Temple

I’m Making this Villanova and Temple Game the Big 5 Classic Championship Whether You Like it or Not

By Kyle Pagan

Published: Dec 1st, 2025 · 3:38 PM EST

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I’ll be brave enough to say it: Having Penn in the Big 5 Classic Championship game isn’t good for the Big 5 Classic. You might not like to hear that, but it’s true. I bet 20% of the Delaware Valley doesn’t even know who is coaching the Quakers. It’s Fran McCaffery FYI. Yea, the guy who was on the Iowa sidelines for years. The Quakers won’t put asses in the Xfinity Mobile Arena’s seats. I mean Temple basketball barely puts butts in seats, but they put more butts in seats than Penn would. The third place game against St. Joes is going to be the marquee of the tripleheader on Saturday no matter who wins tonight. So in that case let’s call it what it is. Tonight is the Big 5 Championship game between Villanova and the Owls and you know the Big 5 Classic organizers are crossing their fingers hoping the Cats prevail so they can eek out a couple more sales before Saturday. BetMGM thinks Temple has zero chance with Nova a -12.5 favorite.

I would say Adam Fisher should use that as motivation, but due to recent events I don’t want any Owls players knowing about spreads.

Now, this game doesn’t have many storylines due to the transfer portal. Honestly, I’d be shocked if the casual college basketball fan could name four players on each squad. Zion Stanford, one of the Owls’ best players last year, transferred to Nova but hasn’t gotten much time since coming back from an injury. Other than that it’s new coach, Kevin Willard, leading his guys in what amounts to Temple’s first true road game. Villanova started 5-1 but has virtually played no one while the Owls haven’t beaten a team better than them all season. Not exactly fireworks like there were a couple years back:

Temple won the game that year btw if you’re keeping score at home.

If the Owls can get to the line and hit from deep tonight then this will be a game. They’ll rely heavily on their guards to score like they have all year, but the defense scares me. Those losses to UC San Diego, Boston College, and Rhode Island have really shown their deficiencies stopping teams from scoring and this Villanova team is your typical squad that you’ve come to know that loves to shoot threes. Good news is Temple is a solid rebounding team, which they’ll need to do tonight and I think if they hit shots from deep they win the Big 5 Championship since Villanova gives up 41% from three. Sucks they put this game on a Monday night. If you’re heading over to the Finn from North Broad give it to the wine and cheese crowd for me. It’s Temple vs. Villanova. Philly vs. Suburbs. Good vs. Evil. Does it get any better than this? Best rivalry in sports. Throw out the record books! Pavilion better be ready for a takeover. I can hear the wine and cheese crowd is already shaking in their boots!