NCAA Basketball: Biggest takeaways from 2020 2K Empire Classic
Villanova Wildcats
Positive – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is a National Player of the Year contender
As good as Saddiq Bey was last season, Robinson-Earl deciding to come back was an even bigger deal for the Wildcats. They didn’t have a frontcourt player as talented as him on the roster and he’s become the clear-cut go-to offensive option for the team. He led Villanova in both wins in the Empire Class, averaging 23 ppg and nine rebounds, including a dominant career-high 28 against a ranked foe in Arizona State.
That certainly doesn’t take away the talented trio of Caleb Daniels, Justin Moore, and Collin Gillespie, who each reached double figures in both matchups as well. Of course, when you have a talented forward as Robinson-Earl on the roster to lead the way, it’s easier to produce at a high level on the court.
Negative – Complacency
It’s hard to find anything “negative” from the winner of the 2K Empire Classic, especially considering how dominant the Wildcats were against Arizona State. But had a couple of shots gone a different way the night before against Boston College, Villanova Basketball would’ve had the most shocking and disappointing defeat of the early season.
With nearly everyone coming back, the Wildcats are one of the few true national title contenders on paper this season. But that puts a giant target on their backs, particularly desperate teams trying to get an at-large bid. That’ll be the case in the Big East, with the Creighton Bluejays the only other team ranked currently.
Early mock 2021 NBA Draft. dark. Next
If Villanova plays the way they’re capable of, they could enter the 2021 NCAA Tournament as both a 1 seed and with 2-3 losses at the most. However, this program has been susceptible to losing bad games every now and then. As great as they look against Arizona State, the Wildcats showed that they’re just as vulnerable when Boston College took them to the brink.