VILLANOVA, Pa. – After a pair of Philadelphia Big Five matchups to begin the season – which included an 81-68 in over La Salle and a 68-64 loss at Temple – Villanova returns to action on Monday evening when it hosts Delaware State at 6:30 p.m.
 
Scott Graham and Jim Spanarkel will describe the action for a national television audience on FS2. Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby will have the radio call on the Villanova Sports Network.
 
Both teams enter this one with 1-1 records. The Wildcats hope to bounce back from a final possession loss Friday night against the Owls at the Liacouras Center. Delaware State is coached by Stan Wateman, who for 30 years led the program at the Sanford School. Amongs his pupils was VU sophomore forward Nnanna Njoku.
 
"I think our guys understand we've got to get better," said Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune after the Wildcats practiced Sunday afternoon at Finneran Pavilion. "I think they've embraced it and they're looking forward to get back out there to compete.
 
"For us, we try to focus on everything. I don't think it's just one thing. There are a lot of things for us to work on."
 
Temple kept the Wildcats from getting into an offensive flow early in the contest, putting Villanova into a deficit for most of the game's first 30 minutes. They eventually dug their way out of it midway through the second half and led 64-62 after a Jordan Longino 3-pointer in the final minute. But the Owls scored the game's final six points, all on free throws.
 
Villanova attempted just seven field goals form beyond the 3-point arc, dropping in two, including the clutch one by Longino and another from redshirt freshman Angelo Brizzi. Longino converted 5-of-7 field goal attempts Friday, finishing with 11 points.
 
"We look at out guys as basketball players," noted Neptune. "Jordan is no different. It doesn't matter how big you are. He's one of the guys who can do everything. He can bring the ball up, he can score, he's a great passer, a good decision-maker and he can score. We'll look to try to use him in any situation possible.
 
"For any coach, if you have someone out there in the final minutes you have confidence in them," noted Neptune. "You don't have to really say anything (more)."
 
Up next for Villanova is the first trip in program history to East Lansing, Mich., to meet the Michigan State Spartans. Those teams will battle in the annual Gavitt Games at 8 p.m. at the Breslin Student Events Center (FS1 and the Villanova Sports Radio Network).