Villanova Basketball: 3 keys for 2019-20 non-conference matchup vs. UConn

2) Get a big game from Collin Gillespie

Gillespie isn’t the most talented player on Villanova’s roster – Saddiq Bey, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and (a healthy) Bryan Antoine are all ahead of him – but no one is as important to their success.

The junior has taken a huge step forward offensively, and the Wildcats have come to rely on his scoring. When he doesn’t produce at a high clip, they struggle.

There have only been four games in which Gillespie has been held to 10 points or less. Villanova is only 2-2 in those games, with both wins coming against mid-major competition in Ohio and Delaware. The others (Ohio State, Marquette) were Villanova’s two more embarrassing performances of the season.

Gillespie and Bey have been thrown into roles as veteran leaders for the first time, and head coach Jay Wright acknowledged after Saturday’s victory over Georgetown that it’s something they are still adjusting to.

"“The roles those two (Bey and Gillespie) are in right now, you have to learn how to do that. But Paschall and Booth got to do it with other great players as juniors (when they) still got to be go-to players at times. These two guys have not had to do it and they’re not doing it with older, great players, too. It’s a lot tougher.”"

Gillespie’s impact will be even more important given UConn’s pressing style. They forced a number of turnovers down the stretch against Wichita State to eventually force overtime, and Huskies guard Christian Vital ranks in the top 10 nationally in steal rate.

Villanova needs him to both take care of the ball and score at a high clip if they’re going to win this game.