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Virginia Stands As The Next Challenge For Villanova

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Villanova Wildcats are getting ready for a Saturday afternoon battle with #8/#9 Virginia down in Charlottesville.

The Wildcats are 8-1 on the season and coming off a 76-47 win over La Salle on Sunday in Big 5 action. That win came about a week after Villanova suffered its first loss of the season, getting smacked by #3 Oklahoma out in Hawaii, 78-55.

"We got back home and got into some friendly confines," Villanova head coach Jay Wright tells KYW Newsradio. "Also we had a week's practice after that game in Hawaii and we learned a lot. We learned a lot from the Oklahoma game and I think it showed when we played La Salle. I think we'll keep building and learning off of that Oklahoma game."

Listen to the entire interview with Villanova's Jay Wright:

Villanova is ranked 12th in the AP Poll this week and 13th in the Coaches Poll. The Wildcats average fewer than 10 turnovers a game. They have seven players averaging at least seven points a game with junior guard Josh Hart leading the way at 15 points a contest. Villanova also holds opponents to 36% shooting from the field, but Wright says they can still get even better in a lot of areas.

"I think our shot selection, our offensive intelligence can improve," Wright says. "I like our aggressiveness, though. I like that the young guys and some of the new guys that are starting for the first time are really aggressive offensively. I like to start from that place. And obviously our team defense. Everything that has to do with playing off of each other is where we can improve, because we really only have two starters returning and everyone else is playing major minutes for the first time."

On Saturday, the Wildcats will be facing a Virginia team that is also 8-1. The Cavaliers have won seven in a row since a November 16th loss to George Washington.

"They're tough," Wright says. "They are going to test everything that we believe in, basketball wise, at Villanova because they are so disciplined, they play so intelligently. They're balanced, it's not just stopping one guy. And they do all the little things extremely well. Probably, along with Oklahoma, one of the best defensive teams we'll play against all year. So a great match-up in a really tough environment. That's exactly what this team needs, that's what we need to go up against."

Villanova and Virginia will tip-off at noon on Saturday.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

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