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PHILADELPHIA -- The defending national champions are now the top team in the country.The Villanova Wildcats moved from No. 2 to No. 1 this week, and they will continue their quest toward a Big 5 title with a matchup against city rival La Salle on Tuesday night at the Palestra.Villanova improved to 8-0 with a resounding 88-57 victory over Saint Josephs on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats can move to 3-0 in the Big 5 this season with a victory over the Explorers.Overall, Villanova owns a record 16 consecutive Big 5 wins.Thanks to Kentuckys home loss to UCLA, Villanova was elevated to No. 1 on Monday afternoon. Villanova was at No. 1 for three weeks last February on its way to winning the second national championship in program history.Senior Josh Hart proved his mettle as a National Player of the Year candidate with a triple-double against the Hawks, the first for the program since Harold Pressley accomplished the feat in January 1986 at Providence. Hart had 16 points, 11 rebounds and a career-best 10 assists, giving him 19 assists in the past two games.Im not sure whats gotten into me, Hart said. I just love seeing my teammates score. This is probably the only time Coach (Jay Wright) has had to tell me to be more aggressive. My mindset today was to be aggressive, and everything else took care of itself. I have to attribute that to my teammates.Wright gushed when asked about one of his senior leaders.Josh is just so complete in every way, Wright said. He is the best competitor out there. Hes one of the best shooters on the team, one of the best finishers in the country and hes a great decision-maker. And hes our best defensive player.Villanova senior forward Kris Jenkins also stayed hot with a team-high 20 points vs. Saint Josephs. Some of his shots were quite difficult with a defender draped all over him.Kris Jenkins just has incredible talent to make shots, even bad shots, Wright said. Its a weapon we have to be careful with.La Salle (4-2) started slowly this season but has since won three in a row. Its most recent performance was an 83-73 victory over Bucknell on Saturday. B.J. Johnson, a Syracuse transfer, scored 22 points and Jordan Price scored 20 points.The Explorers defense was solid, holding the Bison to 29 points and just 39.1 percent shooting in the second half.I thought the second half was the best weve played this year, La Salle coach John Giannini said. We held a terrific offensive team to 39 percent from the field, and we only had three turnovers in the second half until we got a couple odd late offensive fouls. I think our players did exactly what they had to do to win the game against a team thats won at Vanderbilt, won four in a row, beat Richmond. Thats a really good team.La Salle last defeated Villanova on Nov. 25, 2012, a 77-74 decision. The Explorers are 0-4 against Villanova at the Palestra since 1999.There will be a ceremony to retire the No. 20 jersey of former Explorer Larry Cannon at halftime. A second team All-American as a senior in 1968-69, Cannon guided the Explorers to a 23-1 record and a No. 2 national ranking behind national champion UCLA.Mike Singletary Bears Jersey . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Riley Ridley Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Tom-Waddle-Inverted-Jersey/ .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Jim McMahon Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. William Perry Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area.DETROIT -- Justin Abdelkader of the Detroit Red Wings is expected to miss two to four weeks with what the team describes as a slight MCL strain.The 29-year-old forward left Detroits loss to Florida on Thursday night in the first period.Abdelkader haas four goals and four assists in 22 games this season.dddddddddddd The Red Wings play at Pittsburgh on Saturday night. ' ' '