Villanova hosts its final game until Jan. 4 against Seton Hall to kick off Big East play. Read more for a full Villanova vs Seton Hall prediction and preview.
General Information:
Teams: Villanova (7-4) and Seton Hall (5-6)
Tip-Off Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Watch: Peacock
Listen: Villanova Sports Radio Network or WXVU 89.1
Latest on Seton Hall basketball:
Seton Hall had a rough time in non-conference play. The Pirates are the only Big East team with a losing record at 5-6 overall.
Despite the record, the Pirates have held opposing offenses to 60 points a game, ranking them 12th in the country. Seton Hall’s strength is defense, and Villanova’s is offense.
Seton Hall only returned 18.7% of its scoring from the 2023-24 season.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman has led the Pirates in scoring, averaging 12 points a game. The Pirates only have two players averaging double-digits, in Coleman and Chaunce Jenkins. The team averages just 60.4 points per game. If the Pirates could score more offensively, more games would go their way.
The most impressive win of the non-conference schedule was an overtime 69-66 win against VCU on Nov. 21. However, since then, Seton Hall is just 2-4, including a loss to Monmouth.
Seton Hall ranks 237th in three-pointers attempted per game. That will benefit Villanova, who has struggled with three-point defense at times.
Latest on Villanova basketball:
Villanova is on a four-game winning streak. With a win tonight, Villanova would have its longest win streak since Nov. 2022.
Graduate forward Eric Dixon now leads the country in points per game, averaging 25.8 through 10 games. Dixon has played elite basketball through non-conference and is crucial to the Wildcat roster. His performances can make or break Villanova’s season.
In college basketball, it cannot always be a one-man show. Graduate guard Jhamir Brickus and senior guard Wooga Poplar are starting to turn into the players they are known to be. After a slow start to the season, Poplar was inconsistent from the three-point line, something he is not known to do.
Poplar stayed patient, averaging 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists through his last three games. He is 54% on three-pointers in the previous two games.
Poplar’s ability to play on the perimeter as well as the paint is key to the Wildcats game plan. It allows Dixon to have more opportunities to score when the defense has to defend some like Poplar. He leads the team in rebounding with 6.3 rebounds a game.
Brickus is Villanova’s first true point guard in the Kyle Neptune era. He can read things on the court before they happen.
Villanova averages 79.1 points per game. The Pirates’ defense will be a true test for the surging Wildcat offense.