Feb. 11, 2006

GAME NOTES

Villanova extended its best-ever start in Big East play with today's victory. The Wildcats are currently 9-1 in league games - the team's best start in conference play had been 7-1 during the 1982-83 season. The highest number of Big East wins for Villanova in one season is 14, which the Wildcats accomplished in both 1994-95 and 1995-96.

The Wildcats have won eight straight Big East games since suffering a 91-87 setback to West Virginia on January 8. Villanova is within two victories of tying the school record for consecutive league wins. The Wildcats won 10 straight Big East contests on two previous occasions, most recently from January 18 - February 18, 1995.

During the last calendar year Villanova is 15-1 in regular season Big East games. After losing to Syracuse on February 12, 2005, the Wildcats won their final six conference games of the 2004-05 season, and are off to a 9-1 start in 2005-06. Villanova is tied with Connecticut for the best record in the conference during this time span. The Huskies have won 18 of their last 19 conference games.

Villanova extended their road winning streak in Big East games to eight consecutive wins, dating back to last season. This streak is a school record, surpassing the previous record of five straight road wins in league play, which occurred on two occasions.

Senior guard Randy Foye led Villanova with a game-high 23 points in this afternoon's win. Foye is tied with senior guard Allan Ray in leading the team in scoring this season; both have been the leading scorer 10 times. Foye has scored at least 20 points in a game 13 times this season and 33 times in his career. Foye also led the team with eight rebounds against DePaul, marking the fourth time he has done so this season.

Senior guard Allan Ray made one three-pointer against the Blue Demons and now has 270 for his career. Ray needs nine more three-pointers to pass Kerry Kittles for second place on the team's all-time list. Ray has also made 142 career three-pointers in Big East games. That total is the 13th-most in conference history. Ray is three treys away from tying Dana Barros of Boston College for 12th place.

Sophomore guard Kyle Lowry did not register a steal in this afternoon's game, marking the first time since the game against West Virginia on January 8 that he did not have at least one steal. Lowry had registered a steal in nine straight games since then, averaging 3.2 steals per game during the streak. Lowry leads the team with 48 steals this season (2.3/game).

In the last two games, sophomore guard Kyle Lowry is averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He has shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the field and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the charity stripe during the two games. Lowry scored 25 points against Saint Joseph's on Tuesday night and contributed 15 points and seven rebounds towards today's victory. Lowry has scored in double figures 11 times in 21 games this season.

The Wildcats had a season-low six assists on their 21 field goals in today's game. The percentage of baskets with an assist (28.6 percent) is the lowest in a game during Jay Wright's coaching tenure with the team. The six assists tie the fewest in a game in Wright's tenure. The last time Villanova had just six assists in a game was on March 12, 2003 against Georgetown.

Villanova outrebounded the Blue Demons 40-37 for the game. The Wildcats have outrebounded the opposition 13 times in 21 games, and have had at least 40 rebounds in a game six times. Villanova has had more rebounds than the opposition in seven of 10 Big East games.

The Wildcats are 5-0 this season against the new members of the Big East Conference. Villanova has defeated Louisville twice and owns one win against DePaul, Marquette and the University of South Florida. The Wildcats will face newcomer Cincinnati on February 23 in Cincinnati.