It has been an exciting opening month for the Villanova Wildcats. Since dropping their season opener by five to BYU, they have responded with six straight victories, including an 18 point win over Temple.
Villanova’s New Anchor in the Paint
Next up is a Saturday night matchup with Penn, and the Wildcats appear to be gaining momentum with every outing.
Brennan’s Rebounding Frenzy Takes Over Games
A major reason for Villanova’s surge has been the dominance of 6-foot-10 forward Duke Brennan. The senior from Chandler, Arizona enters the weekend as the nation’s leading rebounder at 13.3 boards per game. The Temple win on December 1 was the only game this season in which he failed to reach double digits, finishing with eight rebounds and 14 points in 27 minutes. His season high came against Quinnipiac when he hauled in 20 rebounds in a 20 point victory.
Defense Built Around a Relentless Veteran
Villanova is one of four Big East teams with only one loss through the season’s first month. The Wildcats are scoring 82 points per game and holding opponents below 67 thanks in large part to Brennan’s presence inside. A former Perry and Hillcrest Prep standout, Brennan entered college as the No. 20 center in his class with 21 Division I offers before committing to Arizona State. After one season he transferred to Grand Canyon, where he started 67 games across two years, averaging 10.5 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting nearly 65 percent. He helped lead the Antelopes to the NCAA Tournament, collecting eight rebounds in their first round matchup with Maryland.
A Perfect Fit Under Kevin Willard
Kevin Willard brought Brennan to Villanova to give the Wildcats a sturdier interior presence, and so far he has delivered exactly what was expected. Outside of the Temple game, where foul trouble limited him to four fouls, Brennan has stayed on the floor and consistently impacted both ends. He has connected on 28 of his 48 field goal attempts this season, scoring when needed but never forcing his offense.
A Rising Name to Watch This Spring
As Villanova prepares for Penn and a looming trip to Michigan, Brennan continues to establish himself as one of the most valuable big men in college basketball. If he keeps up this pace, he could become a player who earns real attention when NBA Draft discussions heat up this spring.