Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Kentucky is back, LSU is coming, and more weekly takeaways

By Brian Rauf

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the CBS Sports Classic at the United Center on December 22, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 9
Next
VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats and the bench react in front of Nate Pierre-Louis #15 of the Temple Owls after a turnover by the Temple Owls in the first half at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats and the bench react in front of Nate Pierre-Louis #15 of the Temple Owls after a turnover by the Temple Owls in the first half at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

4) Don’t doubt Jay Wright

Three weeks into the season, pretty much everyone was ready to write Jay Wright and this Villanova team off. I know I was.

They had been demolished by Michigan, upset by Furman, and didn’t look good in any of the games they won, either. Their highest-rated freshman, Jahvon Quinerly, was receiving DNP’s, they were turning the ball over at an alarming rate, and they weren’t making threes.

Fast forward two months and they’re on a six-game win streak and are all alone in first place in the Big East – just like any other year.

Wright has done a tremendous job developing this group. Phil Booth has stepped up and become an efficient go-to guy while Eric Paschall has broken out of his shooting slump. Their young players are taking care of the ball and are contributing on a more consistent basis. Quinerly has even become an X-factor off the bench.

Now, does this mean they’ve righted all of their wrongs and will go on another Final Four run? Absolutely not. I still think they have flaws that can be exploited in the right matchup. But they’re back to their winning ways and no one will be surprised if they win another Big East title.

Home/NCAA Basketball News