City Six rundown: Villanova tops in three-point defense

Darryl Reynolds (who is listed as day to day) has missed the last three games with a rib injury, and the Wildcats, a team with minimal depth, have won all three. One factor is that Villanova has shot better than its opponents from three-point range in all three games.

In a 73-57 win at Xavier, Villanova shot 9 of 24 (37.5 percent) from three-point range, while the hosts were 6 of 21 (28.6). In the 75-62 win at DePaul, the Wildcats were 7 of 20 (35 percent), while the Blue Demons were 8 of 26 (30.8 percent).

In Saturday's 92-70 win over host Seton Hall, Villanova shot 12 of 21 (57.1 percent), while the Pirates were 7 of 24 (29.2 percent).

Kris Jenkins leads the Wildcats in three-point percentage (40.3 percent), and in the last three games he is 10 of 18 (55.5 percent).

While Villanova is fourth in the Big East in three- point percentage (37.8 percent), it leads in three-point defense (30.5 percent).

COMING UP

Wednesday vs. Butler, 9 p.m.

Saturday vs. Creighton, 3 p.m.

Damion Moore, a 6-foot-11 freshman, has made the most of his recent playing time. Moore, who didn't play in 13 games because of coach's decision, started the last three games and is averaging 8.3 points in 16.6 minutes. In Sunday's 64-63 loss to Connecticut, he hit all five field goals while scoring a season-high 11 points.

"I'm not really worried about my offense or defense. I am just worried about winning," Moore said.

He has given the offense a boost. Even though Moore hasn't attempted a three-point field goal, he has a nice medium-range jumper.

"Damion is continuing to get better," coach Fran Dunphy said.

He is averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11 minutes a game.

COMING UP

Wednesday vs. Central Florida, 7 p.m.

Saturday vs. Tulane, noon

One of the bright spots in a difficult season for the Dragons has been the play of freshman point guard Kurk Lee, who is second on the team in scoring, averaging 15 points per game. Lee is also averaging 5.1 assists in 32.6 minutes. Both figures lead the team.

"Kurk is a good basketball player, and there is no coverage he hasn't seen that he can't handle," coach Zach Spiker said recently.

Lee has not hit the freshman wall. In fact, he has played some of his best basketball down the stretch. During the last seven games, he has averaged 19.5 points. Included were consecutive games of a season high of 25 points against William and Mary and Towson to begin this seven-game stretch.

COMING UP

Thursday vs. James Madison, 7 p.m.

Saturday at the College of Charleston, 5 p.m.

After he missed six games with a lower leg bruise, La Salle has eagerly welcomed back Pookie Powell. The Explorers went 2-4 without the redshirt sophomore point guard.

He had nine points in 16 minutes in last Wednesday's 83-65 loss at St. Bonaventure, his first game back. In Saturday's 83-68 win over St. Joseph's, he had 13 points in 26 minutes.

"The first game back he was just getting his feet wet, and I didn't expect him to be his normal self," La Salle coach John Giannini said.

Giannini added that Powell was his normal self in the St. Joseph's win. "We were a plus-27 [points] when he was on the court," Giannini said.

Giannini said Powell makes the Explorers a much different team.

"He is one of the top assist-to-turnover guys in the country and one of the top scorers in the Atlantic Ten, and those guys don't grow on trees," Giannini said.

Entering Tuesday's game against Rhode Island, Powell was averaging 13.1 points and leading the A-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8).

COMING UP

Sunday at Massachusetts, 1 p.m.

After losing point guards (and leading scorers) Shavar Newkirk and Lamarr Kimble to season-ending injuries, the Hawks have 6-foot-6 freshman Nick Robinson is running the point.

Robinson had seven points and four assists in 37 minutes in his first game replacing Kimble, a 91-81 loss at VCU, and 10 points and one assists in 33 minutes in Saturday's loss to La Salle.

"He sees himself as a player, not a freshman," coach Phil Martelli said about Robinson, who is from Chicago.

What helped is that Robinson had substantial playing time before replacing Kimble, who is out with a broken foot. Robinson has started 15 games and appeared in all 26, and is averaging 5.4 points and 1.7 assists in 23.3 minutes.

COMING UP

Wednesday vs. St. Bonaventure, 7 p.m.

Saturday at St. Louis, 4:30 p.m.

Junior point guard Darnell Foreman has been a stabilizing force for the Quakers, who have won four in a row and are tied with Columbia for the fourth and final Ivy League playoff spot with four games to go. Foreman is third on the team in minutes played (23.0 per game) and is averaging 8.5 points and 3.1 assists.

"Darnell had his ups and downs early. But over last month and a half, he has really been solid on both sides of the ball," Penn coach Steve Donahue said. "He's making plays when we need them and is really having a good year."

COMING UP

Friday at Cornell, 7 p.m.

Saturday at Columbia, 7 p.m.