After absorbing a late setback in its season opener, Villanova hopes to regroup in time to deliver a crisper effort in a Friday home game against Holy Cross.
The Wildcats (0-1) ventured to Rome to take on Notre Dame on Sunday, and it looked for a while as if the trip would end with a Villanova victory. However, the Fighting Irish snuck away with a 74-72 win, erasing a six-point deficit in the last four minutes.
“This is obviously a disappointing result, but the experience here was phenomenal,” Wildcats coach Kevin Willard said. “To have the opportunity to be with the pope, a Villanova graduate, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us.”
Tyler Perkins led Villanova with 18 points thanks to 5-of-11 3-point shooting, although he wasn’t enamored with his season-opening performance.
“I wasn’t myself today,” Perkins said. “We just need to get back to work in practice.”
Elijah Crawford chipped in with 12 points, while Jake Fiegen notched 11. The Wildcats’ issues against the Fighting Irish included 20 turnovers, compared to just 12 assists.
Meanwhile, Holy Cross (0-1) began its season with a 103-59 defeat to Rhode Island on Tuesday. The Crusaders struggled with their shooting from the field (38.2%), 3-point arc (30.4%) and free-throw line (62.5%).
The team is integrating new players, including a handful of transfers, while navigating a variety of injuries to key players, including Joe Nugent (foot) and Declan Ryan (knee). Kole Hanson led the Crusaders with 11 points against the Rams, while Chuck Hare pitched in with 10 points and eight rebounds.
“We’re very inexperienced and we’re very depleted right now,” Holy Cross coach Dave Paulsen said recently. “We’re not making excuses, but it’s a fact and we just really have to focus on getting a little bit better every day and look at the long haul. We want to be the best versions of ourselves when we get to conference play.”
