Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked Villanova Wildcats welcome the slumping Providence Friars to Philadelphia for a Big East Conference battle.

Providence has suffered four consecutive defeats to fall to 12-12 overall and 4-8 in Big East action. On Tuesday, the Friars couldn't get the job done at home against national power Georgetown, as they fell to the Hoyas by a 79-70 final.

As for Villanova, it successfully rebounded from last Saturday's loss to Georgetown by defeating a tremendous West Virginia squad in Morgantown by an 82-75 final on Monday. The Wildcats are now 21-2 overall, including 10-1 in conference, and they carry a 10-0 home record into this afternoon's contest.

The Wildcats own a 50-34 series advantage over the Friars, which includes seven consecutive wins.

Providence is not a deep team by any means, but the club does have a tremendous trio made up of Jamine Peterson, Sharaud Curry and Marshon Brook. Peterson is scoring 18.9 ppg to go along with 10.0 rpg, and Curry checks in with 15.4 ppg. As for Brooks, he rounds out the group with 14.5 ppg. Thanks to those players, the Friars are racking up 81.8 ppg while allowing 79.0 ppg to opponents, but the positive scoring differential is clearly a result of the club's success against non-league opponents. In Tuesday's loss to Georgetown, Providence got 23 points from Peterson, while Brooks posted 18. Unfortunately, the Friars shot just 34.4 percent from the floor while allowing 51.7 percent to the Hoyas. The poor shooting and defense overshadowed advantages in rebounds and points from the foul line.

Scottie Reynolds is averaging 18.8 ppg to pace Villanova on the strength of his 40.4 percent accuracy from three-point range. Corey Fisher checks in with 13.8 ppg, and Antonio Pena provides 10.9 ppg and 7.5 rpg for the Wildcats, who are generating 85.1 ppg while allowing 72.1 ppg. Villanova is outrebounding foes by 7.3 rpg, a major factor in the success to date. The Wildcats connected on 56.9 percent of their field goal attempts against West Virginia, while a 38-30 rebounding advantage and a 19-18 edge in points from the foul line also helped the cause. Villanova held WVU to 41 percent shooting, and all of the positives enabled the 'Cats to overcome 18 turnovers. Reynolds scored 21 points, while Fisher pitched in 17 points.

There is no question that Providence is much more formidable than its 4-8 Big East record suggests. Still, expect Villanova to take care of business.