VILLANOVA, Pa. – The DePaul Blue Demons are set to face the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the Finneran Pavilion. With both teams entering this Big East battle with identical records of 9-5 overall, their paths diverge sharply when it turns to conference play. DePaul finds itself at the bottom of the league, struggling at 0-3, whereas Villanova has built momentum, boasting a 2-1 record.
The game will tip off at 12:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1, with John Fanta and Wes Matthews on the call. For those wishing to tune in via the radio, DePaul's broadcast can be heard on Sirius XM.
DePaul seeks to end its current losing streak of three games, which includes its most recent outing—a defeat to the defending national champions, the No. 11 UConn Huskies, where they lost 81-68. Despite the loss, DePaul coach Chris Holtmann praised his team’s ability to rally, especially Conor Enright, who led with 18 points and nine assists, along with NJ Benson, who completed another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Conversely, Villanova enters the game riding high off their mid-week victory against Butler, clinching the win 73-65. Leading the Wildcats was Eric Dixon, who scored 28 points, solidifying his standing as the nation’s top scorer with an impressive average of 26 points per game. His performance is complemented by Wooga Poplar, who not only added 18 points but grabbed 15 rebounds, demonstrating his dual-threat capability.
Villanova has seen marked improvement this season, particularly highlighted by their recent turnaround after dropping several early non-conference games. Under head coach Kyle Neptune, the Wildcats managed to string together six wins from their last seven outings. Their December included wins against ranked teams and strategic victories over conference rivals like Seton Hall.
One key factor to watch is three-point shooting—a forte for both teams. Villanova and DePaul are among the top three teams in the conference for three-pointers made per game, with the Wildcats averaging 10.4 compared to DePaul's 11.0. Cylindering this statistic will be pivotal, as both teams exploit their perimeter shooting. Villanova uniquely capitalizes on their free-throw shooting proficiency, converting 80.5% of their attempts, positioning them as the best free-throw shooting team within their conference.
Positioning is also key—DePaul, with their struggles on the road, will need to find ways to mitigate the negative trends they’ve faced, having lost by significant margins during previous away games. On the flip side, Villanova will look to maintain their home court advantage, trying to improve their standing as they recover from early setbacks.
The historical matchup between these teams favors Villanova, standing with 35 wins to DePaul's 9 over their storied rivalry. The Wildcats have claimed victory of 25 of the last 26 encounters, including their last meeting which ended narrowly at 58-57 during the Big East tournament.
Coach Holtmann commented on the challenge his Blue Demons face. "We need to adapt quickly on the road, making necessary adjustments to our play to earn this first win," he stated.
This game presents both teams with stakes beyond just the scoreboard; DePaul seeks redemption and to snap their conference-worst streak, whereas Villanova aims to prove their resurgence is legitimate by knocking off another conference rival with significant historical precedence. How each team plays this Saturday could be reflective of their broader season trajectories.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see who emerges victorious from this Big East clash. Final predictions favor Villanova, who are currently listed as 9.5 point favorites, with many expecting them to capitalize on home court familiarity and their current form.