Villanova Basketball: Key storylines to watch for Wildcats 2023-24 season
By Kyle Craib
Major Returns: Who’s Back From Last Year’s Roster?
In an off-season for Villanova where incoming transfers stole the show, it’s remarkable that the Wildcats will have over 52 percent of their scoring return from last season. However, that percentage is rather top-heavy.
Starting things off in the frontcourt is returning 6’8” forward, Eric Dixon. Dixon boasts a unique skill set for a big man in the Big East. Along with the ability to command the paint, the senior showed a smooth shooting touch from beyond the three-point arc last season to the tune of a 37.8 percent. His 1.4 three-pointers per game ranked fourth on the team in 2022-23, but now becomes even more important following the departures of Whitmore and Daniels.
On the interior, Dixon’s 260-pound frame can present a nightmare for opposing defenses to contain. His 53.8 shooting percentage from inside the arc marked the highest of his career at Villanova. If Dixon can continue to build off a strong 2022-23 campaign, the Wildcats will have a returning staple in their new-look lineup that they can rely on for a big bucket.
The other half of Villanova’s returning starter-duo is none other than Justin Moore, a 6’4” guard looking to continue his productive career for the ‘Cats. Throughout his time at Villanova, Moore has never averaged less than 11 points per game. Despite his scoring numbers remaining fairly consistent, the senior’s confidence in his long-range shooting has grown since 2021. His 6.3 threes attempted per game ranked second on last year’s roster. Without Caleb Daniels alongside him in the backcourt, Moore has the opportunity to fill up the scoresheet from deep.
Aside from his scoring, Moore’s 3.2 assists per game in 2022-23 ranks at the top of this roster entering this season. However, that’s not much of a feat, given Villanova ranked near the bottom of the nation in assists last season. The team tallied only 14.4 per game, good enough for 294th overall. If the senior is able to continue improving his court vision while keeping his near 2.0 assist to turnover ratio in check, Moore could provide a much-needed passing threat that is clearly lacking on this roster.
Following Dixon and Moore, the questions begin to grow about who is ready to make the leap to the next level. When scanning the 2023-24 roster sheet, my bets fall on the returning guard trio of Mark Armstrong, Brendan Hausen and Jordan Longino. All three posted very similar stat lines over the course of last season, each averaging single–digit point totals in limited opportunities to make a lasting impact.
Despite the small sample size, I would circle Hausen as my pick to break out for the Wildcats this season. After boasting a strong 44.3 three-point percentage last season, Hausen could provide a valuable bench-scoring role in his sophomore season. If this efficiency can hold up with an increased minutes share, Brendan Hausen could be a nightmare for opposing defences to contend with.
Also returning to the squad this year is guard Chris Arcidiacono, the 6’5” senior and brother of hallowed Villanova tournament saviour Ryan Arcidiacono. After getting some run in the starting lineup to kick off last season in the absence of Justin Moore, Arcidiacono was unable to find his footing and carve out a role as the year progress. The guard could be in the mix to snag some of the remaining minutes in the backcourt, but heading into his final year, it’s unlikely that he will make the jump to the next level. But a man can dream. I mean, wouldn’t another Arcidiacono March Madness moment be fun?