golden Eagles, it is not just the hard work of this season's team that has translated to success on the court, but also the experience gained by the team's four seniors that appears to have been the missing piece of the puzzle.

"We're old. We're old now," Matthews said. "Maturity is helping us out so much this season.

"I think 42-42 (Saturday's halftime score) our freshman year, unless Steve (Novak) goes off for a great game, I don't know if we win that."

The Golden Eagles, however, still don't have a Steve Novak. They have three, possibly four of them.

Wesley Matthews had been Marquette's leading scorer up until the team's Jan. 26 victory over Notre Dame, at which point fellow senior Jerel McNeal overtook him. Following the win over Georgetown, McNeal is averaging 19.7 points per game, while Matthews (19.2 ppg), junior forward Lazar Hayward (16.6 ppg) and senior guard Dominic James (11.5 ppg) round out Marquette's go-to guys.

When asked if anyone in the country is playing better in the backcourt than Jerel McNeal, Matthews hesitated. "I am," he said while trying to hold a straight face. "He shoots it more than me."

Of course, Williams made sure to touch on where Marquette needs improvement (games aren't often won when the opposing team shoots 56.1 percent), but it is easy to see why the post-game atmosphere leaned towards joking and taunting and less about constructive criticism.

"We're having fun," Matthews said. "We're having fun because we're working. When you put a lot of work into something and you see the benefits, you can't help but have fun and be relaxed and just be confident."