Good Morning, Nova Nation 1/30: Hoopin' At Home

'Cats Set To Host Home BIG EAST Matchups Tonight and Tomorrow

January 30, 2026

The Official Newsletter of Villanova Athletics

Good Morning, Nova Nation. You never know who’s going to show up at the Pavilion?

Don’t miss out on your chance to enjoy some ‘Cats Hoops this weekend!

What all do we have in today’s edition? Check it out below!

🏀 Hoopin’ At Home
🥍 And Another One
🏈 Smarty Cat
🔷 And much more!

Tommy’s Tavern + Tap is proud to be an Official Partner of Villanova Athletics!

🔼 Hoopin’ At Home. After being stuck at home last weekend in the winter weather, Finneran Pavilion is the perfect place to spend some time this weekend with a great weekend of hoops on tap.

Tonight, the men’s team returns home for a Friday evening showdown with Providence. The ‘Cats look to keep pace among the top three in the BIG EAST standings as they battle the Friars, who they fought past 88-82 in Rhode Island earlier this month.

Tip time on FS1 is set for 7 pm.

Tomorrow, the women square off with DePaul as the ‘Cats look to stay in the hunt for a top-two seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. Villanova rolled past the Blue Demons in Chicago last month, 81-48.

Tip time is set for 2 pm.

🔼 And Another One. With the season opener against #9 Penn State just eight days away, Villanova junior Jake Melchionni added another preseason All-American nod to his resume.

This week, he picked up the Third Team LSM spot on the Nike Lacrosse Men's DI Media All-America honors.

🔼 Smarty Cat. The gridiron isn’t the only place that Villanova veteran linebacker Shane Hartzell dominated this past fall.

This week, he was earned a spot on the CSC Academic All-America Second Team.

Hartzell was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll at Villanova all eight semesters of his undergraduate career and was chosen as one of two Senior Student-Athletes of the Year among the Wildcats 2025 graduating class.

🔼 First Impressions. Freshman Tessa Pettit made quite a first impression in her first weekend with the Villanova water polo team.

Pettit became the first ‘Cat since March of last year to earn MAAC Rookie of the Week honors after a hat trick in her collegiate debut and five total goals on the opening weekend.

What’s Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Visit Delco, the #1 source for information on all there is to see and do in Delaware County, PA. Find fantastic places to stay, incredible food and drink, and music and art—and you may even find a few surprises.

Friday, January 30
🎨 The Lunar Project at the Main Line Art Center
🏊 Swimming & Diving vs. Seton Hall @ 12pm
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Delaware @ 12pm
🎾 Women’s Tennis at Delaware @ 1pm
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Providence @ 7pm l FS1
👟 Men’s Track & Field at Penn State National Open
👟 Women’s Track & Field at John Thomas Terrier Classic

Saturday, January 31
⛸️ Glice Skating at Linvilla Orchards
🏊 Swimming & Diving at SprintFest (Villanova, Pa.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Drexel @ 11am
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. DePaul @ 2pm
👟 Men’s Track & Field at Penn State National Open
👟 Women’s Track & Field at John Thomas Terrier Classic

Sunday, February 1
🍷 Wine & Cheese Pairing at Penn Woods Winery
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Santa Clara @ 11am (Princeton, N.J.)

Wednesday, February 4
🎺 Jamey’s House of Music Presents:The Empty Belly Blues Band & Alabama Sam
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Seton Hall @ 6:30pm l Peacock
🏀 Women’s Basketball at Butler @ 7pm

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Have a great one, Nova Nation!