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VILLANOVA, Pa. – The resumption of a classic old school BIG EAST rivalry is on tap Saturday, when Villanova (7-2 overall, 0-0 BIG EAST) hosts Pittsburgh (5-5 overall, 0-0 ACC) at 4:30 p.m. at Finneran Pavilion.
A limited supply of tickets remain available and can be purchased by clicking the link at the top of this page.
The Wildcats had their seven-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night at the home of the red hot, No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (9-0). Michigan gained control early before a sold out Crisler Center and went on to post an 89-61 victory.
Villanova got back to work at a practice Thursday in Finneran Pavilion. The Wildcats were limited to 21-of-62 shooting from the field (.339) and a season-low 61 points.
“Everyone talks about their offense,” noted Villanova head coach Kevin Willard after the game, “but it’s their defense that really stood out to me.”
Villanova stands at No. 39 in the advanced metrics calculated by Ken Pomeroy at kenpom.com (118.3 points per 100 possessions). Those numbers point to an efficient offense that ran into a team playing elite defense with quickness, length and is “really connected” in Willard’s estimation.
Graduate transfer guard Devin Askew led VU with 18 points and has averaged 17.5 points per outing over his last two contests. Freshman guard Acaden Lewis, the BIG EAST’s assist leader at 5.6 apg, noted the value of mentorship Askew provides as one of the few veterans on the Villanova roster.
“He’s a fifth-year guy who’s played a lot of college basketball,” Lewis noted. “He’s really been helpful to me, giving me tips and being a resource for any questions I may have.”
Villanova will have a host of holiday themed components to Saturday’s game.
Fans attending the game can bring new unwrapped toys that will be donated to CityTeam, a Chester based organization that provides clothing and support to those in need. The Wildcats volunteered at CityTeam as part of Villanova’s Day of Service in September and several team members will help deliver the toys collected to the organization next week.
In addition, photos with Santa will be available prior to the game on the concourse level of Finneran Pavilion near the display honoring the 1985 NCAA national championship.
Pitt and Villanova were BIG EAST rivals from 1982-2013, when the Panthers departed for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt owns a 33-32 edge in the series and won the last six meetings between the programs. Villanova’s last victory, however, was a memorable one, coming in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, when Scottie Reynolds sank a game-winning basket in the final second that lifted the ‘Cats to a 78-76 win and a spot in the 2009 NCAA Final Four in Detroit.
Villanova is slated to visit Pittsburgh next season.
TruTV will carry the broadcast nationally with play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen, analyst Greg Anthony and sideline reporter Autumn Johnson courtside. The Villanova Sports Radio Network broadcast will be handled by Scott Graham – filling in for Ryan Fannon, who is on the call for Villanova Football’s FCS quarterfinal clash earlier Saturday at Tarleton State – and Whitey Rigsby.
Exam week begins Saturday at Villanova and the Wildcats will be idle following this contest until Friday evening, when they meet Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Hoops Showdown (8 p.m. on Fox) in their final non-conference regular season non-conference matchup.
