VILLANOVA, Pa. – Since the BIG EAST reconfigured Villanova has done some of its best work away from home, compiling 49 victories since 2013. That stretch began with a pulsating overtime victory at Butler on New Year's Eve 2013.
 
Villanova returns to Hinkle Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon, hoping to replicate that success against the Bulldogs (8-13 overall, 7-11 BIG EAST). The game will air on CBS with Andrew Catalon and former Wildcats' head coach Steve Lappas describing the action. The Villanova radio broadcast can be found on 95.7 Ben FM with Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby providing commentary and analysis.
 
Last season, the Bulldogs knocked off the Wildcats 79-76 before 8,814 packed into the storied venue. There will be a much smaller gathering on Sunday with limited attendance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Butler has dealt with injuries all season, the most notable of which has been senior guard Aaron Thompson, who was first injured in the first meeting between these teams on Dec. 16 at Finneran Pavilion (an 85-66 Nova win). The Bulldogs, playing without Thompson, downed Seton Hall 61-52 on Wednesday night.
 
The Wildcats, meanwhile, are a perfect 8-0 this season at Finneran Pavilion, including wins in the last week over Connecticut (68-60) and St. John's (81-58). But they have dropped both February road games, falling at St. John's on Feb. 3 and at No. 13 Creighton on Feb. 13. They are 2-2 in BIG EAST road games this season with this matchup Sunday and the regular season finale at Providence next Saturday remaining.
 
Reserves Cole Swider, Brandon Slater, Eric Dixon and Bryan Antoine all made meaningful contributions Tuesday night against the Red Storm. The challenge will be to do likewise on the road.
 
"Guys like Brandon, Cole Swider, Eric Dixon, and Bryan Antoine are the guys who were most impacted no spring, no summer and really no fall (workouts) for us because of the pandemic," said Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "Then we had our quarantines in-season.
 
"In the middle of a season, you don't have the time to work with the guys you want to develop. You've got to get the guys who are going to play most straightened out. Our guys are smart about it. I really respect their patience.
 
"We need them. We need them all. They're getting there. We're just running out of time here in a short season."
 
Slater has averaged 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds a game over his past three outings. Swider added seven points and five rebounds in the win over the Red Storm in 18:25. Antoine logged a season high 11:11 Tuesday night and added a highlight reel steal to set up a Slater breakaway slam in the first half. He finished with three points and three boards. And Dixon grabbed a pair of rebounds.
Sunday is the first of three games left on the regular season schedule for the Wildcats, who played only three times in January due to a pair of COVID-19 pauses. Villanova is set to welcome Creighton to Finneran Pavilion on Wednesday night (8:30 p.m./FS1 and 95.7 Ben FM) and to wrap up the regular season at Providence at 2:30 p.m. (Fox and 95.7 Ben FM).