VILLANOVA, Pa. -- The reigning top-ranked Villanova Wildcats look to extend their winning streak to 18 games when they host American University on Wednesday night at The Pavilion.The Wildcats won all six games in last years NCAA Tournament en route to the programs second national championship in addition to the 11 victories thus far in 2016-17.Villanova (11-0), which will also be in search of its 44th straight victory at its on-campus arena on the Main Line, captured its fourth consecutive Big 5 title with a 78-57 win over Temple on Dec. 13.Villanova was ranked No. 1 for three weeks last February, so this isnt completely new.Its the hardest thing you have to face, it really is, Wildcats head coach Jay Wright said. Thank god we went through it last year, and it was hard. When I say hard, its a challenge and Ill take that challenge any day of the year.It is difficult and again, having Josh (Hart), Kris (Jenkins), Darryl (Reynolds), it takes the players to do it. The coach can only say it so much, these guys get their teammates prepared. They have much more impact on the team, even than I do and I dont know if you can come from what we did last year without doing it with our seniors.Without our guys, Im not sure if we could do it. It wasnt easy.Hart, a preseason National Player of the Year candidate, has been sensational in the month of December, averaging 25.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.In Harts last two games, he scored 37 points against then 23rd-ranked Notre Dame and 26 against the Owls with 18 coming in the second half. Hart has knocked down 20 of 33 shots in those last two games.We all believed Josh would develop into this kind of leader, Wright said. But we thought it would take him a little longer. He had Arch (Ryan Arcidiacono) and Daniel (Ochefu) ahead of him for three years and is just a fun-loving guy. What he was doing when we were down was just bringing everybody together.In watching the La Salle tape, I lost count of how many times he grabbed (teammates) to encourage them, rub their head. Hes just been an incredible leader.American has struggled to a 3-7 start with a young team but it has won back-to-back games over Youngstown State and Maryland-Eastern Shore.Freshman guard Saeed Nelson, a two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, scored 16 points in the Eagles 61-58 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday.Hes got a really good feel for the game, American head coach Mike Brennan told AU Hoop Talk. He rarely makes bad decisions and has been a beast offensively and defensively.Sophomore guard Delante Jones (12.2 ppg) and freshman forward Mark Gasperini (12.0 ppg) also average in double figures for the Eagles.This will be the second game in Americans history against a No. 1 team. On Dec. 12, 1984, American fell 86-64 against top-ranked Georgetown.The Eagles are 2-59 all-time against Top 25 opponents in their history. The two wins came against No. 17 La Salle (68-62) on Feb. 24, 1971, and No. 5 Georgetown (62-61) on Dec. 15, 1982. Under Armour Shoes China . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Clearance Under Armour Shoes . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. http://www.cheapshoesunderarmour.com/ . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Discount Under Armour Shoes . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Wholesale Under Armour Shoes Paypal . 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. Axed utility Tyrone Peachey could be rushed straight back into Penriths line-up for their crucial NRL match against Parramatta next Sunday.Peachey was dropped for their last-start defeat to Cronulla after turning up late to a training session during the week - and he responded by scoring a try in the clubs reserve grade hitout against North Sydney.But Griffin has promised not to hold Peacheys indiscretion against him when a squad is picked on Tuesday to face neighbourhood rivals the Eels.If he goes to training, he will be (available), Griffin said.The first-year Panthers mentor admitted he was disappointed to have to discipline Peachey, but insisted he has no problems with the makeshift centre.The former Shark is likely to return to the flanks against Parramatta.I couldve taken a softer option under the circumstances and slapped him on the wrist with a fine, but thats not what were about, Griffin said.He knew better than anyone that hed done the wrong thing and he had to pay the price for it.ddddddddddddBut thats something internally that is not a major issue. I havent got a problem with Tyrone. Hes a great kid, hes just put himself in the wrong position.Griffin will also be sweating on the availability of hooker and stand-in captain Peter Wallace, who will go for scans on Monday after courageously playing with an injured elbow for the majority of the game.The Panthers, who have used forward Bryce Cartwright at pivot in recent weeks, are light on both halves and hookers following the surprise mid-season departures of Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro.Wallace tried to stay positive about the injury post-game.I just hyper-extended it. Its the ligament on the inside of the elbow. Ill just get a scan (on Monday) and hopefully I should be alright, he said. ' ' '