Villanova-Providence preview

Villanova at Providence

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Wednesday at 7 p.m., Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, R.I.

TV/radio: FoxSports1; WTEL-AM (610).

Records: Villanova, 20-2, ranked No. 4 in Associated Press poll; Providence, 14-9, 4-6.

Coaches: Villanova, Jay Wright (16th season, 374-159; overall, 496-244); Providence, Ed Cooley (6th season, 111-76; overall 209-145).

Series: Villanova leads, 60-37.

Last meeting: Villanova defeated Providence, 78-68, on Jan. 21 at the Wells Fargo Center.

Points per game: Villanova, 77.5; Providence, 70.3.

Opponents PPG: Villanova, 62.5; Providence, 66.2.

Providence probable starters

G Kyron Cartwright, 5-11, Jr., 10.8 ppg., 6.9 apg.; G Jalen Lindsey, 6-7, Jr., 10.7 ppg.; G Alpha Diallo, 6-7, Fr., 3.9 ppg.; F Emmitt Holt, 6-7, Jr., 12.6 ppg., 5.7 rpg.; F Rodney Bullock, 6-8, Jr., 17.3 ppg., 6.1 rpg.

Key reserves

G Isaiah Jackson, 6-6, So., 4.8 ppg.; G Ryan Fazekas, 6-6, So., 3.7 ppg.; F Kalif Young, 6-9, Fr., 3.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg.

Villanova probable starters

G Josh Hart, 6-5 ½, Sr., 18.7 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 3.4 apg.; G Jalen Brunson, 6-2 ½, So., 14.2 ppg., 4.2 apg; G/F Mikal Bridges, 6-7, R-So., 10.5 ppg., 4.9 rpg.; F Kris Jenkins, 6-6, Sr., 13.5 ppg., 4.1 rpg.; F Darryl Reynolds, 6-9, Sr., 5.6 ppg., 5.5 rpg.

Key reserves

G Donte DiVincenzo, 6-5, R-Fr., 7.2 ppg.; F Eric Paschall, 6-7, So., 6.7 ppg., 3.8 rpg.

About Providence: The Friars did something Saturday that Villanova couldn't do a few days earlier, and that was go to Milwaukee and beat Marquette. . . . Cartwright, who is second in the Big East in assists, led his team with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. . . . Fazekas, a deep sub who hasn't shot well from three-point distance this season, knocked down a three from deep in the win. . . . In their previous game against Villanova, the Friars shot just 37.5 percent from inside the arc (9 of 24) but drilled 13 three-point baskets in 26 attempts. . . . Lindsey is the team's primary deep threat, shooting 49 percent from beyond the arc and making 51 threes.

About Villanova: The Wildcats dug deep in a second-half rally from a 13-point deficit against No. 12 Virginia, and won the game 61-59 on Donte DiVincenzo's tip-in at the buzzer. . . . After shooting 18 percent in the first half against the Cavaliers, the Cats singed the nets for 72 percent in the second alf and made all six of their three-point attempts. . . . Brunson and Bridges led the Wildcats with 15 points each. . . . Jenkins, who is averaging almost three three-pointers per game, is just 2-of-17 from deep in his last two games. . . . Last year's game at the Dunk, a 72-60 'Nova victory, was a memorable one for Reynolds, who scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in relief of the injured Daniel Ochefu.

- Joe Juliano

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