The Holy Cross men's basketball team hits the road to duel BIG EAST foe Villanova on Friday, Nov. 6 in the Finneran Pavillion at 7:00 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Matt Janus and Phil Martelli on the call.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (0-1, 0-0 PL): 

• The Crusaders began the 2026-27 season with a 103-59 loss to Atlantic-10 Conference foe Rhode Island on Tuesday evening. Junior guard Kole Hanson scored a team-best 11 points and doled out a personal-high five assists while junior forward Chuck Hare dropped a career-high 10 points with a personal-best eight rebounds.
• Through the opening game, Hare is tied for second in the Patriot League in rebounds per game (8.0) while freshman guard Tristen Wilson ranks third in field goal percentage (3-of-4, 75.0 percent).
• Holy Cross lost some key contributors to last season's team as four impact players who started in the Patriot League semifinal contest transferred to other institutions.
• Against the 11 schools which currently compete in the BIG EAST, the Crusaders stand 112-118, (.487) all-time (1-0 vs. Butler, 42-22 against Connecticut, 2-1 vs. Creighton, 1-1 against DePaul, 12-9 vs. Georgetown, 0-4 against Marquette, 29-42 vs. Providence, 7-27 against St. John's, 14-10 vs. Seton Hall, 1-2 against Villanova and 3-0 vs. Xavier).
• Villanova head coach Kevin Willard is the son of former Holy Cross head coach Ralph Willard (1999-2009). Ralph Willard produced 192-117 (.621) record across 10 seasons for the Crusaders with four Patriot League Tournament Championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2007).

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (0-1, 0-0 BIG EAST): 

• Villanova is coming off a 74-72 loss to Notre Dame in Italy on Sunday. Tyler Perkins scored 18 points with five three pointers, four rebounds, three assists and a steal across 35 minutes of action in the loss
• The Wildcats finished 2025-26 with a 24-9 15-5 BIG EAST record and reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection falling to Utah State 86-76 in the first round. They were picked to finish third in the 2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Tyler Perkins was named to the 2027 Jerry West Award Watch List recently. A Preseason All-Big East first team selection Perkins, averaged 13.7 points per game in 2025-26 earning BIG EAST Most Improved Player and third team all-league honors last year.
• The Wildcats received six votes in the Associated Press Men's Preseason Top 25 Poll.
• Villanova is 38th in the 2027 Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings, ranking 27th in offensive rating (116.6) and 56th in defensive rating (97.4).

LAST TIME THEY MET: 

• Holy Cross is 1-2 (.333) in the series against Villanova which began in 1924.
• This is the first meeting between the two programs since Dec. 30, 1968, a contest in which the Crusaders lost to the Wildcats 70-65.
• Holy Cross' lone win came on Feb. 8, 1963, a 77-62 victory.

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