NCAA Basketball: 2021-22 Christmas wishlist for each top 25 team

24. Villanova Wildcats – Adding some depth between now and March

The Wildcats got their first win over a ranked team in Xavier this week but they already got four losses on the season. None of them are bad at all but it showed that this team may not be good enough to compete against the top teams in the country. The biggest reason has been their inability to finish, getting tired towards the end while playing just six guys for the most part, with Caleb Daniels coming off the bench.

Unless Bryan Antoine can one day get healthy, Coach Jay Wright will have to use either Trey Patterson or Nnanna Njoku into the rotation at some point. Both are former top 100 prospects and give much-needed size in the frontcourt, with just 6’8 Eric Dixon and the undersized Jermaine Samuels playing at the four and five-spots. Just getting one more rotation player going forward could be what Villanova needs to become a true Final Four contender.

23. UConn Huskies – Finding offense when it matters

UConn’s offense is ranked in the top-50 nationally at around 80 ppg but a lot of that has to do with scoring a bunch against vastly inferior opponents, as well as scoring 116 points in double-overtime against Auburn. But against the rest of the power conference foes, the Huskies were barely breaking 60 points. Guards Tyrese Martin and RJ Cole, as well as big man Adama Sanogo, are each averaging over 14 ppg but the supporting cast has struggled offensively.

The defense is top-notch for the Huskies but if they can get either Jordan Hawkins or Andrew Jackson to become a consistent offensive threat in the backcourt, then UConn can truly become a favorite to win the Big East. They just need one more scorer, as well as maintaining good health the rest of the way.