The Wildcats improved to 9-0 on the season in defeating the Fighting Illini by a final score of 73-59. Dylan Ennis led the Wildcats in scoring with 18 points, while also going for 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Illinois guard Malcolm Hill led all scorers with 20 points. The loss drops the Fighting Illini to 7-2 on the season.
Ennis leads the team in scoring this season, with just under 13 ppg (12.9), but it's been a balanced scoring attack all year for the Wildcats. They have 7 players averaging over 7 ppg (Ennis, Hilliard, Ochefu, Hart, Pinkston, Jenkins, Arcidiacono) and had four players reach double digit point totals against Illinois, with a fifth player going for 8.
It's a different scoring leader every night for the Wildcats, whether it is Ennis against Illinois, Josh Hart against Saint Joseph's, or Kris Jenkins against Delaware. They take comfort in knowing that if one guy is having an off game, there are at least five other players ready to take over on any given night.
Villanova is ranked 7th in the nation, and is doing so because of their ability to share the ball and attack on defense. Ochefu has been a dominating force down low, averaging 1.6 blocks and 7.3 rebounds per game. But what has really stood out for Villanova on defense has been their perimeter play. Five players are averaging over a steal a game, with Hilliard leading the team with 2.1 spg.
Villanova looks to be way out in front of the pack in the Big Five as well, recently defeating La Salle and Saint Joseph's. With Temple coming up on Sunday, look for the Wildcats to try an reach a 10-0 start while maintaining a perfect Big Five record.
By: Dan Goggin
Follow us on twitter @BroadStBeat
It's a different scoring leader every night for the Wildcats, whether it is Ennis against Illinois, Josh Hart against Saint Joseph's, or Kris Jenkins against Delaware. They take comfort in knowing that if one guy is having an off game, there are at least five other players ready to take over on any given night.
Villanova is ranked 7th in the nation, and is doing so because of their ability to share the ball and attack on defense. Ochefu has been a dominating force down low, averaging 1.6 blocks and 7.3 rebounds per game. But what has really stood out for Villanova on defense has been their perimeter play. Five players are averaging over a steal a game, with Hilliard leading the team with 2.1 spg.
Villanova looks to be way out in front of the pack in the Big Five as well, recently defeating La Salle and Saint Joseph's. With Temple coming up on Sunday, look for the Wildcats to try an reach a 10-0 start while maintaining a perfect Big Five record.
By: Dan Goggin
Follow us on twitter @BroadStBeat