VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova jumps back into action on Wednesday night when it travels up the Pennsylvania and New Jersey turnpikes to meet Seton Hall at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Tipoff is set for just after 8:30 p.m.
FS1 will have the national television broadcast with John Fanta and Phil Martelli on the call. Ryan Fannon and
Whitey Rigsby will also be on site for the Villanova Sports Network on IHeart (Fox Sports Philadelphia).
The Wildcats (16-12 overall, 9-8) rank second nationally in 3-Point Field Goal percentage (.403) to Bradley (.411) and used the deep shot to great advantage in Friday's 81-66 win over No. 16 Marquette at the Wells Fargo Center. Villanova converted 7-of-9 from distance in the game's first 10 minutes, establishing a lead it never relinquished to the Golden Eagles. By night's end, the 'Cats were 15-of-26 from beyond the 3-point arc (.577).
"We can do that," said head coach
Kyle Neptune following the game.
Villanova also capitalized on another strength in that one, sinking 18-of-20 at the free throw line. The Wildcats, the nation's free throw percentage leaders in each of the past three seasons, began the week at No. 2 nationally in that category (.814), trailing only Wisconsin (.836).
While appreciative of those numbers, Neptune preferred to underscore a defensive effort that limited the potent Golden Eagles to 66 points.
"That was really the thing that allowed us to get going," he said.
The task now for the Wildcats is to build on that effort in the final three regular season outings. Two of those, including this one at the Hall (7-20 overall, 2-14 BIG EAST), will be on the road, where life is typically harder. For instance, the 'Cats have connected on .433 of their 3-point attempts in BIG EAST play at home, .365 in league games played away from home.
Defense, as the saying goes, travels. In the first meeting back on Dec. 17, the 'Cats held the Pirates to a .390 field goal percentage, including .353 from beyond the arc. That worked formed the foundation of an 80-68 triumph in the regular season conference opener at Finneran Pavilion.
Eric Dixon, the nation's leading scorer at 29.9 points per game, netted 25 points against the Pirates last time out. He enters this contest in fourth place all-time at Villanova in points scored (2,118), trailing only Keith Herron (2,170), Scottie Reynolds (2,222) and Kerry Kittles (2,243). Dixon was named to the weekly honor roll of both the BIG EAST and Philadelphia Big Five on Monday after playing a pivotal role in the win over Marquette.
This is the first of three games to be played in seven days for Nova. On Saturday, the Wildcats host Butler at Finneran Pavilion (noon, FS1 and the Villanova Sports Network on IHeart). Prior to the game "Senior Day" will be celebrated. Then, the 'Cats head to Washington, D.C., to close out the regular season on Tuesday night at Georgetown.
