NCAA Basketball: Top 10 seasons for Jay Wright at Villanova

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats talks with his team during a timeout in the second half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Villanova Wildcats 81-65. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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Kyle Lowry Villanova Basketball (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

10. 2004-05

Record: 24-8

Big East Record: 11-5

Big East Tournament Champion: No

NCAA Tournament finish: Sweet 16 (L) vs North Carolina

Highest Ranking: #19

Top scorer: Allan Ray 16.2 ppg

The first three seasons of Wright’s tenure at ‘Nova they didn’t make the NCAA tournament. They had 13+ losses in each of those seasons. Finally gaining some consistency and getting his guys seasoned the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament.

Wright had returned 93.5% of scoring from the season before. He brought in top-30 freshman point guard [and eventual NBA champion] Kyle Lowry to come off the bench to provide some stability for veteran guards Allan Ray and Randy Foye.

A highlight of this season was when this team beat the #2 team in the nation [at the time] Kansas Jayhawks by 21 points. This Wildcats team was really good at pushing the pace, attacking the rim, and gathering offensive boards.

Losing to the eventual 2005 National Champion, North Carolina Tar Heels, by a closer margin (67-66) than any of the other teams the Tar Heels defeated. Realizing they were so close to beating the national champ provided some confidence going forward.

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