UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Wildcats return to the championship game of a November preseason event for the ninth straight season on Thanksgiving night, when they are slated to meet No. 18/17 Arizona State (1-0) in the title game of the 2K Sports Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project.
 
The game is the second of the evening session at Mohegan Sun Arena and is slated to tip off at approximately 9:30 p.m. ESPN will carry the game nationally with Jon Sciambi and Jay Bilas courtside. Villanova's radio flagship station, 95.7 Ben FM will carry the contest with Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby describing the action.
 
Villanova began its run of November success in 2012 at this same event, advancing to the finals with a pulsating semifinal win over Purdue before falling to Tennessee in the title game at Madison Square Garden (the original site for this year's event before COVID-19). Over the next seven seasons, the Wildcats would capture every preseason tourney event they played in before seeing the run end in the finals of the Myrtle Beach Invitational last November as Baylor knocked off the 'Cats in the championship game, 87-78.
 
The Wildcats (1-0) earned their spot with a come from behind win over Boston College on Wednesday night. Nova trailed by as many as nine points in the second half before rallying behind sophomore forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
 
Villanova also got a big boost from junior Caleb Daniels in his regular season debut for the 'Cats. The Tulane transfer contributed 14 points, including a huge 3-pointer in the second half that helped pull his team back in front.
 
"Caleb did a great job defensively," stated Wildcats' head coach Jay Wright. "I was really proud of him. He's really intelligent offensively. For a first game, I thought he was outstanding.
 
"Our system is a little complex and he's picking it up. I thought he did a great job."
 
One of the challenges Villanova faced against Boston College is also likely to be an area of focus against Arizona State, which is led by senior guard Remy Martin.
 
"(BC) has super quick, explosive guards," noted Wright. "Our guards aren't like that. Our guards are really good. I wouldn't trade our guards. But we can't simulate that in practice. I think in the first half last night it took us by surprise.
 
"I would assume Arizona State will take the ball at us. They may have noticed that we struggled guarding those guards off the dribble and they have exceptional guards. I think they have great team quickness, similar to Boston College. They showed a lot of grit hanging in there to pull that game out last night. That's going to be a really tough matchup."