PHILADELPHIA -- Jay Wright is as much a historian and fan of Philadelphia's city series as he is one of Villanova's more successful coaches.
He gave the Wildcats their yearly tour of the Palestra, recalled his favorite school chants, and boasted that no city rivalries anywhere are as tough and tight as the Big 5's.
No matter how hard Wright tries to spin the competitive nature of these games, the Wildcats usually roll and this one was no exception.
Dante Cunningham had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Corey Stokes scored 14 points and No. 17 Villanova cruised again in a 69-47 victory over Penn on Tuesday night.
"It's such a mixed feeling for me because I love them," Wright said of the Big 5 games. "I love being here. But as a coach at Villanova, I know how these teams play against us. The other side is, I'm always concerned."
Wright had little reason to fret over this win or even put a crease in his designer suit.
The Wildcats (7-0) have won every game this season by at least 13 points and have fattened their record against teams that won't come close to cracking the Top 25. Wright defended Villanova's soft nonconference schedule by suggesting games against four Philadelphia schools are almost like playing a Big East school.
Connecticut and Pittsburgh will surely prove a stiffer test.
Cunningham made his first four shots from the field and the Wildcats led 22-9 before those hot Palestra pretzels had time to cool.
"The guards are getting it done on their end and I'm getting it done on my end," Cunningham said. "On this team, anyone can go off for 20."
Once an Ivy League power under former coach Fran Dunphy, the Quakers (1-5) haven't clicked under Glen Miller and lost their third straight game. They need to find some steady scoring before the conference season opens on Jan. 30.
Harrison Gaines led Penn with 14 points.
Scottie Reynolds opened the second half with a 3 and Corey Fisher's steal led to Cunningham's baseline jumper for a 41-24 lead. Stokes quickly hit Villanova's sixth 3-pointer for a 20-point lead and all but wrap up the win.
Stokes made three 3s in the first half and the Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field in taking a 36-24 lead.
Wright's message about the Big 5 rivalry rubbed off on Stokes.
"I feel everybody's against us because we're not from Philly," Stokes said, referring to Villanova's suburban location.
Cunningham went 8-for-15 from the field and his 11 rebounds were part of Villanova's 47-24 edge on the glass.
"You don't have a chance to get your fastbreak going," Miller said. "That was a big problem for us. They beat us up on the glass."
Dwayne Anderson returned to the Wildcats after missing the first six games with a foot injury. The 6-foot-6 guard-forward hit a 3-pointer late in the first half for his only points of the game, then sat out the second half when his left foot injury continued nagging at him.
The Wildcats need him at full strength to help soften the blow of losing Casiem Drummond. The 6-10 junior told the coaching staff on Monday that he will leave the Big East school and transfer.
Anderson should help the Wildcats once Big East play starts on Jan. 1, at Marquette.
All the Division I city-area schools, except Drexel, play each other every season which automatically fills up four spots on the schedule. The Wildcats have games this month against Saint Joseph's, La Salle and Temple.
Villanova had won a record 14 straight city series games, also known as the Big 5, before losing to the Hawks last February.
The Wildcats will likely remain undefeated after Thursday's game against Houston Baptist, then have their first tough test of the season against No. 8 Texas at the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden.
That game will mark the first time this season Villanova will leave the Philadelphia area.
"It doesn't matter how far you drive, it's the atmosphere," Wright said. "It's a tough game. You just know they can make a run at any time. You just know it. That pressure's on you and it's always good."
