Villanova Wildcats, Saint Joseph's Hawks ready for Big 5 opener
Two of Philadelphia's most storied college basketball programs will tip off their 2022-23 seasons on Tuesday night at Finneran Pavilion.
No. 15 Villanova and Saint Joseph's will meet for the 122nd time in a series that dates back to 1922. The Wildcats hold a 71-50 advantage in the all-time series, but the Hawks have won two of the last three meetings.
Villanova is coming off a 29-8 season that ended with a loss to Kansas in the Final Four. The Wildcats return four starters from that team, including All-American guard Justin Moore.
Saint Joseph's is coming off a 14-19 season. The Hawks have a new coach in Billy Lange, who was hired after Phil Martelli was fired in March.
The Big 5 is a round-robin tournament between the five Division I men's basketball programs in Philadelphia: Villanova, Saint Joseph's, Temple, Penn and La Salle.
The Wildcats are the defending Big 5 champions. They have won the tournament a record 29 times.
The Hawks are looking to win their first Big 5 title since 2016.
The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Here are some things to watch for in the game:
- Justin Moore: The Villanova guard is one of the best players in the country. He averaged 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last season.
- Cam Whitmore: The Villanova forward is a highly touted freshman who is expected to make an immediate impact. He was ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022.
- Jack Clark: The Saint Joseph's forward is a returning starter who averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season.
- Rahmir Moore: The Saint Joseph's guard is a transfer from George Washington who averaged 13.4 points per game last season.
Prediction:
Villanova is the clear favorite in this game. The Wildcats have more talent and experience than Saint Joseph's. However, the Hawks are playing at home and they have a new coach who could provide a spark.
I predict that Villanova will win the game, but Saint Joseph's will keep it close.
