Villanova basketball heads to Cincinnati to take on Xavier. Keep reading for the Villanova vs Xavier prediction and preview.
General Information:
Teams: Villanova (11-6, 4-2 Big East) and Xavier (10-7, 2-4 Big East)
Tip-Off Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
Watch: FS1
Listen: Villanova Sports Radio Network
Latest on Xavier basketball:
Xavier started its season with six consecutive games. Things looked up for a team with a 16-18 overall record last season. Now the Musketeers have lost seven of their previous 11 games.
Graduate forward Zach Freemantle presents a challenge for Villanova. Fremantle leads Xavier in scoring and rebounding with 17.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He missed Xavier’s first three Big East games due to a lower-body injury.
Since his return from injury, Fremantle has a team-leading 19.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. He is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 77-63 win over DePaul on Saturday, Jan. 11. Freemantle entered the game off the bench for the Musketeers.
Xavier is an elite free throw shooting team, averaging 79% from the charity stripe. The only team that outperforms Xavier on free throws is Villanova (79.6%). The Musketeers lead the Big East in free throws per game (20.3).
This could present an issue for Villanova if it continues to get into foul trouble. In the Wildcats 80-68 loss against St. John’s, they set a season-high of 29 personal fouls.
Per KenPom analytics, Xavier ranks 54th offensively and 60th defensively.
Latest on Villanova basketball:
Last week, Villanova took down then-ranked No. 9 UConn, 68-66, and lost to St. John’s, 80-68.
Villanova is battling for its first appearance in the NCAA tournament. According to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the Wildcats currently have a 50-50 chance to make the tournament.
Villanova must win games where they have the talent to outperform its opponent, like Xavier. A win tonight would be a Quad 1 win for the Wildcats.
Senior Wooga Poplar was recognized by college basketball reporter John Fanta in his “Fanta Five” for his against St. John’s. Poplar scored his 1,000th career point while dropping 22 points. Poplar has been increasingly better since the start of the season.
Through Big East play, Poplar is averaging 16.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. He is 56.7% on field goals and 45.8% on three-pointers.
Villanova needs to play a game with strong defense from start to finish and limit fouls. Currently, the Wildcat’s defense is ranked 177th by KenPom. The offense, however, is ranked 11th in the country.