Villanova at La Salle

When: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.

Where: Tom Gola Arena, Philadelphia, Pa.

Television: CBS Sports Network (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Jon Rothstein)

Radio: Villanova IMG Network: AM 610/Sirius 132/XM 201 villanova.com and TuneIn Radio (Ryan Fannon & Whitey Rigsby)

Series: Wildcats lead 35-27

Last meeting: Villanova 73, La Salle 52 (Dec. 15, 2013)

VILLANOVA, Pa. - After a successful first month, Villanova opens the December portion of its slate at La Salle Wednesday night. This marks the first Philadelphia Big Five clash of the season for both squads.

The Wildcats put the finishing touches on a 6-0 November Sunday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center by gliding past Delaware 78-47. The Wildcats established a 15-4 lead in the game's early minutes and steadily pulled away from the youthful Blue Hens, who were without two starters.

Among the encouraging Wildcats notes on Sunday was the improved 3-point shooting. Villanova connected on 13-of-32 from beyond the arc (.406), which represents a season high in number made and percentage. On the season, VU is now 46-of-146 (.315) from distance.

Delaware coach Monte Ross leaned on a zone defense for most of the day in an effort to take advantage of VU's early season inconsistency from distance (28 percent entering action at the Wells Fargo Center). But VU was able to exploit that in the second half as they pulled away to the comfortable margin of victory.

"They're good," stated Ross. "Villanova is really, really good."

Ross was especially impressed by one element the Wildcats displayed Sunday.

" I told Jay [Wright] after the game that not only are they talented and playing well, but they are playing very confidently," he said. "That is a good thing. That is a special thing when you are playing with a lot of confidence. When you expect good things to happen and you make good things happen. We've been averaging about 10 turnovers a game this season and they forced us into 17 turnovers; just because of their quickness, length, athleticism, all that, but also their tenacity. They are tenacious on defense."

Villanova features a balanced attack with eight players who average between 12.5 (Dylan Ennis) and 4.5 (Phil Booth) points per game.

Jay Wright noted the new month brings new challenges, beginning with the City Series battles that kick off Wednesday night against the Explorers (4-2).

"I've gotten to see just enough of La Salle, Temple and Saint Joe's (to know) that this will be just like every other year," stated Wright. "It's a Big Five game and they can beat us. I thought La Salle battled well up there in New York (Brooklyn). They are a tough team with good size and perimeter skill.

"It's the Big Five. We know what it's going to be. We love it and it makes us stronger through the year."

Villanova will host its first Big Five contest of 2014-15 on Saturday when Saint Joseph's comes to the Pavilion for a 1 p.m. tipoff. That game is the first half of a rare basketball/football doubleheader that is capped when the Villanova football Wildcats host Liberty in an FCS playoff game at 4:30 p.m. inside Villanova Stadium.

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