Villanova rings in 2025 with a Big East showdown against Butler | Villanova vs. Butler Preview
Written by David Szczepanski on January 1, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Villanova will look to start 2025 with a win against Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Ten days after their loss to Creighton, the Wildcats can finally get back into the win column on New Year’s Day.
Villanova’s five-game winning streak, which dated back to November 27th against Rider, was snapped by Creighton on December 21st in Omaha, Nebraska. Creighton defeated Villanova, 86-79, at the CHI Health Center. Eric Dixon scored 27 points in 35 minutes. Wooga Poplar had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Villanova ended 2024 with an 8-5 overall record and a 1-1 record in Big East play.
Dixon leads the country with 25.8 points per contest. He converts 50% of his three-point attempts this season. Dixon also averages more than five rebounds per game.
Poplar, a transfer from Miami, has scored at least 18 points in three of his last four games. He averages 13.2 points per contest in his first season with the Wildcats.
Jhamir Brickus, a graduate transfer from La Salle, averages 11 points per game this season. Brickus accumulated 16 points, four assists, and two rebounds against the Bluejays.
Despite the strong offensive performances from Dixon, Poplar, and Brickus, Villanova’s three-point defense struggled against the Bluejays. Creighton converted 56% of its three-point attempts against Villanova. Jamiya Neal made six threes.
Butler’s Five-Game Losing Streak
Butler enters tonight’s contest with a 7-6 overall record in 2024-25. The Bulldogs lost their first two conference games against #9 Marquette and #11 UConn, a tough way to begin their schedule. Butler has lost five consecutive games dating back to December 7th. However, the Bulldogs have some fantastic Quad 1 wins against SMU, Northwestern, and #25 Mississippi State. Butler also had some tough losses, including to Austin Peay and North Dakota State.
The Bulldogs’ Efficient Three-Point Shooting
The Wildcats hope the holiday break will help them prepare for Butler’s impressive three-point offense. Butler converts 39% of its three-point attempts. Four Bulldogs are shooting over 40% from behind the arc. Patrick McCaffery, a transfer from Iowa, makes 46% of his attempts from behind the arc. Jahmyl Telfort, a senior from Montreal, Quebec, converts 42% of his three-point attempts.
Butler’s offense averages 73 points per contest this season. The Bulldogs convert 45% of their field goal attempts. Pierre Brooks II, Butler’s leading scorer in 2023-24, averages 15 points per game. Telfort leads Butler with 15.5 points and four rebounds per contest. McCaffery averages 13 points per game in his first season with Butler.
Kolby King and Andre Screen are Butler’s two biggest role players. King, a transfer from Tulane, averages 7.3 points per game while shooting 43% from three. Screen leads Butler in rebounding with 6.2 rebounds per contest.
Butler’s Defensive Struggles in December
Butler’s defense has scuffled this season, especially in recent contests. The Bulldogs have allowed an average of 69 points per game. During this five-game losing streak, they allowed an average of 78 points per contest. Butler has allowed at least 70 points in each of its last five games. The Bulldogs also have difficulty forcing turnovers, with just an average of 7.7 opponent turnovers per game this season.
All-Time Series Info
Villanova leads Butler, 17-7, in the all-time series. The Wildcats are 2-2 against the Bulldogs in Coach Neptune’s tenure. Eric Dixon averaged 25 points per game against Butler last season when the Big East foes split the two-game series.
How to Watch Tonight’s Game
Tonight’s game begins at 6:30pm from Hinkle Fieldhouse. WXVU will not have live broadcasting coverage, but there will be some coverage on social media. The game can be watched on FS1.
