VILLANOVA, Pa. – A Sunday matinee helping of BIG EAST basketball is set for Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center as Villanova (13-10 overall, 6-6 BIG EAST) and Xavier (14-9 overall, 6-6 BIG EAST) play a key game with an eye towards next month's BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
 
Tipoff for this pre-Super Bowl Sunday clash is set for noon. FS1 will carry the national broadcast with John Fanta and Jim Spanarkel on site to call the action. Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby will be on the Villanova Sports Network on IHeart with the audio call (Fox Sports Philadelphia and Sirius XM channel 382).
 
The Wildcats knocked off DePaul 59-49 on Wednesday night. It marked a second consecutive excellent performance at the defensive end, an area of intense focus for players and staff over the first two thirds of the 2024-25 regular season. In its last two outings, the 'Cats have surrendered just 55.5 points per game.
 
One of the cornerstones of that effort is forward Enoch Boakye, a shot-blocker whose presence can play a huge role on the interior. The Fresno State transfer collected 10 rebounds at DePaul, his sxith double digit carom effort this season a team-high 6.5 rebounds per outing this season and the Wildcats are 5-1 when he grabs double digit rebounds in a game.
 
"DePaul really tries to spread you out to make plays," stated Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune. "I thought he was able to stay in front of guys when he got switched on to them and force them into some tough shots. He rebounded as well. It was a great job by Enoch."
 
Indeed, in Villanova's primary defensive structure, switches are common. Being able to help contain guards nearly a half foot shooter with quickness, can be a tall order for a forward of Boakye's size. Yet the Ontario native has held up well in that role.
 
Boakye is also connecting on .577 of his field goal attempts and has started all 23 of the Wildcats' contest this season. The 6-10 forward averages 21.1 minutes and 3.9 points per outing.
 
The Wildcats and Musketeers met last month at the Cintas Center. Villanova held a 58-55 lead before a four-point play by Ryan Conwell with 1:40 remaining in the game ignited a 14-5 burst that decided the contest. Conwell scored 34 points that night, the most points scored by a Villanova opponent this season.
 
For Villanova, fifth year forward Eric Dixon is on the cusp of passing a group of Wildcats' legends on the program's all-time points list. Dixon (2,022) trails John Pinone (2,024), Allan Ray (2,025), Howard Porter (2.026) and Doug West (2,037). He enters the weekend ranked ninth on the all-time list.
 
This is the first of two BIG EAST home games for the Wildcats in the coming days. Villanova will host No. 12 St. John's Wednesday night at Finneran Pavilion (6 p.m./FS1 and the Villanova Sports Network on IHeart).