WHAT: La Salle (3-1, 0-0 Big Five) at No. 4 Villanova (5-0, 1-0 Big Five)
WHEN: Today, 3:30
WHERE: The Pavilion, Villanova
TV: ESPN2
RADIO: ESPN-FM 97.5; WHAT-AM 1340
SERIES: Villanova leads, 32-26
LAST VILLANOVA WIN: 70-59, Dec. 14, 2008
LAST LA SALLE WIN: 61-58 (OT), Nov. 27, 2001

And, well, here we go. The question on the minds of anyone with any interest in these things is whether Your Villanova Wildcats will ever lose another game against the city. The ‘Cats have won 19 of 20 Big Five games, and they ripped Penn by 38 back on Nov. 16 in their last Big Five game.

In this series, ‘Nova has won seven in a row. Several, including last year’s 70-59 win at the Gola, have been competitive. Others, like the 2005 game, which ‘Nova won 98-57, haven’t. The Explorers last defeated the Wildcats in Jay Wright’s first Big Five Game as a head coach. And while it’s easy to forget now, Wright’s first three teams “only” went to the NIT and bore no resemblance to the national power he’s since developed.

La Salle simply has to be patient and protect the basketall to have any chance this afternoon. And that will be easier said than done against a Wildcats backcourt that includes Scottie Reynolds, the Coreys, Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns. Like last year, we see the Explorers hanging around for a while, but only for a while.

Our hope is to be able to live blog this one from courtside, so be sure to check back. If not, we will certainly have a complete update for you as soon as we can get it posted after the game. And from there, we’ll be heading straight down to the Palestra for Temple-St. John’s. Yep. It’s one of those long days of basketball here in Philly. Just like we like it.

Link: Will ‘Nova ever lose again in Philly? [Philly Hoops Insider]