VILLANOVA, Pa. – After a stirring comeback victory Wednesday evening at Butler, Villanova returns to BIG EAST action Saturday at Finneran Pavilion when DePaul (9-5 overall, 0-3 BIG EAST) pays a visit to the Main Line.
 
Tipoff is set for just after noon. The national television broadcast will be on FS1 (John Fanta and Wes Matthews) while the Villanova radio call can be heard on the Villanova Sports Network on IHeart (Fox Sports Radio Philadelphia and Sirius XM channel 389). Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby will describe the action from midcourt at Finneran Pavilion.
 
Both teams played Wednesday. The Blue Demons dropped an 81-68 decision to UConn at Wintrust Arena while the Wildcats scrambled back from 13 points down to post a 73-65 win over the Bulldogs at Hinkle Field House.
 
"I believe we got nine out of the last 10 stop opportunities," noted Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune of the effort against the Bulldogs. "Our defense got it done for us in a tough environment on the road. I was proud of the way our guys responded, down for a good amount of the second half. They kept coming.
 
"Our defense was the key and that's the type of team we want to be moving forward."
 
It was less a single strategic item, says Neptune, than it was a bit of collective progress.
 
"It's just each guy getting a little bit better, rebounding better and focusing on details just a little bit better than he was earlier," said Neptune. "Every bit of progress an individual makes defensively, that makes our team better."
 
Senior guard Wooga Poplar complemented Eric Dixon's 28 points with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Philadelphia native has been especially impactful at the offensive end in his last two outings.
 
"I think we've all got to understand that Wooga Poplar is a guy that didn't start playing competitive basketball until he was 16 years old," Neptune said. "Then he goes to a completely different system – a good system – at Miami where he was asked to do very different things. He comes in and just needs reps.
 
"This is one of the most talented players I've ever been around and that's saying a lot given the guys that we have had in this program. His speed, athleticism and shooting ability is as good as it gets. With his energy level defensively, the way he rebounds and can makes plays above the rim, he's going to continue to get better as the season goes. His growth will only help our team."
 
Poplar enters the weekend sixth in the BIG EAST in rebounding at 7.2 caroms per contest.
 
Another newcomer, Enoch Boakye, collected a season high 14 rebounds as part of an effort that saw the Wildcats outrebound the Bulldogs by 13 boards.
 
"Enoch is such a selfless player," said Neptune. "He's a guy that defends, rebounds and is happy for his teammates. When he's playing like that defensively and rebounding, it really helps us."
 
DePaul is led by first year head coach Chris Holtmann, who knows well the rigors of BIG EAST play from his stint leading Butler before he moved on to lead Ohio State. The Wildcats last faced a Holtmann led unit in the 2022 NCAA Tournament round of 32, with Nova prevailing 71-61 in Pittsburgh.
 
"They're a high-level offensive team that can make 3's," Neptune stated. "They play fast and pose a lot of problems for you defensively. We'll have our work cut out for us."