Big Saturday of hoops
All six city teams are playing today. Interesting Big East game at Syracuse between Villanova and the Orange. Temple has a tough Atlantic 10 road game at Xavier. And there is a City Series game – Penn vs. Saint Joseph's at the Palestra.
Villanova (16-2, 4-1 Big East) at Syracuse (18-1, 5-1)
When: Noon
Where: Carrier Dome
TV: ESPN
Radio: ESPN (950-AM)
Notes: Both teams are coming off their first conference loss — Villanova at Connecticut and Syracuse at Pittsburgh. Villanova is 13-14 against the Orange at the Carrier Dome.Jay Wright's teams are9-5 vs. Syracuse. The Orange has two starters from Ss. Neumann-Goretti High, Rick Jackson and Scoop Jardine. Dion Walters also is from Philly via Burlington (N.J.) Life Center Academy. Walters and Jardine are cousins.
Northeastern (4-12, 0-7 CAA) at Drexel (11-6, 3-4)
When: 2 o'clock
Where: Daskalaskis Athletic Center
Radio: None
Notes: Dragons had only five second-half field goals in 71-47 loss at George Mason on Wednesday, had just one player in double figures, Chris Fouch, who scored 11 off the bench. Northeastern lost at Delaware, 54-52, on Wednesday.
La Salle (8-11, 0-4, A-10) at Rhode Island (12-6, 3-1)
When: 2 o'clock
Where: Ryan Center, Kingston, R.I.
Radio: WHAT (1340-AM)
Notes: Ruben Guillandeaux scored 24 points vs. Duquesne to surpass the 1,000-point mark, the 50th Explorer to do so. La Salle assistant coach Horace Owens is a Rhode Island graduate (1983) and a member of the school's Hall of Fame after scoring 1,750 career points.
Temple (13-4, 3-1 A-10) at Xavier (12-5, 4-0)
When: 3 o'clock
Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WPHT (1210-AM)
Notes: Owls are coming off 73-56 win over Penn. Temple leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense, allowing 59.4 points per game, and in field-goal defense (.392). Xavier is tied for first place with Duquesne. Junior Tu Holloway is second in conference in scoring (20.4 PPG), assists (5.3 per game).
Penn (5-8, 0-3 Big 5) vs. Saint Joseph's (5-13, 0-1)
When: 7 o'clock
Where: Palestra
Radio: ESPN (950-AM)
Notes: Hawks have lost five consecutive games. Quakers have lost 15 consecutive Big 5 games. This is the last chance for a city victory for Penn's seniors.