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Villanova-Notre Dame Preview
Though Notre Dame continues to struggle on the road, the team has been unbeatable on its home court this season.
The 22nd-ranked Fighting Irish try to bounce back from their third straight road loss Thursday and remain perfect at the Joyce Center when they host Villanova in the second meeting between the teams in 10 days.
The Wildcats (14-5, 3-3 Big East) shot 56.7 percent from the field en route to a 102-87 home win over Notre Dame (16-4, 4-3) on Jan. 17. Freshman Scottie Reynolds scored a career-high 27 points to lead Villanova while Curtis Sumpter added 21, Dante Cunningham had 19 and Mike Nardi had 18.
The 102 points allowed were the most by Notre Dame in a non-overtime game since a 111-82 defeat to then-No. 1 Duke on Nov. 27, 1998.
Following an 82-58 home win over South Florida on Sunday, the Irish fell to 0-3 this season in true road games with a 71-68 defeat at St. John's on Tuesday. Russell Carter scored a career-high 32 points, including the first 11 of the second half, but it wasn't enough for Notre Dame to pull out a victory.
"I was in a rhythm. Guys were finding me and I was hitting shots," said Carter, who scored a team-high 26 points in the Jan. 17 loss to Villanova.
Notre Dame has played like a different team at home. The Irish are 14-0 at the Joyce Center, winning those contests by an average margin of more than 25 points. They have also won five of their last six home meetings with the Wildcats.
After this game, Notre Dame plays its next three games on the road and will not return home until a Feb. 15 matchup with Providence.
Tuesday's game was the first for the Irish since learning starting guard Kyle McAlarney will not return to the team this semester. The sophomore, who had been suspended since a Dec. 29 arrest on a marijuana possession charge, left school Monday after a ruling from the university.
"We played this way for eight games now. Playing-wise I don't think it has had a big effect," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said Tuesday. "I loved Kyle McAlarney. He is really like a son to me and I will miss him. To say it wasn't a dagger to all of us yesterday would be an understatement. Certainly there is closure on the situation right now."
McAlarney was averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 5.4 assists.
Villanova is playing perhaps its best ball of the season, as the victory over the Irish started a three-game winning streak. The Wildcats defeated then-No. 21 Texas 76-69 last Saturday, and won 82-73 at Providence on Tuesday.
Reynolds had 20 points and six assists for Villanova in the latest victory, and Nardi had 19 points while shooting 5-for-6 from 3-point range.
The Wildcats are averaging 86.7 points during their winning streak after scoring 75.8 per game during their first 16 contests of the season.
Though Notre Dame continues to struggle on the road, the team has been unbeatable on its home court this season.
The 22nd-ranked Fighting Irish try to bounce back from their third straight road loss Thursday and remain perfect at the Joyce Center when they host Villanova in the second meeting between the teams in 10 days.
The Wildcats (14-5, 3-3 Big East) shot 56.7 percent from the field en route to a 102-87 home win over Notre Dame (16-4, 4-3) on Jan. 17. Freshman Scottie Reynolds scored a career-high 27 points to lead Villanova while Curtis Sumpter added 21, Dante Cunningham had 19 and Mike Nardi had 18.
The 102 points allowed were the most by Notre Dame in a non-overtime game since a 111-82 defeat to then-No. 1 Duke on Nov. 27, 1998.
Following an 82-58 home win over South Florida on Sunday, the Irish fell to 0-3 this season in true road games with a 71-68 defeat at St. John's on Tuesday. Russell Carter scored a career-high 32 points, including the first 11 of the second half, but it wasn't enough for Notre Dame to pull out a victory.
"I was in a rhythm. Guys were finding me and I was hitting shots," said Carter, who scored a team-high 26 points in the Jan. 17 loss to Villanova.
Notre Dame has played like a different team at home. The Irish are 14-0 at the Joyce Center, winning those contests by an average margin of more than 25 points. They have also won five of their last six home meetings with the Wildcats.
After this game, Notre Dame plays its next three games on the road and will not return home until a Feb. 15 matchup with Providence.
Tuesday's game was the first for the Irish since learning starting guard Kyle McAlarney will not return to the team this semester. The sophomore, who had been suspended since a Dec. 29 arrest on a marijuana possession charge, left school Monday after a ruling from the university.
"We played this way for eight games now. Playing-wise I don't think it has had a big effect," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said Tuesday. "I loved Kyle McAlarney. He is really like a son to me and I will miss him. To say it wasn't a dagger to all of us yesterday would be an understatement. Certainly there is closure on the situation right now."
McAlarney was averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 5.4 assists.
Villanova is playing perhaps its best ball of the season, as the victory over the Irish started a three-game winning streak. The Wildcats defeated then-No. 21 Texas 76-69 last Saturday, and won 82-73 at Providence on Tuesday.
Reynolds had 20 points and six assists for Villanova in the latest victory, and Nardi had 19 points while shooting 5-for-6 from 3-point range.
The Wildcats are averaging 86.7 points during their winning streak after scoring 75.8 per game during their first 16 contests of the season.
