After a devastating loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, the Notre Dame basketball team must get back on track with a win against Villanova tonight at the First Union Center.

The Irish (14-9, 5-4 Big East) have struggled on the road all season, posting just a 2-7 record away from the Joyce Center. Villanova (12-8, 3-5) has won six straight against Notre Dame and leads the series, 11-10. The Wildcats are also 2-0 against the Irish at the First Union Center.

Villanova is the only team in the Big East that Notre Dame has not beaten since joining the conference five years ago. Last season, the Wildcats defeated the Irish 85-58 at the First Union Center.

The Irish will go to battle behind sophomore power forward Troy Murphy, who is among the national leaders in scoring and rebounding.

Murphy is fourth in the country in scoring with 23.6 points per game and sixth in rebounding with 10.7 rebounds per contest. The sophomore sensation is the only player in the country currently to be ranked among the top 10 scorers and rebounders.

David Graves is averaging 12.8 points per contest, and Carroll is averaging 9.7. Dillon is fifth in the conference in assists per game (5.7).

The contest will be a homecoming for three Notre Dame guards; Jimmy Dillon, Martin Ingelsby and Matt Carroll all hail from the Philadelphia area.

Villanova is led by Malik Allen who puts up 13.8 points per game and grabs 6.9 boards per contest. Brian Lynch and Gary Buchanan are also key players on the offensive end for the Wildcats. Brooks Sales, who is averaging 9.3 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per contest, is coming off a big game at Georgetown.

The Wildcats knocked off the Hoyas, 72-69, in their last outing. The Wildcats were playing without starting point guard Bobby Smith, who was suspended indefinitely for violating a team rule. Jermaine Medley scored just three points in his place. Sales led the way for Villanova with 17 points.

Notre Dame is currently sixth in the conference, while Villanova is eighth. The Irish need a win tonight if they hope to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

After the Villanova game, Notre Dame returns home to take on defending national champion Connecticut, before traveling to Seton Hall on Feb. 19.

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