Villanova Basketball: 2022-23 season preview and outlook for Wildcats

Season Outlook

Since the new Big East was formed in 2013, Villanova has gone 130-31 in conference play against their foes in a solid power conference. They’ve won a flurry of regular season and conference tournament titles made three Final Fours, and brought home those two national championships as well. This success has come with completely different rosters, as the Wildcats keep bringing successful and impressive talent down to Villanova.

But the times are changing, and this is a very different-looking Villanova squad. There will certainly be questions marks about how Neptune fares leading this program. The losses of talented players like Gillespie and Samuels will be difficult to replace, especially with Moore and Whitmore missing extended time with their injuries. Even though important pieces like Dixon and Samuels are back, players like Longino will be expected to take major steps forward.

On paper, this Villanova squad still looks very good, but there are clearly many reasons for doubt. We don’t know how Armstrong or other players will handle a point guard position that has been handled masterfully for nearly a decade. We’re not sure how effective this lineup will be without those two injured stars, and how effective Moore or Whitmore will be upon their returns later in the year. Even more, it’s not known how Neptune fares leading this Big East program after a decent debut in the A-10 last year at Fordham.

Creighton will be everyone’s pick to win the Big East this year but Villanova is likely the second-favorite, despite all these issues. This is still a team with a ton of talent, and that frontcourt is going to anchor this team to some impressive performances. You may not have another Final Four quality team this season, but this is still another Wildcats squad that should contend for Big East supremacy and could be a second-weekend team in the Big Dance.