PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After a 20-day delay, the annual basketball battle between Villanova University at St. Joseph's University will take place Saturday night on the Main Line.
After getting their game postponed at the end of November due to a COVID-19 issue, Villanova at St. Joseph's were able to reschedule their annual Big 5 battle.
Cats coach Jay Wright is grateful to have the chance to resume the rivalry during a year in which teams are dealing with a pandemic.
"We're really appreciative of St. Joe that we were able to, that they were able to put this together. Always a great game in Philadelphia, but this year, even more important," Wright said.
For the first time ever, there will be no raucous crowd and streamers flying down from the rafters when the Hawks and Wildcats do battle, but Wright said the intensity will remain the same.
"This game is — the guys get so fired up for it and they know each other. I don't think it will have an effect in this game," he said.
Wright said all of the Big 5 schools that are playing are trying to get in their head-to-head matchups, but the University of Pennsylvania is not playing this year after the Ivy League canceled its winter sports season.
