VILLANOVA, Pa. – After chalking up a pair of homecourt victories last week, Villanova (12-13 overall, 6-8 BIG EAST) returns to Finneran Pavilion Tuesday night to host BIG EAST rival Butler (13-13 overall, 5-10 BIG EAST) at 8:05 p.m.
The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and AJ Ross). Villanova's radio broadcast will be anchored by Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby (IHeart Radio app and Sirius XM channel 389.
On Monday, Cam Whitmore was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for the third time this season. The 6-7 product of Odenton, Md., averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the victory over DePaul on Feb. 8 (81-65) and Seton Hall (58-54).
Meanwhile, graduate student Caleb Daniels (New Orleans, La.) is part of the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after scoring 18 point in the win over the Pirates. The 6-4 guard also recorded his 1,000th point in a Wildcat early in the second half Saturday evening at the Wells Fargo Center.
"It's just a blessing," Daniel stated after the game. "It's not something you focus on when you come here but I feel blessed to have experienced this with my brothers."
Eric Dixon led VU with 19 points in the win over the Hall to go with six rebounds. It marked the 24th time in 25 games that the Willow Grove, Pa., product has scored in double figures.
"We called a couple of things for him," noted head coach Kyle Neptune, "but most of our stuff comes out of our free-flowing offense. A lot of it was just reading the defense. I think our guys do a good job of sharing the ball, especially when they see a guy in good position, which Eric was."
Dixon is one of three Wildcats who will be honored as part of the program's annual "Senior Night" prior to the game Tuesday (this is VU's final regular season game on campus at Finneran Pavilion). Also in the class of 2023 are players Chris Arcidiacono and Justin Moore along with student managers Justin Miranda, Race DaPenti and Anthony Flynn.
VILLANOVA MOURNS THE LOSS OF DICK KAMINSKI
Dick Kaminski, a three-year starter for coach Alexander Severance from 1958-61, died Saturday. The native of Jersey City, N.J., was a standout in the backcourt for the Wildcats' alongside Jim Huggard, helping to lead the 'Cats to a pair of National Invitation Tournament appearances.
"Dick was a passionate and supportive alum who loved Villanova University," Neptune said in a tweet Sunday. "We send our condolences to the Kaminski family."
"One of the most loyal @NovaMBB alums ever," tweeted former head coach Jay Wright Sunday. "A tough, talented, Jersey City guard. Dick will be missed by the entire Villanova University family."
Tuesday night's matchup completes a three-game home run for Nova. The Wildcats will travel Friday ahead of a Saturday afternoon clash with No. 18 Providence in Rhode Island (4:30 p.m/Fox television network/Fox 29 in Philadelphia and the Villanova Sports Radio Network).
