Villanova @ St. John's preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 8, 2019 ) St. John's 71, Villanova 76

No. 13 Villanova has won 11 of its first 12 Big East games, but few opponents have created the type of problems St. John's gave the defending national champion last month. The rematch takes place Sunday, when the Wildcats visit the Red Storm.

St. John's led by double digits in the second half and held a slim advantage with less than three minutes remaining on Jan. 8 before Villanova rallied for a 76-71 win. Phil Booth knocked down a clutch 3-pointer in the final minutes as part of a 23-point performance and is coming off another strong outing in Wednesday's victory over Providence. Villanova and Marquette are way ahead of the pack in the Big East, but St. John's is in a third-place tie after beating Butler its last time out. Mustapha Heron scored a season-high 28 points in the overtime win - just the fourth victory in 10 games for the Red Storm.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT VILLANOVA (20-5, 11-1 Big East): The Wildcats rely on Booth and Eric Paschall for more than 36 points per game, while Collin Gillespie chips in 11.6 as the third option. Booth (18.5 points) has not been held below nine points all season and has scored at least 14 in 15 straight contests, including a 22-point effort against Providence that was his 10th 20-point performance of the campaign. Paschall (17.6 points) was 10-for-13 for 25 points versus the Friars and did not commit a turnover in 34 minutes.

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (18-7, 6-6): Heron (15.6 points) is one of five double-digit scorers on the season for St. John's, which is led by Shamorie Ponds (20.5) - a talented junior guard who is shooting just 39 percent over his last four games. Marvin Clark II had a nice bounce-back game against Butler, contributing 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting after totaling six while going 2-for-10 from the field in his previous two contests. Interior defense isn't a strength for the Red Storm, who possess no players with more than 14 blocks and have only 75 as a team -- three Division I players have more than that individually.

TIP-INS

1. St. John's only grabbed five offensive rebounds on 35 missed shots in the first matchup with Villanova.

2. After eight straight games with multiple 3-pointers, Gillespie is 1-for-12 from beyond the arc in his last two games.

3. St. John's G LJ Figueroa averages 14 points but has scored more than 16 only once in his last 15 contests.

PREDICTION: St. John's 83, Villanova 80