Villanova puts perfect Big East record on the line against Creighton
Villanova is one of two undefeated teams left in Big East play. The Wildcats are on pace to win more games, in the Big East and overall, than in any of Kyle Neptune's three seasons as coach.
With Kevin Willard in charge of a high-powered starting five, Villanova returns home Wednesday to meet Creighton.
The Wildcats (12-2, 3-0 Big East) were down 33-30 at intermission on Saturday at Butler, with Bulldogs star Finley Bizjack accounting for 14 points. But Willard, thriving in his first year at Villanova, is known for his halftime adjustments.
"We're a big personnel team. We watched film at halftime and saw how (Bizjack) was getting open," Willard said. "We just made those adjustments about how we were going to defend him.
Villanova switched things up and contained Bizjack to four points in the second half. Meanwhile, all five Villanova starters finished in double figures to aid a 55-34 second-half scoring advantage en route to an 85-67 win.
Bryce Lindsay led the way with 18 points and paces Villanova with 16.9 per game. The starting five (Lindsay, Duke Brennan, Acaden Lewis, Tyler Perkins and Matt Hodge) plays the majority of the minutes and each averages at least 10.8 points per game.
Their next opponent just left the ranks of the Big East unbeaten.
Creighton (9-6, 3-1) wraps up a two-game trip out east after falling 56-54 on Sunday at Seton Hall. The Bluejays led by 16 with 15 minutes to play, but they hit a field goal drought of 9:01 as the Pirates' scrappy defense made it a game again. Najai Hines' 3-point play in the final second handed Seton Hall the win.
Austin Swartz made four of Creighton's six 3-pointers to post a team-high 16 points and junior forward Jasen Green had 13 points and nine rebounds. Before leaving for their road trip, Bluejays coach Greg McDermott praised Green, who averages 10.4 ppg and scored a career-high 23 points Dec. 30 against Butler.
"It's been unbelievable what Jasen has done for our program," McDermott said. "He's played absolutely every role that we've asked him to fill, and he plays that role to his fullest potential."
McDermott is plenty familiar with Willard from his years coaching Seton Hall.
"They're shooting the basketball at an unbelievable clip," McDermott said of Villanova, which leads Big East teams at 37.3% shooting from outside the arc. "Changing defenses, they've used that press and their zone some that's been impactful in some of the games they've played. Obviously, they're playing with a lot of confidence."