Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

Villanova Out to Continue Recent Dominance Over Butler

Villanova looks to extend its two-game winning streak when it hosts Butler for an early Saturday afternoon matchup.

Villanova Aiming to Stay Hot

The Wildcats (17-12, 10-8 Big East) enter the contest fresh off a pair of victories, including a dominant win over Marquette and a hard-fought 59-54 triumph at Seton Hall on Wednesday.

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Eric Dixon was the driving force against the Pirates, delivering a stellar 32-point performance. With Villanova utilizing just seven players, the team leaned heavily on Dixon and Wooga Poplar, who contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“Obviously Eric Dixon is a big-time player, he’s done this his entire career. Thank God we have him,” Wildcats head coach Kyle Neptune said.

Dixon has been one of the most consistent scorers in the country, leading all players with 23.3 points per game. Poplar leads the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg), while Jhamir Brickus sets the pace with 5.0 assists per contest.

Butler Seeking a Breakthrough

Butler (13-15, 6-11 Big East) enters the game coming off a tough 76-70 loss to No. 7 St. John’s at home. The Bulldogs have dropped two of their last three after a three-game winning streak.

Despite staying competitive against ranked opponents, Butler has struggled to close out games. They have lost by single digits to Wisconsin and St. John’s while also keeping contests against Marquette and UConn within reach.

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“We put ourselves in position to win and (there were) a couple crazy plays. They kept coming at us. We didn’t make a couple plays and we didn’t get it done,” Butler head coach Thad Matta said.

Jahmyl Telfort leads the Bulldogs with 16.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. Down low, Andre Screen provides a strong presence with 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.

Recent History Favors Villanova

The Wildcats have dominated the recent meetings, winning the last two matchups and holding an 11-4 record against Butler since 2018. In their last encounter on New Year’s Day, Villanova erased a 13-point deficit in the final six minutes, closing the game on a stunning 22-1 run to claim a 73-65 victory.

Dixon scored 28 points in that contest, while Telfort led Butler with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Butler has not won at Villanova since the 2016-17 season, and with the Wildcats playing at home, history suggests they have the edge once again.

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