VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova hosts its first regular season contest at its home away from home, the Wells Fargo Center, next Friday night (Jan. 17) against Providence and the night will feature a very special celebration.
 
At halftime, Villanova will honor the 40^th anniversary of its first NCAA national championship in 1985. Players and coaches from the epic moment in NCAA Tournament history highlighted by the stunning 66-64 victory over Georgetown on April 1, 1985, in the NCAA final, will be on hand for the event.
 
The lineup of expected guests include such Wildcats legends as Ed Pinckney, Dwayne McClain, Gary McLain, Harold Pressley and Harold Jensen along with members of the family of late coach Rollie Massimino (son R.C. Massimino was a member of the 1985 roster).
 
This game will also serve as a "White Out". Members of the Nova Nation attending this contest are encouraged to wear white in support of their Wildcats.
 
The 1984-85 Wildcats were presumed to be on the NCAA Tournament bubble prior to the announcement of the field after a nationally televised loss in the BIG EAST regular season finale at Pittsburgh. Villanova was selected but was awarded a No. 8 seed and a matchup with No. 9 seed Dayton – an NCAA Elite Eight team a year earlier – on its home court.
 
The Wildcats edged the Flyers 51-49, earning them a Sunday duel against No. 1 seed Michigan in the round of 32. A 59-55 win advanced the 'Cats to the regional, where they dispatched Atlantic Coast Conference stalwarts Maryland – with Len Bias – and North Carolina – with Brad Daugherty and Kenny Smith – to reach the school's first Final Four since 1971. They were joined there by Georgetown and St. John's, the first and only team one league has seen three members reach the grand stage of the tournament.
 
Villanova defeated Memphis State 52-45 to move on to Monday night, where the juggernaut of Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing, awaited. The Wildcats then authored what has been described as "the perfect game" connecting on .786 of their field goal attempts to shock the nation.
 
Friday night's battle is the first of four games Villanova will host at the Center. They will return on Saturday, Feb. 1 vs. Creighton; Sunday, Feb. 9 vs. Xavier; and Friday, Feb. 21 vs. Marquette.