Former Villanova coach Jay Wright (left) is interviewed by Allie LaForce at halftime on Tuesday night. Fran Dunphy also is pictured.
By AARON BRACY
November 12, 2026
On Tuesday night during halftime of Villanova’s game against La Salle at Finneran Pavilion, former Wildcats coach Jay Wright was asked about the Big 5.
His answer about Villanova’s exit from the Big 5 next season was similar to one given by current coach Kevin Willard following the Wildcats’ exhibition loss to Virginia last month.
“The Big 5 kind of decided not to have Villanova in a new configuration,” Wright told TNT’s Allie LaForce.
Of course, left out of the context of this answer was that Villanova wanted to reduce its number of Big 5 games from three to two and, based on NET rating, would not play on the road in a new configuration, according to reporting by the Inquirer’s Jeff Neiburg.
The irony about Villanova’s exit and the talking points coming from the Main Line about it is that they have created exactly the type of buzz that has been missing from the Big 5 for many years. In fact, should Villanova and Saint Joseph’s end up playing each other in the championship game of the Big 5 Classic–and Temple, for Villanova; and Penn and Drexel, for Saint Joseph’s, will have something to say about that–it says here that it will be the most highly anticipated Big 5 game since maybe the glory days of the Big 5 in the late 1950’s and ’60’s.
We shall see. (Scroll to bottom to see Big 5 pod schedule/results.)
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DAILY SCHEDULE RESULTS
A reminder to bookmark the schedule/results page at Big5Hoops.com for daily updates.
SIX STARS (one from each team)
–TJ Power, Penn: After netting 18 of his 23 points in Penn’s dominating second half in Monday’s win over Howard, Power dropped 26 points and eight rebounds on Navy in Wednesday’s loss in Annapolis.
–BJ Ranson, Saint Joseph’s: The Hawks freshman hit a clutch three-pointer with 1:19 remaining, one of six for the game, to help short-handed St. Joe’s to an 83-80 win over South Florida in Annapolis on Wednesday. He finished with 21 points.
–Luigi Suigo, Villanova: After a rough opening game, Suigo looked good in wins over Holy Cross and La Salle, averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and five assists.
–Latief Lorenzano–White, Drexel: The Philly native has burst onto the scene in his first year at Drexel and averaged 15.0 points in a win over Colgate and loss to American.
–RJ Smith, La Salle: The 5-foot-9 dynamo from Roman Catholic was the Explorers’ best player in Tuesday’s loss at Villanova, scoring 13 points and bringing lots of excitement to the floor.
–Cam Scott, Temple: Temple struggled big-time this week in a pair of home losses, getting blown out by Richmond at the Palestra and defeated by Charleston at the Liacouras Center, but Scott did his part offensively by averaging 19.5 points in those contests.
BIG GAME
Saturday’s Big 5 game at Hagan Arena between Saint Joseph’s and Penn (6:30 p.m., ESPN+) is huge for both teams. The Quakers would love another potential shot at Villanova, which can clinch its spot with a win over Temple on Dec. 1, in the Big 5 Classic Championship Game after getting routed last season. And, as mentioned, a Saint Joseph’s-Villanova matchup in the Wildcats’ final game as a member of the Big 5 would be a hot ticket.
Something to keep an eye on: St. Joe’s star Jaiden Glover–Toscano (hand) did not play in the second half against South Florida.
I will be courtside at Hagan Arena. You can follow all of my live coverage on Twitter and TikTok.
BIG SURPRISE
-Really love that Temple is honoring the Palestra by hosting a pair of nonconference games there this season, but getting blown out on Sunday by 26 points to a Richmond team picked ninth of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 was not expected from an Owls roster that is as deep and talented as any in coach Adam Fisher’s tenure. You thought the Owls would be eager to bounce back in their next one, but falling behind 30-10 and 46-28 at halftime to Charleston at home isn’t exactly doing that. Obviously, Temple is going to have to figure out its defense to have any chance of being a contender in The American, as expected here.
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RECORDS
Saint Joseph’s 3-0
Villanova 2-1
Drexel 1-2
La Salle 1-2
Penn 1-2
Temple 1-2
STATS & STUFF
-St. Joe’s Sean Logan is averaging 5.7 blocks per game through three contests.
-The Hawks’ bench had 25 points and zero turnovers in Wednesday’s win over South Florida, with scoring as followed: Logan Carey, eight points; Mekai Johnson and Owen Verna, six points each; Keoni Sacco, five points.
-La Salle’s Rob Dockery found himself in foul trouble for the second time in three games. A potential all-A-10 performer, he fouled out at Villanova on Tuesday, scoring five points on just three shots in the 80-59 loss.
–Josh Reed (lower body) didn’t play in Drexel’s buzzer-beating 66-64 home loss to American on Wednesday.
-Penn got off to a fast start against Navy on Wednesday, leading 21-6, before giving up a 20-0 run. Not going to win too many games conceding 20 straight points.
BURN IT
After La Salle’s 88-80 home win over LIU on Saturday, coach Darris Nichols was asked about the Explorers’ season-opening 94-55 loss at No. 10 Houston on Nov. 2.
“We didn’t watch the film,” Nichols said. “I threw it away. I burned it.”
Nichols then explained that Houston’s physicality was a learning point for La Salle, which had 16 offensive rebounds against LIU.
COMPETITORS
Saint Joseph’s had a four-point lead over Lafayette with 12 seconds left in regulation on Saturday before two Leopards free throws and a Hawks turnover on the inbounds play resulted in overtime, which St. Joe’s won 67-57.
Afterward, coach Steve Donahue told reporters, “We compete at a high level, and we’re going to improve on offense.”
Khaafiq Myers’ career-high 24 points paced the Hawks.
DOUBLE UP
Drexel freshman Lorenzano-White had 12 points to help the Dragons beat Colgate 77-74 at the DAC on Saturday, continuing an impressive start for the Imhotep product. Lorenzano-White also reached double-figures in the Dragons’ season-opening 89-60 loss at No. 9 Virginia on Nov. 3 with 11 points.
PRAYERS NEEDED
Good thoughts and prayers are needed for Penn coach Fran McCaffery and his family after the news this week that McCaffery’s son, Jack, is battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
BIG 5 POD PLAY
Here’s the schedule:
POD 1
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Villanova 80, La Salle 59
Sunday, Nov. 15: Temple at La Salle, 2 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 1: Villanova at Temple, 6:30 pm
POD 2
Saturday, Nov. 14: Penn at Saint Joseph’s, 6:30 pm
Friday, Nov. 20: Saint Joseph’s at Drexel, 7 pm, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tuesday, Nov. 24: Drexel at Penn, 8 pm, NBC Sports Philadelphia
BIG 5 CLASSIC
Saturday, Dec. 5: Big 5 Classic Tripleheader, Xfinity Mobile Arena
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Aaron Bracy has covered sports in Philadelphia for nearly three decades for various publications and as a freelancer for the Associated Press. His first book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), can be ordered HERE. His second book, Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline) is scheduled to be published in February 2027. You can preorder it HERE. Follow Bracy on social media HERE. Contact him at bracymedia@gmail.com.