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Amid a rocky start to the season, Villanova coach Kyle Neptune saw his team’s defense strengthen during Tuesday’s 93-49 home win over Pennsylvania.

“I thought we were way more cohesive than we’ve been,” Neptune said. “Guys were together, they were talking. I thought our switches were better.”

The improved chemistry comes at a critical time for the Wildcats (3-3), who face a high-powered Maryland squad at the Empire Classic on Sunday afternoon in Newark, N.J.

Villanova stymied the Quakers to 26.9 percent shooting from the field and allowed its fewest points in a game this season. That came after the Wildcats let Virginia hit 14 of 25 3-pointers (56 percent) in the Cavaliers’ 70-60 win on Nov. 15 in Baltimore.

Neptune’s squad also enjoyed a strong game on Tuesday from Tyler Perkins, who tallied 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals in a spot start.

The Penn transfer has averaged 8.3 points across six games (two starts), but Neptune said the guard’s impact extends beyond the box score.

“(He’s) the ultimate competitor,” Neptune said. “From the first second he got on campus, he’s set the tone. No matter what team he’s on, you know he’s gonna bring it.”

Tuesday’s 44-point margin was Villanova’s most lopsided win this season, but the Terrapins (4-1) were even more dominant in their game Tuesday by blasting visiting Canisius by 71 points. All four of Maryland’s victories have come by at least 30.

Like the Wildcats, the Terrapins benefitted from a lineup change in their last game.

Coach Kevin Willard moved DeShawn Harris-Smith to the bench in favor of fellow guard Rodney Rice, who delivered 13 points and made three 3-pointers as Maryland rolled to a 108-37 win.

Rice has hit 12 of 27 from 3-point range this season to complement the post production of big men Derik Queen (15.0 points per game) and Julian Reese (12.2), a dynamic that has made the Terrapins tough to defend.

“I think we’re able to space the floor out a little bit better (with Rice),” Willard told Maryland’s student newspaper. “You have three (guards) who are ready to pull the trigger.”

Backcourt mates Ja’Kobi Gillespie (11-for-28) and Selton Miguel (5-for-20) are the Terrapins’ three most frequent 3-point shooters along with Rice.

–Field Level Media