Babcock Hoops' scouting team covers extensive ground, with scouts strategically positioned across various regions to evaluate NBA prospects nationwide and beyond. Our talent evaluators attend specific matchups in person, developing these reports to establish an initial baseline on players or provide an updated assessment of their development. Unlike comprehensive scouting profiles, these evaluations focus exclusively on a player’s performance in a single game, emphasizing key takeaways and data points gathered from live scouting observations.
Final Score:
Xavier 68 – Villanova 80
Location:
Villanova PA
Game Summary
This game was a tale of two halves for Villanova and Eric Dixon. The first half ended in a 33-33 tie, but Villanova felt outplayed. Wooga Poplar kept Villanova in the game with 13 first-half points, showing decisiveness and aggression.
In the second half, Poplar remained aggressive, knocking down three early shots. Xavier maintained its resilience and kept Dixon in check, but his poor shot selection in the first half helped Xavier’s cause. However, when Xavier extended its lead to eight points, Dixon responded by scoring four baskets in two minutes, including a three-pointer and two-and-ones, shifting momentum back to Villanova.
Penn transfer Tyler Perkins played a critical role, hitting key shots and finishing with 20 points. Despite Dante Maddox’s impressive 24-point performance for Xavier, it wasn’t enough to withstand Villanova’s late-game surge.
Key Prospects
Eric Dixon
Villanova | Forward/Center | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 265 | Class: Senior
Game Stats:
MIN: 34 | PTS: 24 | FG: 8-16 | 3PT: 2-7 | FT: 6-6 | REB: 5 | AST: 3 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 4 | PF: 3
Dixon is one of the best scorers in college basketball, but his shot selection in the first half of this game was questionable. He has been shooting well all season but does not rebound as much as expected for his position, and that showed in this game as he only grabbed five rebounds. His shooting efficiency draws intrigue, but questions remain about the translatability of his game to the next level.
Wooga Poplar
Villanova | Guard | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 197 | Class: Senior
Game Stats:
MIN: 37 | PTS: 23 | FG: 8-17 | 3PT: 5-9 | FT: 2-2 | REB: 2 | AST: 2 | STL: 4 | BLK: 0 | TO: 1 | PF: 2
Poplar showed his potential as a catch-and-shoot player and demonstrated solid athleticism. However, his first step isn't the quickest, and he needs momentum to hit another gear. He can sometimes be passive and prone to ball-watching when not guarding at the point of attack. Despite not being labeled a shooter, he makes shots, which is reflected in his percentages. His ability to play without the ball is a plus, and he understands his offensive role and competes defensively.
Dailyn Swain
Xavier | Guard/Forward | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 220 | Class: Sophomore
Game Stats:
MIN: 15 | PTS: 4 | FG: 2-3 | 3PT: 0-0 | FT: 0-0 | REB: 5 | AST: 2 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0 | TO: 2 | PF: 2
Swain has excellent size and athleticism for his position and a strong second jump. However, he was too passive in this game. His shooting remains a concern, but his free-throw percentage suggests potential improvement. Defensively, he has tools but struggles with consistency. He performs better as an on-ball defender than in pick-and-roll situations. This was a challenging game to evaluate Swain; a follow-up is necessary.
Final Thoughts
Villanova’s second-half adjustments, led by Dixon’s late scoring burst and Poplar’s consistency, allowed them to pull away from Xavier. Despite a strong game from Maddox, Xavier couldn’t hold their lead. Poplar’s two-way ability and Perkins’ clutch play stood out, while Swain struggled; his raw talent warrants further scouting. Dixon remains a top college scorer, but his long-term NBA potential is questioned.