Villanova and Holy Cross look to rebound in Wildcats’ home opener
Both teams enter Friday’s game 0–1 after lopsided or late-opening defeats. Villanova’s turnovers and unsettled rotation are among the questions ahead of its first home game.
Villanova hosts Holy Cross at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. local time, in its first home game of the 2026–27 season. Both teams are 0–1 after their openers, and the game is scheduled to air on ESPN+. Philadelphia Sports Now reported the schedule and broadcast; SB Nation’s preview, republished by Yahoo Sports, identifies the venue.
Holy Cross brings a young lineup into the matchup
The Crusaders opened with a 103–59 loss at Rhode Island. Philadelphia Sports Now reported that their starting five included forwards Jude Haigh, Aidan Richard and Chuck Hare, alongside guards Tristen Wilson and Kole Hanson. Hare had 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists; Hanson scored 11 and added five assists. Haigh finished with six points and two rebounds.
Wilson, a freshman, scored nine points but committed four fouls in his first game, according to Philadelphia Sports Now. SB Nation reported that Holy Cross coach Dave Paulsen was entering his fourth season and that the Crusaders had been picked sixth in the eight-team Patriot League. The preview also noted two senior absences: Joe Nugent was recovering from an Achilles tear, while Declan Ryan missed the opener with a knee injury. Ryan’s availability for Friday was uncertain in that report.
Villanova’s turnover problem and lineup questions
Villanova let a 10-point second-half lead slip in its season-opening loss to Notre Dame in Rome, with turnovers and fouls among the problems, Philadelphia Sports Now reported. The Wildcats’ starting lineup included Buddy Simmons II, Tyler Perkins, Jake Fiegen, Devin Royal and Luigi Suigo. Perkins scored 18 points, while Fiegen had 11, including three three-pointers on seven attempts.
Elijah Crawford contributed 12 points, five assists and three steals, but also had four turnovers. SB Nation reported that Villanova committed 20 turnovers as a team against Notre Dame, with Kwame Evans Jr. responsible for five. Evans had missed the preseason with a lower-body injury; Philadelphia Sports Now said he could move into the starting lineup after his return. That remained a projection, and SB Nation identified both Evans’s role and the starting point guard as open questions.
Philadelphia Sports Now also reported that center Niko Onyekwere could see minutes after missing the Rome trip because of a visa issue. Friday’s game gives Villanova its first home opportunity to respond to the opener while its rotation takes shape.
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Sources and context
- Villanova vs Holy Cross: Game PreviewSB Nation, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Villanova Preview: Chance to Find Footing Against Holy CrossPhiladelphia Sports Now
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.