Don’t expect a high-scoring game when the No. 1-ranked Villanova Wildcats (20-3) head to DePaul to take on the Blue Demons (8-15). The game gets underway at 8:30 pm ET on Tuesday, Feb. 9 and can be seen on FS1.
The Blue Demons are hoping for a better outcome after their 88-66 loss to Creighton on Saturday. Myke Henry finished with 22 points to lead the team. The Wildcats, meanwhile, are coming off a 72-60 win over Providence on Saturday. Darryl Reynolds claimed his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
The Blue Demons might struggle to find the bottom of the net as they face off against one of the nation’s best defenses. The Wildcats rank seventh in defensive efficiency, while DePaul ranks 267th in offensive efficiency.
The Blue Demons enter the game with records of 8-15 Straight Up (SU) and 8-13-1 Against The Spread (ATS). The DePaul defense is doing better against opposing offenses during the last 10 games. It is allowing an average of 63.1 points per game, well under their season average of 73.5.
On the other side, Villanova has a SU record of 20-3 and an ATS record of 12-10. Offensively, the Wildcats have really sputtered in the last 10 games. Their season average has fallen to 75.4 points per game after averaging only 67.1 during that stretch. The Wildcats convert their free throws at a high percentage, ranking eighth in the nation at .764. The Wildcats are the better of the two teams when it comes to assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking 39th in Division I at 1.35. The Villanova defense as a whole has been firing on all cylinders so far, ranking seventh in Division I with only 61.0 points allowed per game. Villanova’s defense is one of the top in the nation, with opponents shooting only .380 from the field. One advantage for the Wildcats could be DePaul’s high fouls per game average of 22.4.
These conference foes meet for what will be their first head-to-head battle of the season. Villanova won the last game in the matchup, bringing its SU record in their most recent games to 10-0. Additionally, with a 6-4 record, Villanova has the advantage ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Villanova held the edge in all three of these categories four times in the last five meetings. DePaul never did so in those games.
Predictions: SU Winner – Vill, ATS Winner – Vill
Notes
DePaul scores an average of just 68.6 points per game (ranked 210th). Villanova ranks seventh in points allowed, giving up 61.0 points per game.
DePaul lost its last game by a 22-point margin. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, Villanova is 9-1. DePaul is 3-5 in blowouts this season.
Ranked 48th, the Villanova Wildcats have an offensive rating of 112.8. The DePaul Blue Demons rank 274th with a defensive rating of just 107.8.
DePaul has an average field goal percentage of 45.0%. Villanova is an even 3-3 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The DePaul Blue Demons rank higher based on their field goal percentage (125th) than their effective field goal percentage (198th). The Villanova Wildcats rank higher based on their effective field goal percentage (51st) than their field goal percentage (82nd).
Villanova ranks 61st in assists, recording 15.6 per game. DePaul performs worse at 245th with 12.4 assists per game.
DePaul ranks 216th in offensive rebounds, while Villanova ranks 97th in defensive rebounds.
On average, DePaul forces a turnover rate of 18.0%. When Villanova turns over the ball at a similar or higher rate, the team has a stellar 10-1 record.
