BIG EAST BASKETBALL

PROVIDENCE VS. NO. 1 VILLANOVA AT WELLS FARGO CENTER, 6:30 P.M. TV/Radio: Records:

FS1/WTEL (610AM). Providence (14-6 overall, 5-2 Big East); Villanova (18-1, 5-1).

Probable starters for Providence:

Rodney Bullock 6-8 Sr. F (16.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Alpha Diallo 6-7 So. G (11.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Kyron Cartwright 5-11Sr. G (11.5ppg, 6.4 apg, 44.4 3-point FG percentage); Jalen Lindsey 6-7 Sr. G (10.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 48.1 3-point FG percentage); Kalif Young 6-9 So. F (5.3 ppg, 4.2rpg).

Probable starters for Villanova:

Jalen Brunson 6-3 Jr. G (19.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.2 apg, 57 FG percentage, 48 3-point FG percentage); Mikal Bridges 6-7 Jr. G/F (17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 50 FG percentage, 44 3-point field goal percentage); Phil Booth 6-3 RJr. G (11.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 49 FG percentage, 42 3-point FG percentage); Omari Spellman 6-8 RFr. F (10.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 46 FG percentage, 42 3-point FG percentage); Eric Paschall 6-7 Jr. F (9.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 48 FG percentage).

A look at Providence:

The Friars have won four in a row, including victories over then No. 5 Xavier, Butler and Creighton. Reserve Isaiah Jackson has been hot lately. The 6-6 junior guard has averaged 14 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last five games and is shooting 90 percent from the free throw line in that span (27-for-30). Injuries have been a problem. Senior forward Emmitt Holt is out for the season with an abdominal issue. Freshman center Dajour Dickens has missed the last 16 games with a back injury. Sophomore guard Maliek White returned to action Jan. 20 against Creighton after missing 10 games with a leg injury.

The Wildcats have won five in a row by an average of 18.6 points per game. They buried Georgetown and Connecticut by a combined 52 points last week. Of the 18 wins, 14 have been by double digits, and they have a +19.5 scoring margin. Brunson and Bridges are among the 14players on the Oscar Robertson Award midseason watch list. Villanova is the only team with two players on the list for National Player of the Year honors. Spellman was named Big East Freshman of the Week. He averaged 11.5 points and seven rebounds in wins over Georgetown and Connecticut. The Wildcats play five of their next six games at home. The only road trip is next Sunday’s matchup with Marquette in Milwaukee.

A look at Villanova: