BRYN MAWR, Pa. (Interstat) — The Villanova Wildcats, riding high in the Big East standings, will look to bounce back from a rare home loss when they host the surging Butler Bulldogs on Wednesday night at The Pavilion. Villanova (21-6, 11-5 Big East) saw a four-game winning streak snapped in a 73-63 defeat to then-Connecticut last Saturday. The Wildcats, who have won eight of their last 10, remain in strong contention for the conference regular-season title. They will rely on forward Matthew Hodge, who is averaging 10.3 points over his last three games and provides critical defensive versatility. Butler (15-13, 8-8) arrives with renewed momentum after winning two straight, including an 80-75 victory over Xavier last Saturday. The Bulldogs had previously endured a difficult six-game skid. Their offense runs through forward Yohan Traore, who erupted for 21 points in 23 minutes against Xavier. His scoring punch will be vital for an upset bid. In the teams’ first meeting this season, Villanova dominated Butler 85-67 in Indianapolis on Jan. 3. The Wildcats have traditionally held the advantage in the series, but Butler’s recent form suggests a more competitive rematch. For Villanova, a win is essential to keep pace atop the conference. For Butler, which sits near the middle of the league table, a road victory against a ranked opponent would significantly bolster its postseason resume. The Wildcats’ defensive discipline, ranked among the nation’s best, will be tested by a Butler team that has averaged 86.5 points in its last two outings. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST. Villanova will hit the road to face St. John’s on Saturday, while Butler’s next game is at home against Creighton on March 4.