Defending national champion and No. 2 Villanova can clinch a fourth straight outright Big East regular-season crown on Wednesday evening with a win over No. 2 Butler. The Wildcats seem a lock to be theNo. 1 seed in the East Region for the NCAA Tournament barring a collapse in the Big East Tournament. They will be solid favorites over Butler in the NCAAB odds.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 9 PM ET
Where: The Pavilion, Villanova
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: Butler / Villanova
Opening NCAAB Lines: Villanova favored by TBA
“I’m pleased with the effort in a lot of ways with this one," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann. “We did a lot of good things against a team that can grind you down physically.”
At 21-6, the Dawgs need one victory to match their total from last year. At 10-5, they are alone in second place and have won as many Big East games as they did last year.
“Last year we didn’t know,” Tyler Lewis said of his team’s NCAA Tournament fate. “We were trying to get on the bubble, we were trying to get in the tournament. We know the tournament is really hard to get into, and that’s something we’re not taking for granted.”
After a week off following back-to- back home losses, the Bulldogs have closely resembled the team that was 11-1 in pre-conference play. They are 3-1 in February, and they led for 28 minutes in a 71-65 loss at Providence. Butler is now 16-0 on the season when holding its opponent to less than 70 points. The Bulldogs are 5-6 on the season when their opponent scores 70 or more. Butler is allowing an average of 68.3 points per game through the first 26 games of the season. That is third in the Big East. That average increases to 72.1 points per game in league play, which is also third.
On the season, the Bulldogs are averaging only 10.2 turnovers per game. That mark is sixth nationally. Butler had a season-low four turnovers – including none in the second half – against Marquette Jan. 16. The Bulldogs have posted 10 or fewer miscues in 13 games this season.
The Wildcats (26-2) revved up their offense Saturday, connecting on a season-high .673 of their attempts from the field, on the way to a 92-70 victory over Seton Hall. Sophomore Jalen Brunson and senior Kris Jenkins were a combined 15-of- 17 from the field and each finished with 22 points. National player of the year candidate Josh Hart added 19 points. Brunson also added a career-high 10 assists.
Villanova big man Darryl Reynolds missed his third consecutive game Saturday due to a rib injury. Aware that Seton Hall plays a particularly rugged style, particularly inside, Coach Jay Wright elected to rest Reynolds. The Wildcats coach indicated Reynolds will be available by the time Butler visits the Pavilion Wednesday night. A 6-9, 240-pound senior, Reynolds had started the first 25 games, averaging 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 points.
“I feel much better about him for Wednesday,” Wright said. “Seton Hall plays very physical. If we were to get banged up, he could be out for a long time. But I feel better about Wednesday.”
Villanova lost at Butler 66-58 on Jan. 4 to see its 20-game winning streak snapped. Kethan Savage scored five of his 13 points during a decisive late run that helped the Bulldogs end the nation’s longest winning streak at the time. Villanova shot 37.3 percent from the field and was just 6 of 26 from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson had 23 points for Villanova, outscored 25-6 in points off the bench.
Butler at Villanova Odds, Free Pick & TV Info
When: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 9 PM ET
Where: The Pavilion, Villanova
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: Butler / Villanova
Opening NCAAB Lines: Villanova favored by TBA
Why Bet On Butler?
The Bulldogs beat DePaul 82-66 on Sunday. Butler shot 57 percent from the field in running away from the Blue Demons. Four Bulldogs scored in double figures. Butler’s bench out-scored its counterparts from DePaul, 44-17. Nate Fowler had 15 points on 7-of- 9 shooting, while Tyler Lewis chipped in 10 points and eight assists (against no turnovers). Kelan Martin scored 14 points to go along with a game-high eight rebounds. Butler committed only seven turnovers, including only four prior to the final media timeout. The Bulldogs out-rebounded DePaul, 31-24.“I’m pleased with the effort in a lot of ways with this one," said Butler coach Chris Holtmann. “We did a lot of good things against a team that can grind you down physically.”
At 21-6, the Dawgs need one victory to match their total from last year. At 10-5, they are alone in second place and have won as many Big East games as they did last year.
“Last year we didn’t know,” Tyler Lewis said of his team’s NCAA Tournament fate. “We were trying to get on the bubble, we were trying to get in the tournament. We know the tournament is really hard to get into, and that’s something we’re not taking for granted.”
After a week off following back-to- back home losses, the Bulldogs have closely resembled the team that was 11-1 in pre-conference play. They are 3-1 in February, and they led for 28 minutes in a 71-65 loss at Providence. Butler is now 16-0 on the season when holding its opponent to less than 70 points. The Bulldogs are 5-6 on the season when their opponent scores 70 or more. Butler is allowing an average of 68.3 points per game through the first 26 games of the season. That is third in the Big East. That average increases to 72.1 points per game in league play, which is also third.
On the season, the Bulldogs are averaging only 10.2 turnovers per game. That mark is sixth nationally. Butler had a season-low four turnovers – including none in the second half – against Marquette Jan. 16. The Bulldogs have posted 10 or fewer miscues in 13 games this season.
Why Bet On Villanova?
With the formal approval by the Villanova board of trustees of a $60 million renovation of the Pavilion, the basketball team suddenly has just two home games remaining before they must compete elsewhere for the entire 2017-18 season while work is being done on its 31-year- old home court.The Wildcats (26-2) revved up their offense Saturday, connecting on a season-high .673 of their attempts from the field, on the way to a 92-70 victory over Seton Hall. Sophomore Jalen Brunson and senior Kris Jenkins were a combined 15-of- 17 from the field and each finished with 22 points. National player of the year candidate Josh Hart added 19 points. Brunson also added a career-high 10 assists.
Villanova big man Darryl Reynolds missed his third consecutive game Saturday due to a rib injury. Aware that Seton Hall plays a particularly rugged style, particularly inside, Coach Jay Wright elected to rest Reynolds. The Wildcats coach indicated Reynolds will be available by the time Butler visits the Pavilion Wednesday night. A 6-9, 240-pound senior, Reynolds had started the first 25 games, averaging 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 points.
“I feel much better about him for Wednesday,” Wright said. “Seton Hall plays very physical. If we were to get banged up, he could be out for a long time. But I feel better about Wednesday.”
Villanova lost at Butler 66-58 on Jan. 4 to see its 20-game winning streak snapped. Kethan Savage scored five of his 13 points during a decisive late run that helped the Bulldogs end the nation’s longest winning streak at the time. Villanova shot 37.3 percent from the field and was just 6 of 26 from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson had 23 points for Villanova, outscored 25-6 in points off the bench.
