Villanova aims to build upon the momentum of a signature Big East win when it returns to the road to start a two-game New England swing at Providence on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (15-10, 8-6) aim for a fourth consecutive win and a season sweep of Providence after riding another hot shooting effort to a 73-71 win Wednesday over No. 9 St. John’s.
Led by a 22-point performance by Wooga Poplar and three other double-figure scorers, Villanova has now shot at least 50 percent in back-to-back games and a total of 10 times this season. Sophomore Tyler Perkins netted the game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds left.
“I’m just more glad we got the win,” Perkins said. “If it was me shooting, Eric (Dixon) shooting, it doesn’t matter. We got the win.”
The nation’s leading scorer (23.5 points per game), Dixon has had plenty of action himself and has produced double-digit points in every game this season after a 17-point night to help end the Red Storm’s 10-game win streak.
But the attention he has garnered inside is opening up others.
“I think we have a big-time team,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “I think our guys know that on any given day we come out, we play harder together, we can win.”
The Friars (11-14, 5-9) have battled the injury bug amidst a recent four-game skid, which continued Wednesday with a 91-82 home loss to Xavier.
The latest player sidelined was Corey Floyd Jr., who was in concussion protocol following a car accident near campus earlier this week. The bench also includes Jabri Abdur-Rahim and Bryce Hopkins, both sidelined with season-ending knee injuries.
“I can’t control a hit-and-run car accident. I can’t control Wesley Cardet’s IT band. I can’t control Bryce’s situation. I can’t control (Christ Essandoko’s) illness. I can’t control Jabri’s meniscus,” Providence coach Kim English said. “The only thing we can control is our preparation every day.”
English hopes that his Friars move past a frustrating loss and attack the final stretch.
Despite Floyd’s absence, five players scored in double figures as Providence shot 53.7 percent against Xavier, including Bensley Joseph and Justyn Fernandez with 15 points apiece. The Friars were done in by a 29-7 first-half run and a woeful 2-of-10 mark from the foul line.
“Even still without Corey, I still think we had enough if we’re disciplined, if we play the right way,” English said.
–Field Level Media
