VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova heads back on the road for a BIG EAST clash Wednesday evening at Xavier. The two teams have identical overall records (12-10) with the Musketeers holding a one-game advantage in conference play (6-5 to the Wildcats' 5-6).
 
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
The national television broadcast will air on FS1 with Jeff Levering and LaPhonso Ellis providing play-by-play and analysis. Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby will be on site calling the game on the Villanova IHeart Radio Network beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m. (Sirius XM 386).
 
The Wildcats edged the Musketeers 66-65 at Finneran Pavilion in the first matchup between these squads on Jan. 3. Villanova crafted a 48-38 lead at the midway point of the second half and then withstood a furious Xavier rally to earn the victory. Hakim Hart led Villanova with 14 points while Eric Dixon added 13, including key free throws in the final two minutes.
 
"I thought we defended really well in that game with the exception of some things they were able to do on the offensive glass," stated Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune.
 
Indeed, Xavier collected 15 caroms on the offensive glass, the most Villanova has allowed all season (St. John's matched that figure on Jan. 24).
 
What's more, Xavier has won five of its last seven games, including a 93-68 victory at DePaul in its most recent action last Saturday. It defeated St. John's 88-77 on Jan. 31 at the Cintas Center.
 
"As you go through a season," Neptune stated, "teams continue to grow. Xavier has done that and is playing very well."
 
The Musketeers' Quincy Olivari leads the BIG EAST in scoring at 19.4 points per game and Desmond Claude isn't far off that pace (16.3 ppg). Olivari paces the conference in 3-point field goals made per game (3.1 per contest). The Musketeers have averaged a shade over 85 points per game in the eight games since they were at Finneran Pavilion.
 
Villanova heads to Cincinnati on the heels of one of its best defensive efforts of the season. The Wildcats limited Providence to 15 field goals – in 51 attempts – on Sunday, controlling the game defensively in a 68-50 win.
 
"As an individual," said senior guard TJ Bamba, "you just want to come in to make a difference in the game. The easiest way to do that is by controlling the controllables. That's your effort, making big-time plays on the defensive end, tagging (boxing out), warring. Every single body has bought into that because we understand that's what sets the tone and will carry us further and further. It allows us to keep growing.
 
"That was the difference between (Sunday) and Marquette (on Jan. 30). We set the tone on defense early against Providence."
 
A singular day-by-day approach is essential given the caliber of competition the Wildcats face each time out.
 
"I think the Big East is the best league in the country," noted Neptune. "The margin for error is not great. You may go out and play pretty good basketball team and the other team comes out with the result they want. For us, we keep talking about going out and keep getting better. To our guys' credit, I think our guys' focus in practice has been great this season. Our guys are focused on just that – keep getting better, no matter the result."
 
Lance Ware provided a critical lift off the bench, providing six rebounds and three blocked shots as part of a 28-0 bench scoring advantage for the 'Cats.
 
"I'm just happy we won," said Ware afterward. "We played Villanova Basketball and got the W."