Pennsylvania @ Villanova preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 11, 2018 ) Villanova 75, Pennsylvania 78

After winning its Big 5 opener, No. 22 Villanova takes on another local opponent Wednesday when it hosts Pennsylvania. The Wildcats actually play another Big 5 opponent in their next game as well, as they visit arch-rival Saint Joseph's, but for now they must take care of a talented Quakers squad.

The Big 5 is an annual round-robin between five Philadelphia area schools, and the Wildcats began their 2019-20 Big 5 slate by topping La Salle 83-72 on Sunday evening. Justin Moore had a season-high 25 points, making 9-of-15 shots from the field and a pair of 3-pointers while adding five steals, three assists and three rebounds in a sparkling all-around effort. "We've had different guys who have come up big for us on different nights," coach Jay Wright said. "It was Justin for us tonight." Penn already has road wins over Alabama and Providence and scored 82 points against Arizona before falling short last week.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, FS1

ABOUT PENN (5-3): The Quakers had a productive trip to the Wooden Legacy tournament as they went 2-1 with a win over Central Florida and most recently a victory over Long Beach State, suffering only the loss to Arizona. Jordan Dingle scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half against Long Beach State, while Devon Goodman added 16 points and A.J. Brodeur finished with 11 points, nine assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Dingle (17.3 points) and Brodeur (16.9) are the team's top scorers on the season, while Ryan Betley (13.6) has made a team-high 21 3-pointers.

ABOUT VILLANOVA (5-2): The Wildcats have five double-digit scorers on the season, led by Collin Gillespie (15.1) and Saddiq Bey (14.4), who has shot at least 50 percent from the floor in six of the team's seven games. Bey had 19 points and Gillespie had 14 against La Salle as Villanova committed 20 turnovers, including five by Moore and five by Jermaine Samuels. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl pulled down 10 rebounds - the fourth time in five games he has posted 10-plus rebounds - and also had three blocks, one more than he had entering the game.

TIP-INS

1. Villanova had won 25 straight games against Big 5 opponents before Penn stunned the defending national champions, 78-75, a season ago.

2. Last season's win over the Wildcats was the Quakers' first since 2002.

3. Villanova F Cole Swider has made half of his 36 3-point attempts this season.

PREDICTION: Villanova 79, Penn 71