Villanova St Joes Renew Rivalry With Plenty On The Line

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Upset losses haven’t diminished the stakes of Tuesday’s Villanova-St. Joe’s game. They may be higher.
Upset losses haven’t diminished the stakes of Tuesday’s Villanova-St. Joe’s game. They may be higher. from

Villanova, St. Joe’s Renew Rivalry With Plenty on the Line

A tale of two seasons has emerged in Philadelphia, with Villanova and Saint Joseph’s trending in opposite directions.

At 9-5 and winners of five straight, Villanova is playing its best basketball of the season. Meanwhile, Saint Joseph’s has lost seven in a row and is in danger of missing the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

But when the two teams meet on Tuesday night at the Palestra, the records will be thrown out the window. This is a rivalry that dates back to 1920, and there is always plenty at stake.

“It’s a big game for both teams,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “It’s a rivalry game, and those are always special. But it’s also a big game for us in terms of our NCAA Tournament hopes.”

Villanova is currently projected as a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but a win over Saint Joseph’s would likely boost the Wildcats to a No. 6 seed.

Saint Joseph’s, on the other hand, needs a win to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Hawks are currently 10th in the A-10 standings, and they need to finish in the top eight to qualify for the conference tournament.

“We know what’s at stake,” Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli said. “We need to win this game to keep our NCAA Tournament hopes alive.”

Here are three things to watch for in Tuesday’s game:

  1. The battle in the paint. Villanova has one of the best frontcourts in the country, led by Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman. Saint Joseph’s has a solid frontcourt of its own, led by James Demery and Charlie Brown.
  2. The point guard matchup. Villanova’s Jalen Brunson is one of the best point guards in the country. Saint Joseph’s Lamarr Kimble is a talented scorer and playmaker.
  3. The home-court advantage. Villanova is 12-1 at home this season. Saint Joseph’s is 9-3 at home.

The game is expected to be a close one, and it could have a major impact on both teams’ NCAA Tournament hopes.

Conclusion

Upset losses haven’t diminished the stakes of Tuesday’s Villanova-St. Joe’s game. They may be higher.

Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, but they will be looking to bounce back in a big way on Tuesday night. The game is expected to be a close one, and it could have a major impact on both teams’ NCAA Tournament hopes.