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Villanova-Providence preview

Providence at Villanova Saturday at noon, Wells Fargo Center TV/Radio: Fox29; WTEL-AM (610). Records: Providence, 13-7, 3-4 Big East; Villanova, 18-1, 6-1, ranked No. 1.

Providence at Villanova

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Saturday at noon, Wells Fargo Center

TV/Radio: Fox29; WTEL-AM (610).

Records: Providence, 13-7, 3-4 Big East; Villanova, 18-1, 6-1, ranked No. 1.

Coaches: Providence, Ed Cooley (6th season, 116-74; overall, 208-143). Villanova, Jay Wright (16th season, 372-158; overall, 494-243).

Series: Villanova leads, 59-38.

Last meeting: The Wildcats defeated the Friars, 76-68, last March 11 in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament.

Points per game: Providence, 69.2; Villanova, 78.6.

Opponent points per game: Providence, 63.8; Villanova, 61.7.

Providence probable starters

G Kyron Cartwright, 5-11 Jr., 10.1 ppg., 7.1 apg.; G Jalen Lindsey, 6-7, Jr., 10.2 ppg.; G/F Alpha Diallo, 6-7, Fr., 3.2 ppg.; F Rodney Bullock, 6-8, Jr., 17.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg.; F Emmitt Holt, 6-7, Jr., 13.1 ppg., 5.8 rpg.

Key reserves: G Isaiah Jackson, 6-6, So., 4.5 ppg., 2.9 rpg.; F Kalif Young, 6-9, Fr., 3.9 ppg., 3.8 rpg.; G Maliek White, 2.5 ppg.

Villanova probable starters

G Jalen Brunson, 6-2 ½, So., 13.9 ppg., 4.2 apg; G Josh Hart, 6-5 ½, Sr., 18.8 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 3.6 apg.; G/F Mikal Bridges, 6-7, R-So., 9.5 ppg., 4.9 rpg.; F Kris Jenkins, 6-6, Sr., 14.1 ppg., 4.2 rpg.; F Darryl Reynolds, 6-9, Sr., 5.7 ppg., 5.4 rpg.

Key reserves: G Donte DiVincenzo, 6-5, R-Fr., 7.9 ppg., 3.3 rpg.; F Eric Paschall, 6-7, So., 7.4 ppg., 3.7 rpg.

About Providence: The Friars, who are 11-1 at home, picked up their first road win of the season in their most recent game, a 74-56 win Monday night at Georgetown. . . . Cartwright came up one rebound short of a triple double, finishing with 16 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. . . . Bullock is fourth in the Big East in scoring and first in minutes played (34.2 per game). . . . Holt, who began his playing career at Indiana, is a transfer from Indian Hills (Iowa) Junior College. . . . The Friars are second to Villanova in points allowed per game, and are one of the best in the league in forcing turnovers (14.4 per game). . . . Providence defeated the Wildcats, 82-76, in their game in South Philadelphia last year, led by 31 points from Ben Bentil and 14 assists from Kris Dunn.

About Villanova: The Wildcats cut their turnovers in half – from 20 to 10 – and rolled to a 76-46 victory over Seton Hall last Monday night at the Pavilion. . . . The Wildcats have fired from beyond the arc on 45.5 percent of their field-goal attempts, and are just a tick behind first-place St. John's (24.9 to 24.7) in the Big East in three-point attempts per game. . . . They lead the conference in the three major defensive categories – points allowed, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage – but are last in forced turnovers at 12.8 per game. . . . At 50.2 percent, Villanova is one of 12 programs in the country that are making at least half of their shots from the field.

- Joe Juliano
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