Big East Basketball: Preseason conference power rankings 2023-24
4. Villanova Wildcats
Last season: 17-17, 10-10
The Villanova Wildcats saw an up-and-down season during the first year of the Kyle Neptune era. Villanova managed to win six of their final eight games to prove they could compete in the Big East by season’s end with Coach Neptune leading the way.
Eric Dixon, Justin Moore, Mark Armstrong, Jordan Longino and Brendan Hausen headline the list of seven returning names for the Wildcats this season. Dixon and Moore have one thing on their mind with their final year of eligibility on the line in 2023-24: a national title. They’ll be joined by four acquisitions out of the transfer portal and freshman Jordann Dumont as they look for a better finish this season.
Dixon will look to run things in the frontcourt once again after averaging 15.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 1.4 apg on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor and 37.8 percent shooting from behind the arc. He returns looking to play a bigger role after earning second-team All-Conference honors in 2022-23.
Moore made his return to the hardwood this past January and put up 13.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.2 apg on 34.1 percent shooting from deep across 13 games. With a full season on the horizon, look for his production to lead to greater success for the Wildcats.
Hakim Hart (Maryland) should boost the backcourt with his presence as an attacker, rebounder and playmaker. He spent the past four years in the Big Ten with Maryland and posted 11.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.6 apg and 1.2 spg on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor in 2022-23. He’ll look to fill the void at the wing role for the Wildcats.
Tyler Burton (Richmond) should prove to be quite the addition at the power forward role with his exploits. He averaged 19.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.5 spg as a second-team All-A10 performer this past year. He should be a solid force with Dixon given his ability to rebound the ball and operate in the painted area.
T.J. Bamba (Washington State) is their final big addition out of the portal. He finished with 15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.7 apg on 37.2 percent shooting from deep and 42.6 percent from the field this past season in the Pac-12.
Armstrong and Chris Acridiacono should share the point guard duties while their new blood should plug and play into the lineup alongside Dixon and Moore. The Wildcats finished 10-10 in the conference and they went and got some firepower out of the transfer portal to land at No. 4 in the preseason conference power rankings.