Villanova basketball notebook: 2023-24 tip times added, ‘Cats lock in six national-broadcasted games, Gavitt Games to continue

More details surrounding Villanova’s 2023-24 basketball schedule have emerged.

After the Big East dropped this year’s conference-play slate nearly two weeks ago, the Big East has locked in TV networks and tip time information. Information for almost all of Villanova’s games, including game times and broadcast info, can be found on Villanova’s updated schedule.

Villanova to get at least six nationally-broadcasted games

The Big East also announced its national broadcast schedule for the upcoming season. Villanova will have six, possibly seven, nationally-broadcasted games on FOX:

• Dec. 9: UCLA at Villanova (Wells Fargo Center), 7 p.m. ET
• Jan. 6: St. John’s at Villanova (Wells Fargo Center), 1 p.m. ET
• Jan. 15: Villanova at Marquette, 2:30 p.m. ET
• Jan. 20: UConn at Villanova (Wells Fargo Center), 8 p.m. ET (this game may be put on FS1 instead)
• Feb. 24: Villanova at UConn, 8 p.m. ET
• Mar. 2: Villanova at Providence, 12 p.m. ET
• Mar. 9: Creighton at Villanova, time TBD

Creighton (8), UConn (7, possibly 8), St. John’s (7) and Marquette (7) will have more national TV appearances than the ‘Cats this season.

Behind Villanova is Georgetown (4) and Providence (3).

Big East, Big 10 close to finalizing agreement to continue Gavitt Games

Big East commission Val Ackerman previously expressed interest to continue the annual series between the two conferences, and it looks like we’re getting closer to that becoming a reality.

According to Jon Rothstein, they’re close to making it official.

The annual series began in the 2015-16 season and has been played each year, with exception to 2020-21, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The original contract had an eight-year deal in place. The Big East and Big 10 are entering the final season of that agreement. The Big 10 leads the series, 3-1-3.

According to Rothstein, there is “major momentum” to begin the 2024-25 season with the Gavitt Games, with games taking place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week of the season.

The new agreement would reportedly have all 11 Big East teams compete. In all other years, only eight Big East teams would participate in the Gavitt Games each year, with the remaining teams rotating in and out on a year-by-year basis.

UConn, who rejoined the Big East for the 2020-21 season, has never participated in the Gavitt Games and were not included in this year’s slate.

As a refresher, here are the scheduled matchups for the 2023-24 Gavitt Games:

Monday, Nov. 13:

• Xavier at Purdue
• Michigan at St. John’s

Tuesday, Nov. 14:

• Wisconsin at Providence
• Marquette at Illinois
• Iowa at Creighton

Wednesday, Nov. 15:

• Georgetown at Rutgers

Friday, Nov. 17:

• Maryland at Villanova
• Butler at Michigan State