Villanova @ DePaul preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2019 ) DePaul 68, Villanova 73

No. 14 Villanova has proven twice this season that it can rebound from a mini-skid. The Wildcats hope to continue their recent run of hot play Wednesday, when they visit DePaul in Big East action.

Villanova lost back-to-back games against Michigan and Furman early this season before rallying to win six in a row, and then another two-game skid was followed promptly by the team's current run of eight straight victories. Phil Booth hit seven of the team's 17 3-pointers in Sunday's 28-point win over Seton Hall and finished with 25 points. DePaul, meanwhile, enters this matchup having lost three of its last four games - including a tight loss to Providence last time out. Earlier this month, Villanova posted a 73-68 victory over DePaul, which hasn't beaten the Wildcats since January 2008.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT VILLANOVA (16-4, 7-0 Big East): The Wildcats rely heavily on Booth and fellow senior Eric Paschall, who average more than 35 points combined and have made more than 100 3-pointers between them. Collin Gillespie has complemented them with multiple 3-pointers in five straight games, while freshman Saddiq Bey is aiming to reach double digits in points in three straight games for the first time in his career. Booth has scored at least 15 points in 10 consecutive games, making 39 3-pointers over that stretch.

ABOUT DEPAUL (11-8, 3-5): The Blue Demons' starters scored 61 of the team's 67 points against Providence and were paced by Paul Reed (20 points on 8-of-11 shooting), who has been terrific over his last five games. The sophomore forward has scored at least 18 points in each of those contests - including three straight double-doubles against St. John's, Butler and Seton Hall - to raise his season averages to 11.6 points and eight rebounds. Max Strus leads the team in scoring (17.4 points) but is just 7-for-27 from the floor over his last two games and has shot 33.3 percent or worse in seven of the last nine contests.

TIP-INS

1. After totaling 21 points in his previous two games, Wildcats F Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree scored only two against Seton Hall.

2. Villanova has recorded at least 70 points in 10 of its last 11 games.

3. Paschall registered 24 points to lead all scorers in the first matchup between the teams.

PREDICTION: Villanova 73, DePaul 66