College hoops motivate at MSG with Villanova-Virginia on Dec. 19

NEW YORK (AP) — College basketball is coming motivate to Madison Square Backyard this month.

In a matchup between the previous two NCAA champions, Villanova and Virginia are scheduled to sq. off Dec. 19 within the center of Unusual York City, the world announced Tuesday.

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, no fans will in all probability be allowed to motivate the Vacation Hoops Traditional — potentially the major college game at The Backyard since the Colossal East Tournament used to be stopped at halftime of a March 12 quarterfinal between St. John’s and Creighton. Not long after that, the rest of the 2019-20 season used to be scuttled and the NCAA Tournament used to be canceled, wiping out an East Regional and the annual NIT championship slated for “The World’s Most Eminent Arena.”

MSG on the total hosts several early season events that comprises top programs from across the nation, but all the constraints and uncertainty created by COVID-19 this year has left many teams scrambling for on hand venues and opponents as they schedule on the fly.

Virginia and Villanova opinion to fulfill in midtown Manhattan six days earlier than Christmas, retaining a date with every thoroughly different that had been booked for the Colossal Apple manner motivate.

Villanova, ranked No. 12 on this week’s AP Top 25, improved to about a-1 with an 87-53 victory over Hartford on Tuesday in Uncasville, Connecticut. Coached by Jay Wright, the Wildcats acquired the nationwide championship in 2016 and 2018.

No. 15 Virginia is 2-1 following a 76-51 diagram end in its home opener Tuesday in opposition to Saint Francis (Pennsylvania). Tony Bennett guided the Cavaliers to the 2019 nationwide title.

The nonconference game will in all probability be broadcast on nationwide tv by FOX at 8 p.m. EST.

Virginia holds a 5-3 lead over Villanova in a collection that dates to 1981. The colleges haven’t performed since January 2017.

“Madison Square Backyard is excited to host these two storied college basketball programs for potentially the major college basketball game at The Backyard since March,” Joel Fisher, the world’s government vp for marquee events and operations, said in a release.

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Extra AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25