Villanova closes out its non-conference schedule with a home game against FDU. Read more for a full Villanova vs FDU prediction and preview.
General Information:
Teams: Villanova (6-4) and FDU (4-7)
Tip-Off Time: 7 p.m. EST
Watch: FS1
Listen: Villanova Sports Radio Network
Latest on FDU basketball:
The Knights are looking to start a winning streak coming off a 98-54 win over Leham. The win ended a three-game losing streak.
FDU averages 81.7 points per game with big, blowout wins over Purchase College and Leham. Its defense, however, allows the 345th-worst average of 80.5rage points per 80.5.
That is primarily because of FDU’s lack of size, with its tallest player being six-foot-six. It will be hard for the Knights to shut down Villanova’s versatile offense, let alone Wooga Poplar and Eric Dixon.
Sophomore guard Terrence Brown has scored double digits in all eleven games this season. He is currently averaging a team-leading 21.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
The Knights have shot 46.6% from the field and 38% on three-pointers.
Latest on Villanova basketball:
Villanova is playing all-around basketball after a rough start to the season. The Wildcats are on a three-game win streak with a huge win over Cincinnati and a Big 5 win over Temple.
The argument can be made that Villanova has the best forward if not player in the country. Graduate forward Eric Dixon is one of the most efficient players in the country, averaging 25.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and two assists.
Dixon is second in the country in points per game (25.7) and sixth in three-point percentage (54.1%). He has put himself into the running for Big East Player of the Year at minimum.
While Dixon is capable of doing it all, he has not done it alone. Senior Wooga Poplar has begun to find himself again after transferring from Miami. The six-foot-five guard is averaging 13 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game. In Villanova’s 94-65 win over Temple on Dec. 7, Poplar finished with 18 points hitting 50% of his field goals and 57.1% of his three-pointers.
If Villanova can shut down FDU’s Terrence Brown, it should be an easy win to end non-conference play.