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Butler at Villanova preview

Butler at VillanovaSaturday at 2:30 p.m., the Pavilion TV/Radio: Fox 29, WTEL-AM ( 610). Records: Villanova, 23-3 overall, 12-1 Big East, ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press; Butler, 18-8, 7-7.

Butler at Villanova

Saturday at 2:30 p.m., the Pavilion

TV/Radio: Fox 29, WTEL-AM ( 610).

Records: Villanova, 23-3 overall, 12-1 Big East, ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press; Butler, 18-8, 7-7.

On Butler: The Bulldogs knocked down a season-high 13 three-point baskets in an 88-75 home victory over Creighton, their fourth win in their last five games. Austin Etherington came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points.

On Villanova: Josh Hart shot 10 for 15 from the floor, scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead Villanova to a 60-55 victory over Butler on Jan. 10 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. On Wednesday, freshman Jalen Brunson ignored the boos and the insults to score a career-high 25 points and lift the visiting Wildcats to an 83-67 win over Temple, clinching the outright Big Five title for 'Nova.

Insights

The Bulldogs are a sound offensive team. They lead the Big East in scoring (80.8 points per game), field goal percentage (46.9), three-point percentage (37.8) and fewest turnovers (10.3). . . . Villanova's Daniel Ochefu continues to impress since his return to the lineup following a concussion, averaging 17.3 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 78.6 percent from the floor. . . . Butler's Kellen Dunham tops the Big East with 65 three-point baskets and also shoots 86 percent from the free-throw line. . . . Senior Roosevelt Jones, who runs the point for Butler, picked up the first three-point basket of his career last month at Marquette - a three-quarter court shot that swished through at the buzzer. . . . The Wildcats have two more home games remaining but decided to hold Senior Day on Saturday because it's the last home game to be played with students on campus. The last two home games - March 1 vs. DePaul at the Pavilion and March 6 vs. Georgetown at the Wells Fargo Center - will be held during spring break.

- Joe Juliano