Villanova Aims to Extend Win Streak in Season Finale at Georgetown

The Villanova Wildcats enter Tuesday night’s regular-season finale riding a three-game winning streak, looking to secure a strong finish before the Big East Tournament.

With March Madness looming, Villanova (18-12, 11-8 Big East) needs every win it can get to boost its NCAA Tournament resume. Head coach Kyle Neptune has emphasized a one-game-at-a-time mindset, knowing that each contest is a must-win.

Georgetown (16-13, 7-11 Big East) has struggled of late, dropping three straight games. However, the Hoyas upset Villanova earlier this season, and they’ll be looking to play spoiler again on their home court.

Villanova Riding Eric Dixon’s Dominance

Villanova’s recent surge has been fueled by Eric Dixon, the nation’s leading scorer at 23.6 points per game. The fifth-year senior has been on a tear, earning Big East Player of the Week honors after a dominant two-game stretch.

• 32 points in a 59-54 comeback win over Seton Hall (Feb. 26)
• 34 points in an 80-70 win over Butler (March 2)

Dixon’s final home game performance helped Villanova clinch its first winning record in Big East play since 2022, the last year the program reached the Final Four under Jay Wright.

With six wins in their last nine games, the Wildcats have built some late-season momentum, but Neptune knows that a slip-up against Georgetown could hurt their tournament chances.

“We have one-game seasons from here on out in our minds,” Neptune said. “Standings, none of that stuff really matters to us. We’re thinking we have another game in a couple of days, so that’s our biggest game of the year.”

Georgetown Seeking Season Sweep Despite Injuries

Georgetown pulled off one of its biggest wins of the season back on Jan. 20, edging Villanova 64-63 on the road.

In that game, Micah Peavy was the hero, scoring 24 points, including the game-winning shot with 1.8 seconds remaining. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to Villanova and gave the Hoyas their first win at Villanova since 2005.

Since then, Peavy has remained Georgetown’s go-to scorer, averaging 24.2 points per game in February. However, he was limited to 15 points in the Hoyas’ 76-61 loss to No. 21 Marquette on Saturday.

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Complicating matters, Georgetown is down two key big men.

• Thomas Sorber (left foot surgery) is out for the season
• Drew Fielder (back) is also sidelined

Without their top two centers, the Hoyas have struggled defensively, which could be problematic against Dixon and Villanova’s interior presence.

Despite the adversity, head coach Ed Cooley remains committed to keeping his team mentally focused and competitive.

“This is what we signed up for,” Cooley said. “This is not, ‘Put your head in the sand and feel like woe is me.’”

Key Matchups to Watch

Eric Dixon vs. Georgetown’s depleted frontcourt – With the Hoyas missing two key big men, Dixon could dominate in the paint and control the game inside.

Micah Peavy vs. Villanova’s defense – Peavy was unstoppable in the first meeting, and Villanova will need to find a way to contain him to avoid another upset.

Villanova’s three-point shooting – The Wildcats have been hot from deep lately, and if they get in rhythm from beyond the arc, it could be a long night for Georgetown.

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Who Has the Edge?

Villanova is red-hot, has more to play for, and has the best player on the floor in Dixon. Georgetown’s injuries in the frontcourt make them vulnerable, but if Peavy delivers another big performance, the Hoyas could keep things interesting.

The Hoyas haven’t beaten Villanova at home since 2018-19, and given Villanova’s current form, that streak seems likely to continue.

Will Villanova avenge its early-season loss and keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive, or will Georgetown pull off another upset? Tuesday night’s showdown will provide the answer.