WHAT: Penn (0-1) vs. Villanova (1-0)
WHEN: Tonight, 7
WHERE: The Pavilion (aka the Ski Lodge), Villanova
TV/RADIO: None; WXPN-FM 88.5, ESPN-AM 950
SERIES: Villanova leads, 39-17
LAST VILLANOVA WIN: 69-47; Dec. 2, 2008
LAST PENN WIN: 72-58; Dec. 10, 2002

Is it just us, or is it way too early for a City Series matchup? The Phillies just got done playing in the World Series less than two weeks ago, and no one really even knows how good the Eagles are yet. And yet, and yet, Your Penn Quakers are already heading out to the Main Line to play Your Villanova Wildcats tonight. We liked it when college basketball really got into gear right around Thanksgiving, but we suppose we’ll just have to adjust to the reality that it’s starting sooner and sooner anymore.

Villanova, ranked No. 5 by the Associated Press and No. 6 by USA Today/ESPN, has been dominant against the city in recent years, winning 18 of 19 going back to December 2004. The ‘Cats have also dominated Penn, winning six in a row, 11 of 13 and 25 of 30 going back to 1974. ‘Nova also has won 29 in a row at the Ski Lodge, for whatever that’s worth.

The Quakers, coming off a 70-55 loss at Paterno State on Friday, seem to have little chance coming into this one. Tyler Bernardini and Zack Rosen are very good guards — ‘Nova actually recruited Rosen out of St. Benedict’s (N.J.) Prep — but ‘Nova is Guard U. Could be a long night for the Red and the Blue.