July 2, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Home and home matchups with Marquette, Providence and Syracuse highlight the 2008-09 BIG EAST Conference slate of opponents announced today by the conference office. For the second straight season, the Wildcats will play 18 BIG EAST games, facing every conference opponent at least once.

In 2008-09 Villanova will face these BIG EAST foes at home: Cincinnati; Georgetown; Louisville; Marquette; Pittsburgh; Providence; Rutgers; St. John's; and Syracuse. The `Cats will travel to: Connecticut; DePaul; Marquette; Notre Dame; Providence; Seton Hall; USF; Syracuse and West Virginia.

The complete Villanova schedule, with dates, sites, and non-conference opponent information will be released in September.

Villanova returns its top eight players in minutes played from the club that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in March.