The Butler Bulldogs (15-13) and Villanova Wildcats (21-6) are set to face off on Wednesday night, going head-to-head at Finneran Pavilion. The Big East showdown will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.
The Wildcats are 10.5-point home favorites with -600 moneyline odds, and the total has been set at 146.5 points. Here is a preview of the conference matchup, featuring odds and lines from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Butler at Villanova Preview, Prediction
Butler Preview
After skirting by Providence in double-overtime in their conference opener, the Bulldogs proceeded to lose their next five Big East contests. They rebounded with three-straight wins over Seton Hall, DePaul and Marquette in January, only to string together a six-game losing streak that also featured a double-overtime loss at Providence. Butler, once again, has resurfaced with back-to-back wins against Georgetown and Xavier.
Finley Bizjack has jumped from 10.3 to 17.5 points per game this season, but his three-point percentage has fallen from 42.8% to 35.6% year-over-year alongside the boost in volume. Gonzaga transfer Michael Ajayi, meanwhile, is approaching his previous success at Pepperdine by averaging 16.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Jamie Kaiser, a Maryland transfer who missed all of last season recovering from ankle surgery, is averaging 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Forward Drayton Jones brings 0.9 blocks per game to the starting lineup, while Yohan Traore is averaging 8.0 points per game supporting off the bench.
Butler attempts the 17th-most free throws per game in the country, on top of ranking top-80 in assists and rebounds per game. It also scores the third-most points per game in the Big East.
The Bulldogs rank No. 81 in the updated KenPom ratings, owning the No. 62 adjusted offense and No. 129 adjusted defense. As for the NET rankings, Butler comes in at No. 78, going 2-5 against Quad 1, 2-7 against Quad 2, 6-1 against Quad 3 and 5-0 against Quad 4. Wednesday’s game at Villanova constitutes a Quad 1 matchup.
Villanova Preview
While Villanova’s six-game winning streak came to an end this past weekend, there’s hardly any shame in losing to UConn. The Huskies account for two of the Wildcats’ six losses this year, with a season-opening defeat at the hands of BYU and a blowout at Michigan in December accounting for two more. Villanova fell to both Creighton and St. John’s at home in January, but the team has been otherwise steady through the rest of conference play. When it played at Butler on Jan. 3, for example, it won 85-67.
Villanova has four starters who average between 12.1 and 13.8 points per game, with first-year coach Kevin Willard leaning primarily on the three-guard trio of Tyler Perkins, Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay. Perkins and Lindsay hoist up 11.9 three-point attempts a game, hitting 35.8% of them, while Lewis averages 5.3 assists per game. Sixth man Devin Askew is shooting 41.7% from deep, too, en route to 9.5 points per game. Forward Duke Brennan, meanwhile, averages 12.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Forward Matt Hodge rounds out the starting lineup with 9.5 points per game and a 36.7% three-point percentage.
Not only do the Wildcats rank top-50 in three-point attempts and makes, but three-point percentage as well. Thanks to its backcourt, Villanova ranks top-100 in assists and steals per game. Its smaller lineups have led to the team ranking outside the top-300 nationally in defensive rebounds and blocks per game, however.
Per the latest KenPom ratings, the Wildcats rank No. 35 on offense, No. 38 on defense and No. 29 overall. They come in at No. 31 in the NET, going 2-5 against Quad 1, 7-0 against Quad 2, 8-1 against Quad 3 and 4-0 against Quad 4. Wednesday’s game versus Butler constitutes a Quad 3 matchup.
Butler at Villanova Pick, Best Bet
The last time Butler and Villanova faced off, the Wildcats won by 18. That game took place in Indiana, too, while Wednesday’s rematch has shifted to Pennsylvania. The last four times Villanova was a favorite at home, it won by three, 12, 14 and 15 points, respectively. And, for what it’s worth, it hasn’t lost back-to-back games all season. Over their last nine, the Wildcats are 6-3 against the spread.
The Bulldogs may be a week removed from a road win, but that came against a struggling Georgetown squad. They lost their previous three road games by 15, 10 and 22 points. Butler simply doesn’t have the shooting to keep up with an efficient Villanova team that has hardly churned out consecutive lackluster performances.
Best Bet: Villanova -10.5 (-102)
Butler vs. Villanova FAQs
What time is Butler at Villanova?
Tip-off for Butler at Villanova is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
What is the Butler men’s basketball’s record?
Entering Wednesday’s game at Villanova, Butler men’s basketball is 15-13 overall and 6-11 in conference.
What is the Villanova men’s basketball’s record?
Entering Wednesday’s game vs. Butler, Villanova men’s basketball is 21-6 overall and 12-4 in conference.
Where are the Butler Bulldogs in the Big East men’s basketball standings?
Going into its game at Villanova, Butler is in seventh place in the Big East men’s basketball standings.
Where are the Villanova Wildcats in the Big Ten men’s basketball standings?
Going into its game vs. Butler, Villanova is tied for third in the Big East men’s basketball standings.
