Villanova Basketball: Wildcats looking to cut down the nets once again
After last year’s early exit, Villanova basketball is looking to get back on track and make a run for another championship as a No. 1 seed.
It seems like it’s been ten years since Kris Jenkins of Villanova basketball made the three-pointer that beat North Carolina in the National Championship. In reality, we’re only two years removed from that magical night. Last season’s tournament run ended a lot sooner than expected and it wore some of the glamour of that championship off.
It can be easily argued that last year’s tournament committee didn’t do Villanova any favors matching them up with an under-seeded Wisconsin team in the second round. In the 65-62 loss, Jenkins shot 2-9. A far cry from his performance the year prior
Do you think it’s still on Jay Wright’s mind?
"“I think it’s part of the tournament and I think we’ve had some tough matchups,” Wright said. “You just don’t know who you’re going to get.”"
This year’s top-seeded Villanova team resembles that team but they are hoping for a different result. In their first game, they will face the winner of the LIU-Brooklyn/Radford “First Four” game in Dayton.
Assuming Villanova beats the winner, and most assume they will, they will have a challenge in the next round. Once again, the Tournament Committee decided to place Villanova opposite of a tough 8/9 matchup.
The No. 8 seed Virginia Tech Hokies have wins over Virginia, Duke, and North Carolina on the season. The Hokies have five players that average in double digits. Their ability to be balanced has helped to Hokies to be ranked 12th in Adjusted FG% and 8th in two-point percentage, per KenPom. Also in those wins, the defense showed up, holding all three opponents under 70 points.
No. 9 seed Alabama has a dynamic freshman guard in Collin Sexton. Sexton has scored in double digits in each of the last 15 games. During that period, he’s averaged 18.3 points per game. The Tide has wins over Rhode Island, Memphis, Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee.
After what happened last season, the Wildcats will not take either opponent lightly.
Jalen Brunson, Phil Booth, and Mikal Bridges all played in their National Championship win over North Carolina. Booth’s 20 points that night have gotten overshadowed by Jenkins’ heroics. Without Booth’s contribution that night, the Tar Heels win the game going away.
Last season’s early departure didn’t include Booth.
Booth missed most of the year with a knee injury. If that wasn’t enough, he broke a bone in his right hand earlier in the season. Getting back in the groove could be the difference between Villanova coming up short again and cutting down the nets.
Jay Wright knows how important Booth is to the team.
"“He’s so valuable to us in terms of his intelligence, his leadership and to the morale of this team”."
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The pressure of the tournament’s one and done format is always present especially for a team with the expectations Villanova has. But it’s hard not to feel a sense of seizing the moment from this team. After surviving a tougher than expected Big East, the Wildcats should be poised for a deep run that could end with the final moment they’re looking for.