It is the final home game for Villanova basketball and a must win. Keep reading for a full Villanova vs Butler prediction and preview.
Villanova went on the road in the previous matchup this season against Butler. The Wildcats closed the game on a 22-1 run to come from behind and defeat the Bulldogs, 73-65. Villanova forward Eric Dixon had 28 points alongside an 18-point, 15-rebound, double-double from guard Wooga Poplar.
General Information:
Teams: Villanova (17-12, 10-8 Big East) and Butler (13-15, 6-11 Big East)
Tip-Off Time: Noon EST
Watch: FOX
Listen: Villanova Sports Radio Network
Latest on Butler basketball:
Butler is a team the Wildcats cannot underestimate. The Bulldogs showed that they can play solid basketball in the previous meeting this season. However, Butler did collapse at the end of the game which cost them a win.
Senior guard Jahmyl Telfort was a problem in the earlier season game against Villanova. In the first half, he had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and was 2-2 from three.
Telfort is averaging 16 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season.
Butler also has size in the paint. Senior center Andre Screen averages a team-leading six rebounds for the Bulldogs. His seven-foot frame is something teams need to prepare for, especially Villanova, who as of late has run a decent amount of small lineups.
Butler struggles to force turnovers with its opponents averaging 7.6 turnovers per contest.
What the Bulldogs do well is three-point shooting. Their perimeter shooting is led by senior forward Patrick McCaffery. He currently averages 40.1% from three. As of late he has quieted down, however, shooting just 15.4% from three over his last four games.
Butler ranks 47th in offensive efficiency and 128th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom’s advanced metrics.
Latest on Villanova basketball:
With March Madness right around the corner, Villanova is fighting desperately to find a bid for the first time since 2022. For the Wildcats to see the NCAA Tournament, a lot of work needs to happen.
The first path is through an at-large bid, which is a very narrow chance. Villanova would need to win out the two regular season games that remain (Butler and Georgetown).
Right now, the team currently holds the six seed in the Big East Tournament bracket. The top five teams in the Big East get a first round bye in the tournament. To earn the fifth seed and a bye, Villanova needs to win its last two games and Xavier needs to lose one of its last three games.
Villanova could take the easy path of winning the Big East Tournament and earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
For the game in front of the Wildcats, they need to get an offense that can play efficiently for a full 40 minutes of basketball.
That can be propped up by Dixon who is coming off a 32-point performance in Villanova’s win over Seton Hall. He currently is averaging a nation-leading 23.3 points per game.
Another piece to the puzzle is Poplar. He has adapted into a new form after departing the University of Miami, collecting six double-doubles this season.
Poplar is averaging 16.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 steals over his last eight games. In seven of those games, he scored double digits.
When it comes to shooting from beyond the arc, Villanova is one of the best teams in the country. The Wildcats currently average 40.2% on three-pointers, which is the third-best three-point percentage in the nation.Â
The three-point ball was a difference maker in the team’s 81-66 win over then-ranked No. 16 Marquette. In that game, senior guard Jhamir Brickus was at one point a perfect 5-5 on three-pointers. The Wildcats finished the game shooting 15-26 from beyond the arc.