Villanova vs Holy Cross: Game Preview

The Villanova Wildcats and Holy Cross Crusaders are set to face off in their first matchup of the season on Friday, November 6th at 7 PM EST, with the game taking place at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, PA. Both teams enter the contest with identical records of 0-1. The Villanova Wildcats are currently ranked by KenPom at 38, while Holy Cross is ranked at 347. ESPN+ will broadcast the game, and listeners can tune in to the Villanova Sports Radio Network for commentary.

Holy Cross is coached by Dave Paulsen, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the Crusaders. The team is based in Worcester, MA. Holy Cross was predicted to finish sixth among the eight teams in the Patriot League. The Crusaders suffered a significant loss in their last game, falling 103-59 against Rhode Island. This loss marks a tough start to their season, but they will be aiming to secure their first victory of the year against Villanova.

Noteworthy players for Holy Cross include juniors Chuck Hare and Kole Hanson, who contributed 10 and 11 points respectively in their last game. Hare, a 6'11" big man, is in his third year with the Crusaders and averaged 2.2 points per game last season. Hanson, a 6'2" guard from Minnesota Duluth, was named All-Conference First Team as a sophomore and was a significant long-range threat during that game, going 3/6 from beyond the arc.

Both Holy Cross and Villanova will be playing without a key player recovering from a serious injury. Holy Cross's senior Joe Nugent tore his Achilles tendon last year and is still on the road to recovery, having been the team's third leading scorer last season with an average of 11.8 points per game. Holy Cross will also likely be without senior Declan Ryan, who missed the game against Rhode Island due to a knee injury. Ryan averaged 4.9 points per game as a junior.

For Villanova, freshman guard Evans Jr. has been a source of concern due to his 20 turnovers in the team's first game. The goal for Villanova will be to improve on this aspect, ensuring more experienced ball handling and utilizing Evans Jr. more effectively. Willard's decision on whether to start Evans Jr. for the upcoming game remains to be seen.

Additionally, the point guard position between Elijah Crawford and Darryl Simmons II will likely be decided during the game. Back up center Nico Onyekwere will be available, potentially impacting the lineup and Evans Jr.'s playing time.