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Villanova Basketball: Early look at Wildcats 2019-20 returners and newcomers

By Zac Voynow

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 03: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats reacts against the Georgetown Hoyas in the second half at the Wells Fargo Center on February 3, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Villanova defeated Georgetown 77-65. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 03: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats reacts against the Georgetown Hoyas in the second half at the Wells Fargo Center on February 3, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Villanova defeated Georgetown 77-65. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 23: Jermaine Samuels #23 and Phil Booth #5 of the Villanova Wildcats reacts after their teams loss to the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 23: Jermaine Samuels #23 and Phil Booth #5 of the Villanova Wildcats reacts after their teams loss to the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Villanova Basketball is losing seniors Phil Booth, Eric Paschall, and Joe Cremo, as well as rising sophomore Jahvon Quinerly and rising senior Tim Delaney. What can we expect from the returning players?

After losing the top four players from a national championship squad, there were questions about how good Villanova Basketball would be for the 2018-19 season. Role players were going to have to step up with more minutes available and unexpected contributions were going to be needed in order for the Wildcats to get back dancing.

Believe it or not, Villanova actually overachieved this season. At times it may not have seemed so, for example, losses to Furman and Penn still ring loudly in my ears. Villanova won the Big East regular season and the Big East tournament. They then defeated a pesky Saint Mary’s team in the first round of the NCAA tournament, who just a few days before defeated Gonzaga by 13 to win the West Coast Conference. Carsen Edwards and Purdue was too much for Villanova in the Round of 32, and now the Wildcats are looking forward to the 2019-20 season without stars Phil Booth and Eric Paschall.

Villanova is losing Phil Booth, Eric Paschall, Joe Cremo, Jahvon Quinerly, and Tim Delaney. Between those five players, the Wildcats are losing approximately 43 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists per game. It’ll be very difficult to replace Phil Booth and Eric Paschall, but Villanova has proven players who seem prepared to step up next season.