VILLANOVA, Pa., - Virginia, ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll released earlier this week, comes to Finneran Pavilion Thursday night to meet Villanova in an exhibition match-up.

Tickets remain available for this game and can be purchased here.
 
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. There will be an audio-only broadcast on the Villanova Sports Radio Network with Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby on the call.
 
This marks the third and final preseason tune-up for the Wildcats. Villanova held off Rutgers 77-75 in Piscataway, N.J. on Oct. 11 and then pulled away from George Mason in the second half last Saturday to post an 84-67 triumph.
 
Forward Devin Royal (Columbus, Ohio) has excelled in both outings thus far. The Ohio State transfer has averaged 22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per outing while converting 16-of-27 field goal attempts.
 
Guard Tyler Perkins (Lorton, Va.) has been impactful too. The guard scored all of his 20 points against the Patriots in the second half and averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest in the two exhibition matchups. Perkins led Nova in scoring last season at 13.7 points per game and was named the BIG EAST Most Improved Player.
 
"The more years you are at a job," said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard, who led the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the helm in 2025-26, "
the better chance you will have to retain players from one year to the next. After year one, having one of your best players come back is (big)."
 
The head coach also noted another key returnee from 2025-26, Matt Hodge. Hodge continues to progress after tearing the ACL in his knee on Feb. 28 at St. John's. There is no timetable for a return to full basketball activities, but Willard expressed optimism that the 6-8 native of Limberg, Belgium will be back to help the Wildcats at some point in 2026-27.
 
 "Matt had such a great freshman year," Willard said. "I feel bad that not enough people are talking about the year he had. But having Matt and Perk back helps. It helps in culture, it helps in practice, it helps in what we do before a game. Everyone (else) is trying to learn something brand new. We have 10 new guys trying to learn how we do stuff."
 
Villanova has also played without another key forward in its two exhibition games: forward Kwame Evans Jr. The Oregon transfer has not been in uniform due to a left leg injury. His status remains day-to-day.
 
Willard has substituted liberally as he tinkers with lineups on a roster rich in college experience. Transfer guards Jake Fiegen (Cornell) and Darryl Simmons II (St. Bonaventure) were part of the starting lineup against George Mason. Elijah Crawford and Adam Oumiddoch got the starting nod in the opener against the Scarlet Knights.
 
"I think this is one of my most versatile teams," Willard stated. "I like the fact that I can post up Perk, Dev and Luigi (Suigo). KJ (Evans) when he gets back. I'm still trying to figure out what the best lineups are. I love the fact that we have guys that can shoot it at all four spots and post up pretty much at all four spots. I think it's an advantage."
 
Following this contest, the Wildcats will turn their full attention to the season opener at the Eternal City Tip-Off against Notre Dame on Sunday, Nov. 1 in Rome.