“We just got to get better,” Holtmann said. “We got to keep working and get better.”

“I feel like our response,” Benson said. “Kind of letting this game go. Obviously it’s going to hurt for a little bit. But it’s a quick turnaround, making sure we stay on top of our bodies, keeping our bodies fresh, and just looking towards the next game.”

The Blue Demons have 15 total turnovers. Villanova has scored 22 points off turnovers.

Villanova 71 – DePaul 54 1:05 remaining

Blocker fouls out again. He finished with 10 points in the game.

Blue Demons are 1-for-13 from three in the game.

Villanova 58 – DePaul 41 7:55 remaining

8:15 left to go.

Second half scoring:

Villanova: 30 points

DePaul: 17 points

Blue Demons’ offense in the frame:

14 points in the paint

Benson – Six points

Maclin – Five points

Villanova’s offense:

9-for-14 from the field (64.3%)

The Wildcats are outscoring the Blue Demons in the frame 16-8.

The Wildcats have knocked down three 3-pointers already in the half.

Villanova 42 – DePaul 32

Paint looks were integral for the Blue Demons in the frame, as it is where they scored 18 of their 24 points.

The Blue Demons are holding the Wildcats to just 8-for-29 shooting from the field (27.6%). Villanova is also just 2-for-11 from three and has five turnovers.

However, the Blue Demons turned the ball over seven times in the frame.

DePaul 21 – Villanova 20 2:33 remaining in H1

The Blue Demons do not have a field goal in the last 3:51.

The Wildcats have six points from the free throw line and eight points in the paint. Eight of their points have been scored off turnovers.

Blocker: Six points

Maclin: Five points

Kruz McClure: Three points

Benson and CJ Gunn: Each two points

The Blue Demons are 8-for-16 (50%) from the field.

10 of the Blue Demons’ 11 points have been scored in the paint.

Defense also continues to be important. The Wildcats have three turnovers and are 2-for-15 from the field now.

The Blue Demons’ offense is off to a slow start:

Three turnovers

Only two field goal attempts

Defensively, the Blue Demons are finding success:

Villanova is 1-for-9 from the field

The game starts NOW.

The Blue Demons look to extend their win streak to three.

G Layden Blocker

G RJ Smith

G Brandon Maclin

F Théo Pierre-Justin

F NJ Benson

1. Maintain Villanova’s offense

In their first matchup, the Blue Demons allowed the Wildcats to score 43 second-half points. They shot 7-for-10 from three in the frame. 

The Blue Demons held a 10-point lead with 11:01 remaining, but allowed the Wildcats to cut it and take the lead. 

Maintaining their offense will give the Blue Demons some offensive breathing room in this game and avoid an offensive takeover from the Wildcats.