Villanova Preview: Will Wildcats or Huskies Bounce Back?

The Villanova Wildcats will take on UConn at Hartford’s XL Center starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Both teams look to rebound from hideous losses, with Villanova falling 75-62 to an injury ridden Providence team on Saturday, Feb. 15. That same day, the Huskies lost a heartbreaker to the pitiful Seton Hall Pirates, who occupy the No. 212 spot in the NET rankings.

Facing always-fiery UConn head coach Dan Hurley and his talented (if inconsistent) team, the Wildcats might end up on the wrong end of a revenge game, especially because they beat the Huskeis back in Janaury. Right now, ESPN Analytics gives Villanova (15-11, 8-7 Big East) just a 22.9 percent chance of picking up the road win. The point spread sits at -9.5 in the Huskies’ favor, the money line at -550 for UConn (+380 for Villanova) and the over/under at a relatively low 137.5.

With their hopes of an at-large bid dwindling ever-closer to zero after that backbreaking loss to Providence, the Wildcats will need a win, however improbable, to keep their season alive. Their 68-66 home victory over UConn counted as a top ten win at the time, but the Huskies — since fallen out of the AP Poll — played that game without talented freshman Liam McNeeley, now back in the lineup.

The Wildcats occupy the No. 54 and No. 55 spots in the NET rankings and KenPom ratings, respectively; UConn at No. 35 and No. 36.

Where to Watch; Who to Watch

FS1 will broadcast this matchup. Shooting guard Solo Ball is the Huskies highest qualifying scorer with 14.8 points per game, but Liam McNeeley (15.1), limited to just 17 games this season, actually takes first place in the category. Forward Alex Karaban who, like Villanova star Eric Dixon, remains in the mix for national honors like the Wooden and Oscar Robertson Awards, rounds out the trio of Huskies in double digits with 14.5 points per game.

Center Tarris Reed Jr. leads Connecticut with 6.8 rebounds per game, playing just 19.5 minutes a night in Hurley’s small-ball heavy system; point guard Hassan Diara leads in assists (6.0) and steals (1.5) while Karaban’s 1.7 blocks per game pace the team.

On the other end of the court, Dixon leads Villanova and the nation with an average of 23.2 points per game. Wooga Poplar leads in rebounds (6.5) and steals (1.4); Jhamir Brickus posts a team high 5.3 assists per game, while big man Enoch Boakye contributes 0.7 blocks per game, once again in limited minutes.

Last time around, Dixon fell into a rut early, with Poplar stepping up in a big way, posting 18 points to help the Wildcats stay in the game in the first half. Dixon caught fire after halftime, however, going on to drop 23 points. Ball led the Huskies with 16 points in that game, although they had four players hit double digits.