Villanova Wildcats vs Uconn Huskies Picks and Predictions January 8th 2025

No. 9 UConn and Villanova Face Off in a Battle of Momentum

No. 9 UConn takes its eight-game winning streak on the road Wednesday to face Villanova in a pivotal Big East showdown. Both teams are riding high, but each brings unique challenges to the court in this highly anticipated clash.

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UConn’s Close Calls and Resilience

The Huskies (12-3, 4-0 Big East) have found themselves in tight contests despite their winning streak, with five of their past eight victories decided by six points or fewer. Their latest escape act came on Sunday, when they overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to edge Providence 87-84 at home.

“We cheated death in this one,” UConn coach Dan Hurley admitted. “We’re going to have to win games in this type of manner.”

UConn has leaned heavily on its top scorer, Alex Karaban (16.3 points per game), and point guard Hassan Diarra, who shone against Providence with a career-high 19 points and eight assists. The Huskies will need more of the same with Liam McNeeley, their second-leading scorer (13.6 ppg) and rebounder (5.8 rpg), sidelined due to a high ankle sprain.

The Huskies’ ability to close out tight games has been critical, particularly in wins over ranked teams such as Baylor and Gonzaga. However, their struggles against lower-tier Big East opponents like Xavier, Butler, and Providence have raised questions about their consistency.

Villanova’s Hot Streak and Lethal Shooting

Villanova (10-5, 3-1 Big East) has surged to win seven of its last eight games, including a 100-56 dismantling of DePaul on Saturday. The Wildcats boast the nation’s second-best 3-point shooting percentage at 41.5 percent, with their offensive efficiency carrying them to success after a shaky 3-4 start.

Eric Dixon, the nation’s leading scorer, headlines Villanova’s attack, but the Wildcats’ depth shone against DePaul. Jordan Longino hit all five of his 3-point attempts en route to 19 points, while Wooga Poplar added 17 points on 3-of-3 shooting from deep. Jhamir Brickus recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

“My teammates and coaches have been trying to instill that confident mentality in me,” Longino said. “Obviously, it feels good to see the ball go in a little bit.”

Villanova coach Kyle Neptune has embraced his team’s offensive identity, a departure from the defensive focus of his previous squads.

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“Each team is different,” Neptune said. “Even if you bring back an exact same team from a year prior, that team is different. It’s a completely different DNA, with different strengths and weaknesses.”

Key Matchups and Outlook

This matchup pits UConn’s resilience and defensive tenacity against Villanova’s sharpshooting and offensive efficiency. The Wildcats’ ability to spread the floor with their 3-point shooting will test UConn’s perimeter defense, while the Huskies’ interior strength, led by Karaban, could challenge Villanova’s frontcourt.

UConn holds a four-game winning streak in the series, but Villanova’s recent form and home-court advantage could make this contest a toss-up. With both teams surging, this game could have significant implications for the Big East standings and NCAA Tournament seeding.