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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Villanova Basketball (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

5. 2021-22

Record: 30-8

Big East Record: 16-4

Big East Tournament Champion: Yes

NCAA Tournament finish: Final 4 (L) vs Kansas

Highest Ranking: #5

Top scorer: Collin Gillespie 15.6 ppg

Another tournament run, another devastating loss to an eventual champion. The loss ended up being a precursor to the fatal blow [which is why this article is being written]. Even though it did not look like it, this ‘Nova team ran through the Big East. That was after one of the hardest non-conference schedules Wright has ever had to coach through. They played against four eventual top-4 NCAA tournament seeds (UCLA, Tennessee, Purdue, Baylor) proceeding to go to 1-3.

Don’t let the record deter you from how competitive they played. Collin Gillespie was coming off a torn ligament in his left knee the season before but in spite of that he did not miss a beat. He was experienced at the helm. Under his leadership and Wright’s coaching the rest of the team followed in a poised manner. They were unfazed in all the games where other teams threw punches. This team was very good under pressure.

To be quite honest this team was really special. Especially since it was Coach Wright’s last time coaching for ‘Nova (up to that point there was no indication he was retiring).

It would have been better if a championship was delivered but unfortunately Moore [who was a crucial part to this team] had torn his Achilles in the waning minutes of the Elite 8 juggernaut matchup vs. Houston. Things happen though.

This team had a perfect well-oiled offense that exploited all the flaws from the opposing team. They were so profound at shooting the 3-ball. Anyone could go off on any given night. Their offensive rating was top-20 in the nation. You get the picture… you had to be on top of things defensively to play against this team or you risk the chances of them running laps around you.

This was undoubtedly one of Wright’s best teams ever. Unfortunately, they fall at 5 due to the legendary teams Wright put out aside from this team.

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