Villanova will try to keep the momentum going from a big Big East win when they hit the road for a two-game trip through New England, starting with Providence on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (15-10, 8-6) are aiming for their fourth straight win and a season sweep of Providence after a 73-71 victory over No. 9 St. John’s on Wednesday, thanks to another strong shooting performance.
Wooga Poplar led the team with 22 points, and three other players scored in double figures. Villanova has now shot over 50 percent in two consecutive games and has done so 10 times this season. Sophomore Tyler Perkins hit the game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds left.
“I’m just more glad we got the win,” Perkins said. “If it was me shooting, Eric (Dixon) shooting, it doesn’t matter. We got the win.”
Dixon, who leads the nation in scoring with 23.5 points per game, has been consistent all season and scored 17 points to help end St. John’s 10-game win streak.
However, the attention Dixon is getting inside is opening up opportunities for other players.
“I think we have a big-time team,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “I think our guys know that on any given day we come out, we play harder together, we can win.”
Providence (11-14, 5-9) has struggled with injuries during their recent four-game losing streak, which continued on Wednesday with a 91-82 home loss to Xavier.
Providence and Georgetown (NCAAB)The latest injury was to Corey Floyd Jr., who is in concussion protocol after a car accident near campus earlier in the week. The bench also includes Jabri Abdur-Rahim and Bryce Hopkins, both out for the season with knee injuries.
“I can’t control a hit-and-run car accident. I can’t control Wesley Cardet’s IT band. I can’t control Bryce’s situation. I can’t control (Christ Essandoko’s) illness. I can’t control Jabri’s meniscus,” Providence coach Kim English said. “The only thing we can control is our preparation every day.”
English hopes his team can move past the tough loss and focus on the final stretch of games.
Despite Floyd’s absence, five players scored in double figures for Providence, who shot 53.7 percent against Xavier, including Bensley Joseph and Justyn Fernandez with 15 points each. The Friars struggled due to a 29-7 run by Xavier in the first half and a poor 2-of-10 performance from the free-throw line.
“Even still without Corey, I still think we had enough if we’re disciplined, if we play the right way,” English said.
