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Providence (10-11) vs. (24) Villanova (12-5)
Villanova suffered its worst loss ever at the Pavilion last season against Providence.
The 24th-ranked Wildcats look to avenge that defeat Saturday when they host the Friars, who are still seeking their first Big East victory of this season.
The Wildcats (12-5, 4-4) lead the all-time series 45-34, including a 24-11 mark at home. But the Friars (10-11, 0-7) have won three of their last six visits to the Pavilion, including a 100-74 blowout victory last Feb. 11.
Providence shot a season-high 60.8 percent to post its largest margin of victory in the series. It was also Villanova's worst loss in the 18-year history of the Pavilion.
Ryan Gomes led Providence with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Donnie McGrath also scored 23 on 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. The Friars, just the second opponent ever to score 100 points at the Pavilion, set a team record in a Big East game by making 15 3-pointers.
The Friars went 11-5 in league play last season for a third-place finish, but have yet to post a Big East victory this year.
The Wildcats are enjoying their best season during coach Jay Wright's four-year tenure. They made their first appearance in the Top 25 in seven years Monday after posting three straight impressive wins, including an upset of then-No. 2 Kansas on Jan. 22.
Villanova's defense has improved this season. It ranks in the top five in the league in scoring defense (60.6 points per game), field-goal percentage defense (.388), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.312), steals (8.2) and blocks (6.2).
However, the Wildcats allowed Connecticut to shoot 51 percent in an 81-76 road loss to the 23rd-ranked Huskies on Wednesday. Sophomore guard Mike Nardi scored a season-high 20 points and had a career-best six 3-pointers while top scorer Allan Ray and Randy Foye added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Allan, a junior guard, has been red-hot in conference play, averaging 19.4 points and shooting 45 percent from 3-point range.
Villanova took the first meeting from Providence this season with an 83-78 overtime win on Jan. 11. Gomes had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Providence, which set a team record with 16 blocks. The 6-foot-7 senior forward is second in the league in scoring (20.0) and third in rebounding (8.5).
Providence, 0-6 against ranked opponents this season, snapped a seven-game losing streak overall with a 98-79 win over Virginia in its last non-conference game of the season.
McGrath tied an NCAA record for 3-point shooting percentage in one game, going 9-for-9 from beyond the arc. He finished with a career-high 27 points. The junior guard is 20-of-27 (74.1) from 3-point range in the last four games.
The Friars lead the league in steals (9.1) and are second in blocks (6.5).
Providence (10-11) vs. (24) Villanova (12-5)
Villanova suffered its worst loss ever at the Pavilion last season against Providence.
The 24th-ranked Wildcats look to avenge that defeat Saturday when they host the Friars, who are still seeking their first Big East victory of this season.
The Wildcats (12-5, 4-4) lead the all-time series 45-34, including a 24-11 mark at home. But the Friars (10-11, 0-7) have won three of their last six visits to the Pavilion, including a 100-74 blowout victory last Feb. 11.
Providence shot a season-high 60.8 percent to post its largest margin of victory in the series. It was also Villanova's worst loss in the 18-year history of the Pavilion.
Ryan Gomes led Providence with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Donnie McGrath also scored 23 on 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. The Friars, just the second opponent ever to score 100 points at the Pavilion, set a team record in a Big East game by making 15 3-pointers.
The Friars went 11-5 in league play last season for a third-place finish, but have yet to post a Big East victory this year.
The Wildcats are enjoying their best season during coach Jay Wright's four-year tenure. They made their first appearance in the Top 25 in seven years Monday after posting three straight impressive wins, including an upset of then-No. 2 Kansas on Jan. 22.
Villanova's defense has improved this season. It ranks in the top five in the league in scoring defense (60.6 points per game), field-goal percentage defense (.388), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.312), steals (8.2) and blocks (6.2).
However, the Wildcats allowed Connecticut to shoot 51 percent in an 81-76 road loss to the 23rd-ranked Huskies on Wednesday. Sophomore guard Mike Nardi scored a season-high 20 points and had a career-best six 3-pointers while top scorer Allan Ray and Randy Foye added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Allan, a junior guard, has been red-hot in conference play, averaging 19.4 points and shooting 45 percent from 3-point range.
Villanova took the first meeting from Providence this season with an 83-78 overtime win on Jan. 11. Gomes had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Providence, which set a team record with 16 blocks. The 6-foot-7 senior forward is second in the league in scoring (20.0) and third in rebounding (8.5).
Providence, 0-6 against ranked opponents this season, snapped a seven-game losing streak overall with a 98-79 win over Virginia in its last non-conference game of the season.
McGrath tied an NCAA record for 3-point shooting percentage in one game, going 9-for-9 from beyond the arc. He finished with a career-high 27 points. The junior guard is 20-of-27 (74.1) from 3-point range in the last four games.
The Friars lead the league in steals (9.1) and are second in blocks (6.5).
