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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Darrun Hilliard II Villanova Basketball (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

3. 2014-15

Record: 33-3

Big East Record: 16-2

Big East Tournament Champion: Yes

NCAA Tournament finish: Second round (L) vs North Carolina State

Highest Ranking: #4

Top scorer: Darrun Hilliard 14.3 ppg

We are entering the home stretch of Wright’s best teams. The difference between this team and the last team mentioned was the complete effectiveness of the 2014-15 offense. They ranked top-30 in numerous offensive categories.

2014-15’s team was filled with glue guys that played their roles to the tee. Their first loss actually did not occur until after the New Year. This team was essentially the first “dominant” ‘Nova team under Wright. Accumulating only three losses the entire season.

They almost did not lose for a whole two months, that was before they met up with a dangerous North Carolina State Wolfpack team in the NCAA Tournament. A dangerous team in their own right.

Anyways, this team is ranked so high due to their ability to play hard and work cohesively consistently throughout the whole season. They didn’t have the star power compared to other ‘Nova teams. Often taking turns as a group to get timely buckets. Six players averaged over 9 ppg.

The 2014-15 ‘Nova team embodied what Wright was building. He would get a couple of highly touted recruits here and there but this team screamed ‘Nova culture. Just the maturity that oozed from the head coach to on the court, was seamless. Wright was on the cusp of finally hitting his groove as a successful college basketball head coach.

Albeit an early tournament exit ended up being the outcome, that shouldn’t take away from the fact that they dominated the entire season. This season really etched Wright and his team’s name in history as a really good basketball team.

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