Saint Joseph's at Villanova

When: Saturday, 1:00 p.m.

Where: The Pavilion

Television: Fox Sports 1 (Justin Kutcher & Bill Raftery)

Radio: Villanova IMG Network: AM 1340/Sirius 92/XM 203/villanova.com and TuneIn Radio (Whitey Rigsby & Steve Pinone)

Series: Wildcats lead 46-25

Last meeting: Villanova 98, Saint Joseph's 68 (Dec. 7, 2013)

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Sometimes, good results are the residue of chance. More often, however, they are the product of prudent planning.

So it has been for Villanova sophomore Josh Hart, whose Wildcats (7-0 overall, 1-0 Big Five) take on Saint Joseph's (4-3 overall, 1-0 Big Five) in a Philadelphia Big Five matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Pavilion.

Like most aspiring college student-athletes, this native of Silver Spring, Md., took note of the strengths of each college which pursued him as he assessed where he wanted to be after excelling at Sidwell Friends School. But in addition to the usual litany of considerations, he paid close attention to something else.

"I tried to look at each school and the style that they played," explains Hart. "When I looked at Villanova the thing that popped up to me was the triangle of core values - the emphasis on playing with pride, rebounding, defending, doing all those little things that won't show up in the boxscore. At the end of the day, if you do those things, you'll be successful.

"When I was being recruited I looked at where I was going to best fit and that was at Villanova. Coming in, I didn't really have to change my game at all. I was going in to a place where I was comfortable. I have always prided myself on the same things that are important in this program."

"The style of play here was something I was already used to."

It's been an inspired decision for Hart and helped the Wildcats reach new plateaus. As a rookie debuting in 2013-14, Hart made an instant impact, delivering 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as part of a team that established a new school record with 28 regular season victories and earned a BIG EAST championship.

This season, Hart has again served as the Wildcats' Dynamic Energizer. His defensive work at the Barclay's Legend Classic was instrumental in helping Villanova rally for a 60-55 victory over No. 17 Michigan in the finals of that event. He scored 12 points off the bench to help key an 84-80 Big Five victory over La Salle to open the December schedule.

Hart enters Saturday's fray as one of seven Wildcats averaging between 12.9 (Dylan Ennis) and 8.4 (Hart) points per contest. Only forwards Daniel Ochefu (7.9 rpg) and JayVaughn Pinkston have collected more caroms among the Wildcats than has Hart, standing at 6-5.

The points and rebounds, though, only scratch the surface of the contribution made. Hart's versatility - he can guard multiple positions, rebounds over taller defenders, and can slash for scores in a most unique manner. His entrance into games often changes the tenor such is the breadth of his tenacity.

It all begins with an old school approach that would be welcomed by any coaching staff and certainly is at Villanova. In short, it's not about him.

"I am going to do everything I can to help this team, whether that's diving on the floor for a loose ball, being a spark on the bench, playing good defense," Hart states. "I'm just in there to do whatever I can to get this team excited, to get it up and running."

If the assignment is to use his length and quickness to slow a gifted scorer on the opposition, he is fully committed to the task.

"At the end of the day, it's just a mindset," he says. "You go in knowing that you want to try to shut down the best player on the other team. It's not, `I am going to go in and score 15 and get 10 rebounds.' Those things are nice but what's going to make this team successful is if we go in every game saying `we're going to shut this team down.'

"Part of it is (strength) Coach Shack (John Shackleton) getting us physically right so we are ready to go hard all the time. And part of it is that mindset that we want to lock the other team down."

One reason that Hart seems so comfortable at a multitude of spots is that he has, at different points, been utilized at them all. As one of the taller players for his age, Hart saw some time at the center position when he first began in organized basketball. As he added skill, it allowed him to move on to the perimeter. All of it provides him with a comfort zone at any slot on the court.

While his contributions have been remarkably consistent for a underclassman in his time in the Blue and White, there have been subtle elements introduced as well. His offensive game has expanded and the ability to identify scoring opportunities in transition or in half-court sets has too.

"I would say I've improved because of all the things that we do every day," stated Hart. "The repetitions we do, the offensive skills, the defensive intensity, are things that become a part of you. My skills have gotten more polished since I've been here.

"The other way I have grown on the basketball side is with my mindset. Going in every day I want to do whatever it takes. I want to go in, no matter who we are playing, and play hard. My mindset is so much further along than it was before I came here."

As a young player Hart has absorbed an essential truth in this team game.

"You have to understand that it's not about you," he states. "That can be hard to do. We all had (individual) success to get here.

"But I think we've been able to understand that this is bigger than each of us individually. If we all play together and we all play hard, everyone is going to shine."

Hart has, in a sense, made it look easy. But like any college student, there have been ups and downs. The sounding boards his older teammates have provided have helped there as has the connection he shares with classmates Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds.

"It's hard to describe in a few words," Hart says of the link between the sophomores. "I've known Kris since high school. I met Darryl coming in here. If you see us together, you'd think we were childhood friends. It's like we met when we were three and have grown up together.

"They have been there for me at my highest point and at my lowest point. Bonds are forged through adversity and challenges. We all went through that together. The bond we have is really special and words can't describe it."

For now, Hart's focus is straightforward. To borrow an expression that has been around much longer than he has, he just wants to keep on, keepin' on.

"We have to understand that we have to keep getting better," he notes. "We're 7-0 now. As long as we keep getting better every day and every game I think we will be successful."

Sharp planning helped deliver Hart to a program that fits his skills.

His approach going forward is to keep bringing the energy and passion that have already endeared him to the Nova Nation.

Follow Villanova Basketball on social media

Twitter: @NovaMBB #NovaMBB

Instagram: @novambb