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<em>College Basketball: </em> La Salle Hosts Villanova in Big 5 Matchup

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Big 5 action is on the agenda at the Gola Arena for Sunday as La Salle hosts Villanova.

This will be the third straight City Series match-up for the Wildcats -- they beat St. Joe's last week and Penn on Wednesday.

Wildcats head coach Jay Wright can't get enough of this Big 5 action:

"It's great preparation for the Big East.  Those games are just as intense as the Big East games, we know going into those games -- especially when you go on the road, at Gola Arena or at the Palestra.  You know you aren't going to get a tougher environment than that, in the Big East."

And Wright likes what he sees on the Explorers roster:

"They are as good an anybody we've played, and they have been knocking on the door.  I hope they don't bust that door open on Sunday."

Hear the entire Jay Wright interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...

The Wildcats are ranked 12th in the country coming into to this one, with a 7-1 record.  La Salle is 6-3 after beating Boston University on Thursday night.

Explorers head coach Dr. John Giannini is looking forward to his squad's first Big 5 game of the season:

"It's another great challenge, playing another ranked team, for us.  Coming off playing ranked Missouri and Baylor, so it's another great opportunity."

La Salle's three losses have all come at the hands of Big 12 schools (Baylor, Missouri, and Oklahoma State).

Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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