Villanova welcomes back Howard as La Salle visits
After a week off, it’s back to work for No. 22 Villanova when the Wildcats kick off their Big 5 campaign against La Salle Sunday evening (6:30) at the Finneran Pavilion.
The Wildcats (4-2) have not played since falling to Baylor, 87-78, in the championship game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational last
Sunday. It was the first loss in a November tournament since a 77-55 setback to Alabama in the 2K Sports Classic in 2012.
The trip to South Carolina did wonders for Collin Gillespie, who struggled with plantar fasciitis and a broken nose in the preseason. The junior point guard had a breakout tournament, averaging 23.7 points and seven assists per game. Gillespie earned Big East and Big 5 Player of the
Week honors for his performance.
The game is the first of three Big 5 contests in seven days. The Wildcats host Penn Wednesday and visit Saint Joseph’s Saturday afternoon. Villanova closes out the City Series at Temple Feb. 16.
The contest also marks the return of former Villanova assistant Ashley Howard to the Finneran Pavilion. Howard is in his second season as the head coach of the Explorers.
The Bonner grad spent five seasons on the Main Line and helped the Wildcats win national championships in 2016 and 2018.
The Explorers (4-2, 0-2 Big 5) are coming in hot. La Salle beat Murray State, Wright State and South Alabama in threeday span to capture the Gulf Coast Showcase title earlier in the week. That’s the first time since winning the Quaker City Classic in 1969-70 that the Explorers won three times in an tournament.
Ed Crosswell was named Most Valuable Player in the tournament. The 6-8 sophomore in-season forward from St. Joseph’s Prep recorded two double-doubles and averaged 11.7 points and 9.7 rebounds in the three games.