The Kevin Willard revenge tour continues Wednesday night when Villanova (16-5, 7-3 Big East) hosts Seton Hall (16-6, 6-5 Big East) in a rematch of December’s Big East opener.
Our Seton Hall vs. Villanova prediction includes projected starting lineups, a full score forecast, and analysis for this exciting midweek showdown, where more than just the result of a game is on the line.
Seton Hall vs. Villanova Projected Lineups and Key Matchups
Seton Hall Pirates Starting Lineup
- Budd Clark (G)
- AJ Staton-McCray (G)
- Mike Williams (G)
- Elijah Fisher (F)
- Stephon Payne (F)
Villanova Wildcats Starting Lineup
- Acaden Lewis (G)
- Bryce Lindsay (G)
- Matt Hodge (G)
- Tyler Perkins (F)
- Duke Brennan (F)
Seton Hall vs. Villanova Prediction and Preview
There’s no avoiding the storyline. Willard spent years building Seton Hall’s program before departing for Maryland, then moved on to Villanova. Shaheen Holloway is one of 51 coaches in the nation to be coaching at his alma mater, and he’s trying to take the Pirates to the next level after inheriting Willard’s foundation.
Villanova looks to increase their lead on third place in the Big East, while keeping hopes alive to catch both St. John’s and UConn at the top. For Seton Hall, this game represents a chance to bolster their own March Madness resume with a road win against a quality opponent.
The two teams have met 21 times since 2017, with Seton Hall winning just three games, while Villanova has won 18. That historical dominance favors the Wildcats, who also have home court advantage, but this Seton Hall team has the defensive toughness to make things uncomfortable.
That said, Villanova is an extremely balanced side, with Devin Askew, Malachi Palmer, and Braden Pierce providing extraordinary depth from the bench.
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Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis continues to develop, earning four Big East Freshman of the Week honors already this season. Lewis dished out a team-high eight assists while scoring only seven points against Providence, marking his fourth consecutive and ninth overall game with six or more assists. His unselfishness sets the tone for Villanova’s offense.
Seton Hall has its own standout freshman, center Najai Hines, who is second among all freshmen in blocks per game. He was absent from the meeting of the two teams earlier this season, and his presence makes the Pirates a much more difficult opponent than the Wildcats faced in December.
Nonetheless, the combination of home court advantage and superior depth should be enough to give Villanova the win.
Prediction: Seton Hall 65, Villanova 72
How To Watch Seton Hall vs. Villanova
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Villanova, PA
- Arena: Finneran Pavilion
- TV Channel: Peacock
- Live Stream: Peacock
- Radio: Villanova Sports Radio Network
