12:03 pm
February 29

Providence @ #12 Villanova

What will be the GAME RESULT?

Providence: Wins or Single Digit Loss

@ #12 Villanova: Wins By Double Digits

 

Current odds:

Providence Friars: (+260)

#12 Villanova Wildcats: (-320)

 

The line for this game is Vilanova by 7 points.

With three straight wins, Providence is making a late push at an NCAA Tournament bid. The Friars have another great opportunity for a notable victory Saturday when they visit 12th-ranked Villanova in Big East play. Following a stretch of five losses in seven games, Providence has knocked off Seton Hall at home, Georgetown on the road and Marquette at home in succession. After the 12-point win over the Golden Eagles, coach Ed Cooley said, “There’s no more desperate team in America than Providence College. We know we didn’t start the way we wanted to start. We gave away some games early as we were trying to build our identity. I can’t worry about where we were. I can only worry about where we’re trying to go.”

Villanova, meanwhile, has captured five games in a row, most recently an 11-point triumph against St. John’s. Villanova took the first meeting between the teams in late January as Collin Gillespie and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl combined for 35 points.

Alpha Diallo paces the team in scoring (14.0), rebounding (8.0), steals (1.7) and blocks (1.0) but is coming off a 1-of-9 shooting effort against Marquette. Luwane Pipkins paced the team with 24 points and four steals in that one and David Duke contributed 15 points as the team had six double-digit scorers on the day. A.J. Reeves made three 3-pointers and is shooting a crisp 54.2 percent from long range over the last six games.

Villanova has only allowed 80 points in a game once this season – and that came against national power Baylor, which is likely to receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team has given up 60 points or fewer in three of its last four outings and held St. John’s to 2-of-12 3-point shooting as part of an overall 34.8 percent shooting effort. Gillespie has been quiet of late with just 12 combined points in the last two games as the junior guard is shooting 4-of-23 over that stretch.

Providence had 16 offensive rebounds in the first meeting. Villanova had two.

Villanova F Jermaine Samuels grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds against St. John’s.

Of the Friars’ top six scorers, only one (Nate Watson, 51.4 percent) shoots above 41 percent from the floor.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#12 Villanova: Wins By Double Digits