Villanova men's basketball will host Fairleigh Dickinson University on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Finneran Pavilion after moving the non-conference game from its original Dec. 9 date.
The shift, announced by Villanova Athletics on Sept. 25, fills a scheduling gap between the Wildcats' Big East home opener against Providence on Dec. 22 and a road trip to Georgetown on Sunday, Jan. 3. FDU will visit four days after Christmas.
The program also locked in tip times for three October exhibition games, giving fans their first look at head coach Kevin Willard's roster heading into his second season:
- Sunday, Oct. 11 — at Rutgers, 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 17 — vs. George Mason at Finneran Pavilion, 1 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 22 — vs. Virginia at Finneran Pavilion, 7 p.m.
The exhibitions follow the Nova Nation Tip-Off on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. in Finneran Pavilion. That event, presented by Santander, is free and open to the public, with an autograph session at 6 p.m. featuring both the men's and women's basketball teams.
Villanova opens the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 1, against Notre Dame in Rome at the Eternal City Tip-Off. The men's game will air nationally on FOX at 9:30 a.m. ET.
"To represent Villanova in Rome to open our 2026-27 season is such a great honor," Willard said in April when the Rome doubleheader was announced.
Willard led the Wildcats to a 24-9 record in his first season in 2025-26, including a 15-5 mark in Big East play and an at-large NCAA Tournament selection. Senior guard Tyler Perkins returns as the team's leading scorer, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's schedule preview. Freshman center Luigi Suigo, whom PHL Sports Now described as an expected NBA lottery pick, adds to the preseason buzz.
Big East play begins Saturday, Dec. 19, at Creighton. Game times and television coverage for the full 32-game regular-season schedule will be announced in the coming days, according to Villanova Athletics.
