Villanova returns home Friday to face Holy Cross after a two-point loss to Notre Dame in Rome. The Wildcats are looking to sharpen a lineup with 10 newcomers, with coach Kevin Willard pointing to turnovers and surrendered offensive rebounds as areas to fix.

By the Numbers
  • Villanova is 0-1 after losing to Notre Dame, 74-72.
  • The Wildcats committed 20 turnovers, including 15 in the first half, and gave up 17 offensive rebounds.
  • Villanova has won its last 7 home openers and leads the all-time series with Holy Cross, 2-1.
Yes, But

Villanova’s opening loss exposed issues with ball security and rebounding, but there were encouraging signs: Tyler Perkins scored 18 points, and Kwame Evans Jr. added 7 points and 7 rebounds in his return from injury.

State of Play
  • Tipoff is Friday at 7 p.m. at Finneran Pavilion; the game will stream on ESPN+.
  • Holy Cross also opened with a loss, falling 103-59 to Rhode Island on Tuesday.
What's Next

Villanova will continue working on lineups and execution ahead of Friday’s home opener, its first chance to respond in front of its fans.

Bottom Line

The Wildcats have a strong home-opener track record, but Friday’s priority is turning the lessons from Rome into better rebounding and fewer turnovers.