Nova Faces St. John’s in Saturday Night Showdown
Villanova is set to host St. John’s in a crucial Saturday night basketball showdown. This BIG EAST matchup takes place at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with tipoff scheduled for shortly after 8 p.m. The Wildcats and Red Storm are currently tied for second place in the conference, both holding a 5-1 record.
Game Details
Tickets for this exciting game are currently available online. Villanova will also commemorate its Men’s Basketball Alumni, with over 50 former players expected to attend. These alumni will be recognized during the halftime ceremony, hosted by former point guard Whitey Rigsby.
Recent Performances
Both teams are coming off significant victories. Villanova (14-3 overall) triumphed over Providence 88-82, while St. John’s (12-5 overall) achieved a commanding 92-68 win against Marquette at Madison Square Garden.
- Villanova’s head coach Kevin Willard emphasized the need for improved ball screen defense.
- Junior guard Tyler Perkins had a commendable performance, contributing 15 points and eight rebounds.
- Fifth year guard Devin Askew has been crucial for Villanova, scoring 20 points and recording seven assists in the last game.
St. John’s Insights
St. John’s has also shown strength in the conference, with impressive road wins against Butler, Georgetown, and Creighton. All five of their league victories were by double-digit margins, with their only loss coming at home against Providence (77-71).
Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Zuby Ejiofor leads St. John’s, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Bryce Hopkins contributes significantly as well, scoring 13.2 points per game.
Comparative Statistics
| Team | Record | Points Per Game | 3-Point FG Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villanova | 14-3 | N/A | N/A |
| St. John’s | 12-5 | 86.0 | .358 |
Broadcast Information
The game will be broadcasted nationally on NBC Sports Network and Peacock. Commentators Paul Burmeister and Tarik Turner will call the action, while Ryan Fannon and Rigsby will provide the Villanova commentary on the Villanova Sports Radio Network.
This event marks Villanova’s second appearance at home for the 2025-26 season, having previously defeated Penn 90-63 during the Big Five Classic. The Wildcats have one more scheduled game at Xfinity Mobile Arena against Connecticut on February 21.
