Wildcats to Honor Alumni As Part of Saturday’s Clash with Oklahoma

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova Wildcats host their first residence sport in practically three weeks Saturday afternoon as half of the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle in opposition to Oklahoma (6-1 total). The Sooners will probably be on the Wells Fargo Center for a contest that suggestions off at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
CBS will carry the sport nationally with Tom McCarthy, Bill Raftery and Jon Rothstein on the microphone. The radio name will probably be heard on the Villanova Sports Network (Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby). That broadcast will also be heard on Sirius XM channels 135 or 203 or on the app at channel 966. Villanova will have a good time its annual “Alumni Day” with a halftime ceremony honoring many of this system’s legendary performers.
 
The Wildcats (2-5 total) will search for a bounce again effort after dropping three straight shut contests on the PK Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend to Iowa State, Portland, and Oregon. On Sunday, Nova rallied to take a 67-64 lead over the Ducks with simply over two minutes left earlier than Oregon scored the sport’s closing 10 factors to earn the win.
 
“All we have to think about Is that we have to get better today,” acknowledged Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune after the Wildcats practiced Friday morning at Finneran Pavilion. “If we have been undefeated proper now, that might be our mindset as effectively.
 
“We’ve been trying to get better in practice this week on every little thing. We’ve been working on our rebounding, better ball pressure, our defensive concepts in what we’re looking to take away. Offensively we’ve been looking at playing with a little bit more pace and sharing the ball better. It’s every little thing.”
 
Freshman ahead Cam Whitmore returned to observe this week on a restricted foundation after lacking the prior seven weeks following October surgical procedure on his proper (taking pictures) thumb. He is listed formally as a game-time resolution for Saturday’s sport.
 
“Cam is a talent,” acknowledged Neptune. “But if you consider it, he is up in opposition to lots. He’s a freshman. For any freshman studying a brand new system, it is robust. Adapting to enjoying arduous constantly is hard for a freshman. Playing in opposition to greater, stronger, and sooner gamers than you ever have earlier than is difficult.
 
“And then you factor in that he hasn’t played basketball in seven weeks. I don’t care if you are Michael Jordan or LeBron. If you haven’t played basketball in seven weeks, you’re not going to be tip top. He’s up against a lot and we’re just trying to ease him back in as he recovers from a serious injury on his shooting hand.”
 
Neptune indicated that he expects there to be a minutes restrict on the product of Maryland when he does see sport motion.
 
“The first time he comes back,” famous Neptune, “he will probably not be full go.”
 
This week Villanova has leaned on veteran stalwarts Caleb Daniels, Eric Dion and Brandon Slater because it appears to extricate itself from this early gap.
 
“We played a lot of close games recently against a lot of good teams,” acknowledged Neptune of a frightening stretch that included a go to to nationally ranked Michigan State on Nov. 18. “Obviously as opponents, you need to win each sport you play. Sometimes, it takes adversity to get you the place you want to go.
 
“Hopefully we can use those experiences as we go through the season.”
 
This is the primary of two straight on residence courts for the Wildcats, who host Philadelphia Big Five rival Penn Wednesday evening at Finneran Pavilion (7 p.m./CBS Sports Network and Villanova Sports Radio Network).