The Villanovan's 2022 Basketball Magazine

The Villanovan | 1

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from the

SPORTS EDITORS Dear ‘Nova Nation, Villanova basketball is back! This season commences a new era on the Main Line for the men’s team that will bring many unforgettable memories. With Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright retired, Kyle Neptune now takes the reins for the Wildcats. Last season, fans returned to the Finneran Pavilion in full force and cheered along the ‘Cats as they made a run to the Final Four and took home the Big East Tournament crown. The women’s squad is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last season and had one of the program’s best regular seasons, led by Big East Player of the Year Maddy Siegrist. Here at The Villanovan, we’re excited to offer you an introduction to the teams as they prepare for the upcoming season and to introduce you all to some new faces on the teams.

We would like to give a large thank you to our staff writers at The Villanovan for their help in putting this magazine together. We would also like to thank The Villanovan Editorial Staff for their help in producing the pages of this magazine. Thank you to Mike Sheridan, Dean Kenefick, Michelle Ruel and the rest of the Villanova Athletics Media Relations Staff for helping us gain access to the student-athletes featured in this magazine, and thank you to our advisors, Michael Bradley and Deena Smith, for their unwavering support of this project.

We hope you enjoy this preview, and we’re excited for the season to come. See you all in the Finn!

Go ‘Cats!

Meghann Morhardt and Matt Ryan Co-Sports Editors

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Colin Beazley Vivi Melkonian ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tina Aron DIGITAL EDITOR Rachel Reiniger SENIOR EDITOR Cate McCusker NEWS EDITORS Lydia McFarlane Sarah Sweeney Sarah Wisniewski OPINION EDITOR AJ Fezza CULTURE EDITORS Chloe Miller Elena Rouse SPORTS EDITORS Meghann Morhardt Matt Ryan COPY DESK EDITOR Molly Baker PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Olivia Pasquale STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Brooke Ackerman Lauren Armstrong Jacob Artz Catherine Browne Aphrodite Dimopoulos James Haupt Owen Hewitt Loghan Hirkey Noah Lanouette Katie Lewis Elijah McDow Amanda McKean Tyler Moore Victoria Newsome Anders Pryor Zac Tipton ADVISORS Michael Bradley Deena Leh The Villanovan | 3

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Men’s ‘21-’22 RECAP:

By Noah Lanouette

The 2021-22 season was a year of endings for the men’s basketball team at Villanova: the end of Collin Gillespie, the end of Jermaine Samuels, the end of Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, and the end of Jay Wright. With these three known, and one unexpected, finales on the horizon, Villanova did not disappoint. Before the season even began, the Wildcats were selected as the Big East preseason favorites, and Gillespie was named Preseason Player of the Year for the conference, as well as an AP Preseason First Team All-American. This set expectations high for the team, who also ranked fourth to begin the season, but not unfairly, as everyone knew what it was capable of. Villanova showed it was able to meet those expectations by reaching the Final Four.

They proved the majority right in the first game, with a 91-51 dismantling of Mount St. Mary’s behind 27 points and seven assists from junior guard Justin Moore as he continued his ascent into a top scorer for Villanova. The early season dominance was short-lived, falling in an overtime loss to No. 2 UCLA, 86-77. The Wildcats got back on track against Howard in a 100-81 victory going into the Hall of Fame Tipoff classic.

The first-round matchup saw Villanova face the University of Tennessee, which had recently jumped Villanova in the rankings at five, while the Wildcats fell to sixth. However, the team proved this adjustment to be premature by beating the Volunteers 71-53 and holding the opponents to 33.3% from the field and a measly 17.9% from three. The next round against Purdue did not end in a favorable result for the Wildcats, though, where they struggled against the Boilermakers’ size and the talent of future top-five pick Jaden Ivey, losing 80-74. This second loss got people wondering if this team could beat the good teams they would inevitably face in the NCAA Tournament, and this gave the men’s team something they needed to prove.

Returning to Pennsylvania, Villanova rattled off three easy wins against LaSalle, Pennsylvania, and Saint Joe’s, before heading up to Madison Square Garden to defeat Syracuse and ex-Wildcat Cole Swider.

Then came the game against Baylor, where the concerns against good teams only heightened following a 57-36 loss where the ‘Cats couldn’t get anything going offensively. Even worse, the next game, Villanova’s Big East opener, was a 79-59 blowout loss against Creighton. The losses were piling Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography

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up and the Wildcats knew they had to play better if they wanted to meet their lofty standards. Villanova got back on track with a six-game win streak that included a revenge victory against Creighton.

The Wildcats hit a speed bump in a heartbreaking loss at home to Marquette, only losing by three, which they responded to with three more wins, but then fell to Marquette again, 83-73. To finish out the regular season and Big East play after the loss, Villanova went 7-1, resulting in a 23-7 record with the Big East Tournament looming. In recognition of their overall success, Gillespie and Moore were both named to All-Big East teams, first and second, respectively. Adding to the list of accolades, Gillespie also won the Big East Player, and Scholar-Athlete, of the Year.

All season, the Big East demonstrated that it was a tough conference, with threats everywhere to capture the title. In the quarterfinals, the Wildcats pulled out a narrow win against St. John’s, 66-65.

Up next was UConn, with which they split the season series. Once again, it was down to the wire, but Villanova won, 63-60, meaning the ‘Cats would be playing in the finals against Creighton, the squad that started off ‘Nova’s Big East play with a crushing defeat. The Wildcats sent Creighton home packing, 54-48, while Villanova returned to campus as Big East Tournament champions, and Gillespie with the tournament’s MVP award. The victory earned Villanova an automatic bid to March Madness and the No. 2 seed in the South Region.

The Round of 64 was a dominant showing for Villanova, which beat Delaware 80-60 to advance to the Round of 32 where it would play Ohio State. OSU was a good team throughout the season, but it too was defeated by the Wildcats, 71-61, sending ‘Nova to the Sweet Sixteen against Michigan.

The last time the two squads faced off in the tournament, Villanova added another championship banner, and this outcome was no different. Villanova’s 63-55 victory over the Wolverines resulted in an Elite Eight bout against an athletic and talented Houston team. The Wildcats eked out another win to send them to New Orleans for the Final Four behind stellar play from Samuels, putting the narbeat the top competition to rest.

However, they would suit up against their next opponent, Kansas, without Moore after he tore his Achilles tendon against Houston. Before the Final Four commenced, Gillespie won the Bob Cousy Award, the highest honor for college point guards. This would be his last collegiate win, team or individual, because the Wildcats’ run in the tournament ended in an 81-65 defeat in which Villanova dearly missed Moore’s production.

Now, with Gillespie, Samuels, and Cosby-Roundtree gone from the team, and Wright’s shocking retirement from the head coach position this spring, Villanova is in a year of beginnings.

Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography The Villanovan | 9

Women’s ‘21-’22 RECAP:

By Noah Lanouette All around, the women’s basketball team saw both team and individual success in the 2021-22 season, even if the beginning of the season wasn’t a great indication of what was to come. The year ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament but included many highlights, most notably a win over perennial national powerhouse Connecticut. The win was UConn’s first conference loss since 2013.

The Wildcats started off with losses to Princeton and Maryland, with neither game being particularly close. By the beginning of Big East play, the team was 3-3, and then lost consecutive conference games to Providence and Creighton. Villanova got back on track with a win against James Madison, but the next game, a win against No. 23 Oregon State, was the first indication of the kind of season this roster could put together. After three more wins, it had put together a five-game win streak, including the upset at UConn.

The success was interrupted by a defeat at Seton Hall, but that didn’t stop Villanova from going on a ninegame win streak, with a 4-1 finish to the season following. Villanova ended the season 24-9, good for second in the league behind the Huskies.

Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography 10 | The Villanovan

On Mar. 5, the Big East Tournament began for the Wildcats in a dominant fashion with a 76-52 blowout against St. John’s. In the game, junior forward Maddy Siegrist led the way in scoring with 24 points, while graduate forward Brianna Herlihy stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 17 rebounds and six assists. Up next was a victory in the semifinals against Seton Hall, which the team split the regular season series against. It was a close match, the deciding factor was the Villanova defense, which held Seton Hall to 35.7% from the field and 16.7% from three en route to a 64-55 win. With the win, the women’s basketball team found themselves matched up against UConn. Villanova was unable to repeat its February success, falling 70-40 to the eventual national runner up. Despite the blowout loss, the Wildcats’ success throughout the season earned them their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and for the first time in Denise Dillon’s tenure as head coach.

Villanova entered the tournament as the 11th seed in the Wichita Regional bracket, with hopes of making a deep run. The Round of 64 saw them upset sixth-seeded BYU, 61-57. Although the Wildcats had worse shooting percentages, they won the turnover battle, only giving the ball up nine times to BYU’s 16. This defensive showing was a team effort, but freshman guard Lucy Olsen led the way with an impressive six steals, while Siegrist unsurprisingly dropped 25 points to lead the team offensively. This was the final victory that they would see, as they fell to Michigan in the Round of 32, 64-49.

From an individual perspective, the regular season was nothing short of phenomenal for Siegrist. Starting off the stream of awards with Preseason First-Team All-Big East and a few trophy watchlists, she would live up to the lofty expectations set before competition began. In December, her 36-point explosion against JMU, followed up by upsetting Oregon State netted Siegrist Big East Player of the Week and United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week honors. Starting off the new year, she won another Player of the Week award, and would follow that up with another a month later. Then, three days later in an overtime matchup against Marquette, Siegrist led the Wildcats to victory with a career-high 42 points, earning her another pair of Big East and USBWA Player of the Week awards. All of these massive performances and accolades throughout the season led her to be awarded the highest honors in the Big East with the Player of the Year award, the ultimate prize to cap off an outstanding regular season.

Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography The Villanovan | 11

Villanova MBB Preview: Stacked with Talent, Athleticism & Attitude for 2022-23 By: Catherine Browne

When an individual thinks about college basketball, Villanova is one of the first teams that comes to mind.

This year’s team is stacked with talent, athleticism and attitude, and the ‘Cats remain focused on the journey to the national championship. Several changes have been made this year that may invite some to underestimate Villanova this season.

However, the culture and never quit mentality that have previously helped lead the team to becoming Big East and National Champions remains in place as the 2022-23 season approaches.

For the past 21 seasons, Villanova has been led by legendary head coach Jay Wright, but after his unexpected retirement following last season, Villanova hired his former assistant, Fordham head coach Kyle Neptune. Neptune spent 10 years on Wright’s staff. As Fordham’s head coach, he led the Rams to their highest win total in the past five seasons with a 16-16 record and a trip to the Atlantic-10 conference tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 2007. Due to Neptune’s experience as a Wildcat assistant coach, particularly during Villanova’s two most recent national championships, expectations are high.

The team lost two veterans in point guard Collin Gillespie and small forward Jermaine Samuels, which will force other players to step up as the team’s new leaders. Graduates Caleb 12 | The Villanovan

Daniels and Brandon Slater, along with senior guard Justin Moore, are three of the most valuable players on the roster.

Daniels’ quickness and agility does not go unnoticed on the court, as he averages 10.3 points per game (PPG), 3.8 rebounds per game (RPG) and 1.0 assist per game (APG). Last season, Daniels was the crucial sixth man off the bench, but this year, he will be called upon to fill the small forward position in the starting lineup.

The talent does not stop at Daniels. Moore was the one of top scorers last season, averaging 14.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.3 APG until his season abruptly ended with a torn Achilles during the Wildcats’ victory against Houston in the NCAA South Regional Final. Moore is expected to return to play sometime during the team’s early Big East schedule and will be a strong starter on the roster.

Slater is a key player for the ‘Cats with the size and skill to be one of the leading scorers on the team. Last season, Slater was a pivotal starter in every game, averaging 8.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.6 APG. The Wildcats have also witnessed the progression of redshirt junior forward Eric Dixon, as he uses his strength both beyond the three point arch and inside on the boards. Dixon is one of the top rebounders on the team averaging 6.4 RPG along with 9.1 PPG and 1.3 APG. If the Blue/White Scrimmage is

Graydon Paul, Villanovan Photography

Graydon Paul, Villanovan Photography

any indication of Slater and Dixon’s performance this season, these players will act as a double threat.

The rest of the young roster provides Neptune and his staff with a strong rotation this season. Sophomore guard Jordan Longino began his collegiate basketball career appearing in multiple games last season until he suffered a season-ending meniscus tear to his right knee.

His short season proved his athleticism and commitment to the team showing great potential to contribute significantly to this team’s success. Sophomore forwards Nnanna Njoku and Trey Patterson are the tallest players on the team and may see significant minutes on the court, with Njoku backing up Dixon.

Additionally, it would not be a surprise if senior point guard Chris Arcidiacono and redshirt freshman point guard Angelo Brizzi were given numerous opportunities to contribute this season, especially until Moore makes his return. A new addition to the roster is sophomore guard Collin O’Toole directly off the practice team.

He will build his basketball IQ and experience this season while

wearing a Villanova jersey.

Among the incoming freshmen players, there are high expectations for the three top recruits.

Forward Cam Whitmore exudes enormous talent and quickness as one of the highest rated recruits in his class. Whitmore was named the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, earned McDonald’s All-American honors and led the USA National Team to a gold medal in the U18 FIBA Americas Championship as the tournament’s MVP. Originally, it would have been no surprise if Whitmore saw some minutes, but he underwent surgery on his right thumb and will likely miss the start of the season.

Whitmore is joined by teammate Mark Armstrong, a freshman guard who also made a prevalent appearance at the FIBA Championships. The New Jersey native attended St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City where he demonstrated his speed, agility and intelligence to become a very prominent player on the team. Rounding out

the freshman class is guard Brendan Hausen, a sharpshooter from Amarillo, Texas.

Hausen is the all-time leading scorer at his high school, and his impressive shooting abilities and team first attitude should earn him a solid few minutes of playing time during his first year.

The ‘Cats kick off their season with La Salle on Nov. 7. Villanova will play its other three Big 5 games as well as some more non-conference matchups, including Oklahoma, Michigan State and Iowa State, before beginning its Big East schedule with St. John’s on Dec. 21.

Villanova’s roster includes a large amount of talent and basketball IQ that will aid the team throughout this season. Regardless of the changes that the team underwent, when one thinks of college basketball, Villanova will still be among the top programs.

Graydon Paul, Villanovan Photography

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Villanova WBB Preview: Sky’s the Limit for Siegrist and Co.

By Meghann Morhardt and Matt Ryan

Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Villanova women’s basketball has high expectations entering the 2022-23 season. Denise Dillon is at the helm for the Wildcats in her third season as head coach, and on the floor, Villanova’s clear leader is star senior forward Maddy Siegrist.

The Wildcats went 24-9 last season after starting the year 3-5, with Siegrist missing six games in that span. In Big East play, Villanova went 15-4,

Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography

14 | The Villanovan

finishing in second place behind UConn, which it upset earlier in the season on the road. The Wildcats made a run to the championship game in the Big East Tournament, but fell short in the title game, losing to the Huskies.

Despite not getting an automatic bid, the Wildcats still made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed. Villanova faced No. 6 seed BYU in the first round, winning 61-57 and setting up a date with Michigan in the Round of 32. The Wildcats’ March Madness run came to an end at the hands of the Wolverines, losing 64-49.

Led by Dillon, the reigning Big East Coach of the Year, With three returning starters, including Siegrist, the reigning Big East Player of the Year, the Wildcats enter the season as one of the top teams in the Big East.

Villanova placed third in the Big East Preseason Coaches Poll, only behind UConn and Creighton.

Siegrist was pegged as the Big East Preseason Player of the Year after a fantastic season last year. The senior forward has solidified herself as one of the best players and most prolific scorers in program history. Siegrist is on pace to become Villanova’s all-time leading scorer, men or women, after a 684 point season last year that put her in third alltime for women. Despite missing six games due to injury, she finished the year just one point short of the program record for points in a single season.

Siegrist finished second

in the nation in scoring after averaging 25.3 points per game, also breaking the 30-year-old conference scoring record with an average of 27.9 points in Big East contests. Siegrist’s impact extends to more than just scoring as she led the team with 9.2 rebounds per game and had 39 steals and 27 blocks on the season.

For the Wildcats to improve on their success last season, they will need another historical performance from Siegrist. But it doesn’t stop with her. Siegrist’s supporting cast is filled with talented players.

Siegrist’s fellow captains, senior Brooke Mullin and junior Bella Runyan, will fill important roles both on and off the court.

Mullin is no stranger to being the role player as she has spent her last three years at Nova doing anything necessary to help the team win. The senior has not been a strong scorer throughout her career, but her ability to facilitate on offense and elevate the team’s efficiency on defense is what makes her impact so noticeable.

Similar to Mullin, Runyan shines on the defensive end. The junior guard brings constant energy to the floor and is capable of taking on a defensive challenge or stepping up on the offensive end if needed.

The upperclassmen trio will be crucial to the team’s success both on and off the court as they use their leadership experience to cultivate a cohesive culture that translates on the floor.

Another key returner for

the ‘Cats is sophomore Lucy Olsen who saw significant minutes as a freshman last season.

The guard made an impression, starting all 33 games and earning a spot on the Big East All-Rookie Team. Olsen initially played with a pass-first mentality, resulting in 89 assists on the season. But after gaining some confidence, she looked to score more and finished the season averaging 7.0 points per game, with multiple double-digit scoring games.

New to the Wildcats this season is Penn State transfer Maddie Burke. The junior joins Villanova with an opportunity to make an immediate impact in the absence of Lior Garzon, who transferred to Oklahoma State following last season.

Burke, a 6’0” guard, is a strong outside shooter who can score at all three levels and also brings some intensity on the defensive end. She will help to fill the hole that Garzon and 2022 grad Brianna Herlihy left.

The rest of the Wildcat roster consists of role players that Dillon will use to fill in the gaps, but this is not without some apprehension. The team is majority underclassmen with a five-player sophomore class and four new freshmen. There will be some bumps in the road, but if last year is any indication, then Dillon and her staff have the ability to develop the younger players into solid contributors on the court.

The Wildcats open their season with seven road matchups. Their first game is against Marist, a hometown contest for Poughkeepsie, NY native Siegrist. Villanova will then face more non-conference opponents, including their first two Big Five games against Temple and Penn as well as a Thanksgiving tournament in Naples, FL. The first home game for the Wildcats will also be their

Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography first Big East matchup as they take on Creighton on Dec. 2.

This is not an easy start to the conference schedule as Creighton was picked to finish second in the Big East and will be one of the ‘Cats’ toughest competitors this season. Villanova will then face Providence at home before playing another chunk of non-conference games including American and Iowa State, both strong opponents.

The Wildcats will play 18 consecutive Big East games to finish the season. Along with Creighton, Villanova’s biggest challenges will come against UConn, DePaul, Seton Hall and Marquette.

Villanova has its sights set on another Big East Tournament Championship berth, but this year with a more positive end result. But with or without a conference tournament title, the ‘Cats are expected to advance to the NCAA Tournament again. With Siegrist leading the way, there is no telling how deep of a run the Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography group is capable of.

Olivia Pasquale, Villanovan Photography

The Villanovan | 15

MEET THE

TREY

3

CHRIS

4

All photos courtesy of Villanova Athletics

MEN

5 JUSTIN

PATTERSON

ARCIDIACONO

MOORE

SOPHOMORE Somerset, NJ 6’9” Forward

SENIOR Langhorne, PA 6’4” Guard

SENIOR Fort Washington, MD 6’4” Guard

A former four star recruit out of Rutgers Prep in NJ, Patterson arrived at Villanova midway through the 2020-21 season. He has seen limited action during the past two seasons, but should have a bigger role this coming year. At 6-foot-9, Patterson is a versatile forward that can contribute both on the wing and down low.

The younger brother of Villanova legend Ryan Arcidiacono and the son of two Villanova alumni, Chris Arcidiacono was Villanova royalty before even stepping on campus.

Arcidiacono has become a viable role player for the Wildcats, averaging 1.6 points per game last season in 9.5 minutes a night. With Collin Gillespie gone, Arcidiacono could see an uptick in minutes this season.

Coming off a torn Achilles in Villanova’s Elite Eight win last year, Moore will be out for the start of the season but should return during Big East play. Last season, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 14.8 points and was named to the Season Team All-Big East. A native of Maryland, Moore is entering his fourth season with the Wildcats and has been a starter each season since coming to the Main Line.

16 | The Villanovan

All photos courtesy of Villanova Athletics

10 12 14 ANGELO

COLLIN

CALEB

BRIZZI

O’TOOLE

DANIELS

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN Warrenton, VA 6’3” Guard

SOPHOMORE Rye, NY 6’1” Guard

GRADUATE STUDENT New Orleans, LA 6’4” Guard

After redshirting last season, Brizzi will see some game action for the first time in his Villanova career this year. The 6-3 guard from Virginia was a four star recruit in high school.

With Collin Gillespie gone and some unknown at the point guard position going into the season, Brizzi will play into the rotation under new Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune.

The lone walk-on on Villanova’s roster, O’Toole played his high school ball at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School before doing a post graduate year at St. Thomas More in Connecticut. Former Villanova players such as Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman played at St. Thomas More, as did current Villanova assistant Dwayne Anderson. O’Toole is part of a basketball family as his father, Tim, was the head coach at Fairfield from 1998–2006 and is now the associate head coach at Pittsburgh. Last season, O’Toole was a member of Villanova’s practice team.

In his sixth year in college, Daniels will be a key player for the Wildcats and should get some minutes at point guard, especially with Moore out for the start of the year. Daniels transferred to Villanova from Tulane in 2019 and in two seasons with the Wildcats has averaged 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 60 career contests while shooting 42% from the field, 37.9% from three and 82.8% from the free throw line. This is Daniels’ last year of eligibility.

The Villanovan | 17

LONGINO

NJOKU

NNANNA

BRANDON

SOPHOMORE Doylestown, PA 6’5” Guard

SOPHOMORE Newark, DE 6’9” Forward

GRADUATE STUDENT Centerville, VA 6’8” Forward

REDSHIRT JUNIOR Willow Grove, PA 6’8” Forward

Last season, Longino was the only freshman to crack Villanova’s rotation on a consistent basis. The 6-foot5 guard appeared in 26 games, playing 8.6 minutes per game and averaging 1.8 points. A local product from Germantown Academy in Doylestown, Pa., Longino scored a career-high 10 points in a road win over Butler. With starters Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels gone, Longino could crack the starting five this year.

A former four star recruit, Njoku played sparingly for the Wildcats in his freshman campaign last year. He appareard in just nine games last season but should see an uptick in minutes this year.

Njoku played his high school ball at Sanford High School in Delaware, where former Villanova forward Will Sheridan played. Njoku’s high school coach was Stan Waterman, now the head coach at Delaware State, which Villanova plays on Nov. 14.

Formerly No. 3 for the Wildcats, Slater returned to the Main Line for one final season, this time sporting No. 34. The 6-foot-8 forward from Virginia played a limited role his first three seasons at Villanova, but last year burst onto the scene, starting all 38 games and averaging 8.5 points and 3.7 rebounds. He is well known for his explosive plays, which include a poster and-one dunk against Providence and a clutch block in the waning minutes of a Villanova win over UConn in the BET.

After coming into his own as the Wildcats’ starting center last year, Dixon is looking to expand his role both on and off the court even further. In his third year as a Wildcat, the redshirt sophomore averaged 9.1 points and just over six rebounds while starting in each of the ‘Cats 38 games.

Now, entering his redshirt junior year, Dixon’s powerful play style will likely prove to be a key feature of a relatively smaller Wildcats lineup.

JORDAN

ERIC

15 21 34 43 18 | The Villanovan

SLATER

DIXON

NEW FACES: All photos courtesy of Villanova Athletics

MEET THE FRESHMEN

BRENDAN

1

MARK

CAM

FRESHMAN Amarillo, TX 6’4” Guard

2

FRESHMAN South Orange, NJ 6’2” Guard

22

A four-star guard out of Amarillo, Texas, Hausen is known for his knock down left handed jumper.

The 6-foot-4 guard is Amarillo High School’s all time leading scorer and when it came to his college decision, he was also considering Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Nevada, and Arizona State. With a veteran backcourt, Hausen likely won’t see much playing time as a freshman and could be a redshirt candidate.

Armstrong played his high school ball not too far from the Main Line at Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. The top-60 recruit averaged 23.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a senior in high school and committed to Villanova early on.

The 6-foot-2 guard was a key piece in the USA’s run FIBA U18 Americas Championship gold medal and will compete for minutes this coming season.

One of the highest rated recruits in Villanova history, Whitmore enters his career on the Main Line with lofty expectations. He is projected to be a lottery pick in this coming NBA Draft but won’t see the floor at the beginning of the season as he suffered a broken thumb on his shooting hand (right). Whitmore, a 6-foot-7 forward, joined Armstrong on the FIBA U18 Americas Championship where he was named the Most Outstanding Player.

HAUSEN

ARMSTRONG

WHITMORE

FRESHMAN Odenton, MD 6’7” Forward

The Villanovan | 19

GET TO KNOW Brendan Hausen

Mark Armstrong

Trey Patterson

Chris Arcidiacono

Justin Moore

Angelo Brizzi

Co O’T

Favorite TV Show?

Outer Banks

Dragon Ball Z Kai

Power

Peaky Blinders

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Stranger Things

The

Best Music Taste?

Nnanna Njoku

Brandon Slater

Brandon Slater

Brandon Slater

Eric Dixon/ Caleb Daniels

Brandon Slater

Bra Sl

Don’t Stop Believin’

by Journey

Power

by Young Thug

We Are You by fun.

Boy

by B R

Philadelphia Eagles

Los Angeles Lakers

New Orleans Saints

New Gi

Collin Gillespie

Chr B

Go to Karaoke Song?

Favorite Pro Sports Team?

“Pass”

Miami Heat

“That’s hard. What’s Wrong I don’t know.” by Rod Wave

None

None

Who Would You Cast to Kevin Hart Play You in a Movie?

Kevin Hart

Denzel Washington

“Myself ”

Will Smith

Most Likely to Burn The Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Brandon Slater

Cam Whitmore

Angelo Brizzi

Jordan Longino

Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore

Bre Ha

Who Would You Not Trust to Date Your Sibling?

Jordan Longino

Jordan Longino

Jordan Longino

Mark Armstrong

Jordan Longino

Jordan Longino

Jor Lon

Most Likely to Sleep in And Miss Practice?

Mark Armstrong

Cam Whitmore

Angelo Brizzi

Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore

“No

20 | The Villanovan

W

THE ‘CATS Collin O’Toole

Caleb Daniels

Jordan Longino

Nnanna Njoku

Cam Whitmore

Brandon Slater

Eric Dixon

er gs

The Office

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

How I Met Your Mother

Ozark

Not available due to injury

Gossip Girl

The 100

on r

Brandon Slater

Brandon Slater

“Me”

Brandon Slater

Not available due to injury

“Me”

“Me”

You n.

Boyfriend

by Big Time Rush

Dark Horse

by Katy Perry

My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

Freestyle by Lil Baby

Not available due to injury

Gotta Go My Own Way by High School Musical

7 Years

by Lukas Graham

eans s

New York Giants

New Orleans Pelicans

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia 76ers

Not available due to injury

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

lespie

Christian Bale

Anthony Mackie

Tom Cruise

Will Smith

Not available due to injury

Denzel Washington

Will Smith

m more

Brendan Hausen

Cam Whitmore

Trey Patterson

Cam Whitmore

Not available due to injury

Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore

an no

Jordan Longino

Jordan Longino

Mark Armstrong

Jordan Longino

Not available due to injury

Jordan Longino

Jordan Longino

m more

“No one”

Brandon Slater

Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore

Not available due to injury

Eric Dixon

Cam Whitmore The Villanovan | 21

WOMEN ZANAI

1

LUCY

3

All photos courtesy of Villanova Athletics

MEET THE

4

KAITLYN

JONES

OLSEN

ORIHEL

SOPHOMORE Jersey City, NJ 5’6” Guard

SOPHOMORE Collegeville, PA 5’9” Guard

SOPHOMORE Newtown, PA 5’10” Guard

Jones is one of five sophomores on the Wildcat roster. The 5’6 point guard got some minutes last year, appearing in 22 games and averaging about six minutes per game.

Jones is a solid point guard that can both score and facilitate. The Wildcats have a strong guard rotation so breaking into the lineup as a freshman is difficult, but with a year of experience under her belt, Jones will be ready when called upon.

Last season, Olsen was the only freshman to break into the starting lineup and play significant minutes for the ‘Cats. The 5’9” true point guard effectively ran the Wildcats’ offense, averaging 2.7 assists per game while keeping her turnovers to a minimum. Olsen was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team last season after averaging 7.0 points per game and leading the Wildcats on defense, often guarding the opposing team’s best player. Olsen is expected to remain the team’s starting point guard this season.

Behind Olsen, Orihel was the other freshman who saw the most action last season. The 5’10” guard was often first or second off the bench and was a solid option for the Wildcats.

Orihel has a strong outside shot and is a consistent free throw shooter. The sophomore does not back down from pressure, having arguably her best performance in the team’s NCAA Tournament win against BYU. Orihel is expected to continue contributing off the bench for the Wildcats this season.

22 | The Villanovan

All photos courtesy of Villanova Athletics

5

ANAHI-LEE

CAULEY

SOPHOMORE Windsor, CT 6’0” Guard Cauley saw some action last season, appearing in 30 games and averaging about eight minutes, but should expect an uptick in those numbers this season. The sophomore brings a unique ability to the roster as a 6’0” guard that can play multiple roles and guard multiple positions. Dillon is pleased with Cauley’s development and if the sophomore continues at the rate she’s going, she should expect to be a stronger contributor this season.

10 15 CHRISTINA

BROOKE

DALCE

MULLIN

SOPHOMORE Edison, NJ 6’2” Forward

SENIOR Langhorne, PA 5’11” Guard

Dalce had the least experience of the freshmen last season, but she could have the biggest opportunity to increase her minutes this season. In the absence of Brianna Herlihy, who graduated last year, the Wildcats will need to fill some forward minutes. With a roster that highly favors the guard position, Dalce is certainly in the running to steal some of that time. The 6’2” forward brings athleticism and constant effort on the defensive end that make her solid piece of the Villanova puzzle.

In her three years at Villanova so far, Mullin has contributed in multiple ways, playing whatever role the team needs from her. Whether it’s coming off the bench like she did her freshman year, or being a member of the starting lineup as she was for the last two years, Mullin does what is needed to get the job done. The senior guard’s presence is felt most on the offensive end, serving as a facilitator and second point guard to Olsen.

The Villanovan | 23

20 21 23 32 MADDY

KYLIE

MADDIE

BURKE

BELLA

RUNYAN

SIEGRIST

SWIDER

SENIOR Poughkeepsie, NY 6’1” Forward

JUNIOR Portsmouth, RI 6’4” Forward/Center

JUNIOR Doylestown, PA 6’0” Guard

JUNIOR Moorestown, NJ 5’11” Guard

The senior forward is the reigning Big East Player of the Year and was picked to repeat this feat in the preseason coaches poll.

Siegrist averaged 25.3 points last season, good enough for second in the nation, and 27.9 in conference contests, breaking the 30-year-old Big East record. The senior star is expected to break the all-time scoring record this season as she looks to take the ‘Cats to another NCAA Tournament.

When Kylie arrived in 2020-21, she was one of two Swiders on Villanova’s campus, but after her brother Cole transferred, she is making Villanova her own. The 6’4” forward is the tallest member of the roster and the team’s only true center. The junior has seen minimal action due to veteran players at her position.

Sophomore to junior year is when the greatest increase in development often occurs, so Swider still has time to make her mark on the program.

Burke joins the Wildcats as a transfer from Penn State. The junior is returning to the Philly area for her third year. Growing up in Doylestown, Burke is familiar with the Main Line and is expected to fit right in with the Wildcats this season.

Burke is a versatile player who brings talent and energy to both ends of the floor. She’s a strong outside shooter who can battle inside and guard all five positions. Burke’s experience in the Big 10 will help her make an immediate impact for the ‘Cats.

Runyan, one of the team’s three captains this season, has been one of the Wildcats’ best defenders in her two years with the team. Runyan brings a contagious energy and effort that elevates the team on both ends of the floor. The 5’11” guard’s stats from last season are highlighted by her 33 steals, 62 assists and 74 rebounds. The junior has seen significant minutes in both seasons and will likely take on an even greater role this season with an opportunity to break into the starting lineup.

24 | The Villanovan

NEW FACES: All photos courtesy of Villanova Athletics

MEET THE FRESHMEN

MEGAN

ABIGAIL

ANNIE

MAGGIE

14 22 43 44 OLBRYS

JEGEDE

WELDE

GRANT

FRESHMAN Norwood, MA 6’1” Forward

FRESHMAN Toronto, CA 5’10” Guard

FRESHMAN Havertown, PA 6’0” Forward

FRESHMAN Downington, PA 6’0” Guard

A new addition to the Wildcat roster, Olbrys will add to the team’s limited depth at the post position. The 6’1” forward was named the 2022 Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year after averaging 16.2 points, 11 rebounds and 4.1 steals during her senior season.

With the lack of forwards on the team, Olbrys could see some action as a true freshman.

The only international player on the roster, Jegede joins the Wildcats with international competition experience. The 5’10” guard has been a member of the Canada Basketball Women’s National Team development program since 2018. With a guard-heavy roster, Jegede is not expected to see significant minutes this season.

Coming from Cardinal O’Hara and the Philadelphia Catholic League, Welde is not far from home as she begins her career at Villanova. The Havertown native joins her brother James who is on the Villanova football team. Welde will likely not see significant minutes this season but with Dillon’s tendency to use the roster’s depth, it’s not out of the question.

Another local player joining the Wildcats roster, Grant also played four years of high school in the Philadelphia Catholic League at Archbishop John Carroll.

Grant, niece of Villanova head coach Denise Dillon, comes from a basketball family. Grant will also not likely break into the lineup much as a freshman, but will impact the team down the road.

The Villanovan | 25

GET TO KNOW Zanai Jones

Lucy Olsen

Kaitlyn Orihel

Favorite TV Show?

Criminal Minds

Love Island

Greys Anatomy

Best Music Taste?

Brooke Mullin or Christina Dalce

Megan Olbrys

Brooke Mullin

Zanai Jones

Zanai Jones

“me”

Be Without You by Mary J. Blige

One Time

by Justin Bieber

Good Kisser

by Usher

Nice and Slow by Usher

Faneto

by Chief Keef

Good Kisser

by Usher

Who Would You Cast to Play You in a Movie?

Sanaa Lathan

Blake Lively

Melissa McCarthy

Zendaya

Keke Palmer

Blake Lively

Zach Galifianakis

“Hm

Most Likely to Burn The Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Bella Runyan

Bella Runyan

Abby Jegede

Christina Dalce

Maddy Siegrist

“m

Who Would You Not Trust to Date Your Sibling?

Kaitlyn Orihel

Anahi-Lee Cauley

Megan Olbrys

Christina Dalce

Kaitlyn Orihel

Maggie Grant

Megan Olbrys

Ka Or

“me”

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Chr Da

Go to Karaoke Song?

Most Likely to Sleep in And Miss Practice?

26 | The Villanovan

Anahi-Lee Cauley

Greys Anatomy

Christina Dalce The Watcher or You

Megan Olbrys

Brooke Mullin

New Girl

New Girl

Zanai Jones Christina or Abby Dalce Jegede

Kaitlyn Orihel

Ma Sie

Yello

Bro Mu

Rattlin’ Bog Mamm

by Carlyle

by A Fraser

W

THE ‘CATS

oke llin

Maddy Siegrist

Kylie Swider

Abby Jegede

Maddie Burke

Bella Runyan

Annie Welde

Maggie Grant

w Girl

Yellowstone

New Girl

Criminal Minds

The Office

Grey Anatomy

Selling Sunset

Gossip Girl

tlyn hel

Brooke Mullin

Brooke Mullin

Zanai Jones

Brooke Mullin

Zanai Jones or Christina Dalce

Brooke Mullin

Brooke Mullin

Just a Friend

by Biz Markie

Baby by Justin Bieber

Dancing on My Own by Calum Scott and Tiësto

Good Kisser

by Usher or Take a Bow

by Rihanna

Everytime We Touch

by Cascada

Good Kisser

by Usher

Gal Gadot

Zendaya

Adam Sandler

Margot Robbie

Anne Hathaway

Leighton Meester

Maddy Siegrist

“me”

Maddie Burke

Abby Jegede

n’ Bog Mamma Mia arlyle

by ABBA aser

ach anakis

“Hmmm”

ddy grist

“me lol”

Annie Welde

Lucy Olsen

gan rys

Kaitlyn Orihel

Megan Olbrys

Megan Olbrys

Maggie Grant

Megan Olbrys

Megan Olbrys

Kaitlyn Orihel

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

Christina Dalce

stina lce

The Villanovan | 27

THE LAST GO AROUND: CALEB DANIELS RETURNS TO VILLANOVA FOR A FINAL YEAR

By Owen Hewitt Caleb Daniels isn’t supposed to be here.

The sixth-year graduate guard has already appeared in 120 games in his collegiate career. But because of the NCAA’s decision to grant all athletes whose 2020-21 seasons were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic an extra year of eligibility, Daniels is able to return for a fifth season playing college basketball and a sixth year of college.

For those of you wondering what six years in college gets you, Daniels has completed an undergraduate degree in Communication and is now working towards a postgraduate certificate in education. “[I’m] not really sure what direction I wanna go in with education just yet,” Daniels said. “I’m just learning all that I can learn.”

After earning the title of Valedictorian at St. Augustine High School in the graduating class of 2017, Daniels committed to play at Tulane University in his hometown of New Orleans.

“It was a blessing,” Dan28 | The Villanovan

iels said. “Tulane was five minutes away from my house, so just to have family and friends always come up and I can just put their names on the ticket list and they’ll always be in attendance. […]

It was always a blessing to just have the opportunity to play in my hometown and be one of the shining stars in my hometown.”

In his sophomore season with the Green Wave, Daniels appeared in and started all but one game that season, and led the team in scoring at just under 17 points per game. After his second year,

with

the departure of head coach Mike Dunleavy, Daniels ultimately made the decision to transfer. It would mean the guard would have to redshirt a year, as it wouldn’t be until 2021 that the NCAA would drop the redshirt year for transfers. Daniels chose Villanova and sat out the 2019-20 season.

“At first, it was a little bit tough because I was so familiar with home and that was all I knew,” Daniels said. “ [...] The more I stayed here, the more I realized maybe it’s great to be away from home, because you get to be more independent, get to grow on your own, see who you really are, and see who you are in the state of uncomfortability. So I became comfortable being uncomfortable out here.”

If there were any growing pains initially for Daniels after his transfer, you certainly wouldn’t have noticed based on his play on the court. Daniels started 24 games for the ‘Cats in the COVID-shortened year,

averaging just under 10 points per game and shooting the three ball at a 38.6% clip.

But the sailing wouldn’t stay smooth for Daniels. In April of 2021, he developed myocarditis, inflammation of the heart, after dealing with COVID-19. It caused Daniels to be completely sidelined from basketball activity for roughly five months.

“There has been so much that I’ve been through here as a person, and it’s things that are all out of your control that you really can’t predict,” Daniels said. “[...] As you know, I had myocarditis. I never predicted that that would happen, catching COVID-19 twice and going through a couple of things of my own.”

But through that experience, Daniels emphasized the importance of keeping what he calls an “attitude of perseverance.”

“I never really said I wanted to go through things like that, but what I learned is that you have to continue to have a good attitude,” Daniels said. “You have to continue to have an attitude of perseverance because life can beat you up so much, but you have to always stay confident, you have to always continue to move with aggression and to be confident in who you are, and to stand on what you stand on.”

Daniels also pointed out that much of the same

philosophy that he applies to basketball also applies to life.

“You have to always have a next play mentality,”

Daniels said. “The next play presents a new opportunity to become better, and that’s how life is. If you screw up in one moment before, there’s always a new opportunity

that presents itself, so you have to put your energy towards the next possession, to the next play in life, and see where that takes you.”

As a result of his bout with myocarditis, Daniels was moved to the bench for the 2021-22 season, starting just three of the ‘Cats’ 38 games last year. When asked if going from a starting role to a bench position was a difficult adjustment, Daniels said it was just about what he could do to make the team better.

“It wasn’t difficult for me at all,” Daniels said. “I’m not a guy that has a lot of pride in starting, I’m not a guy that says ‘I have to start in order to have an impact.’ I started off pretty rusty because I came from myocarditis. I just wanted to be one of those guys like, ‘What do I need to do for us to be better?’

I don’t care if I score, I don’t care if I start […] Whatever I needed to do, that was my mindset in order to help this team be the best that we can be.”

And Daniels helped lead the team to a Final Four appearance, coinciding with the championship’s return to his hometown of New Orleans.

Daniels averaged over 10 points a game during the season, while also averaging more minutes per game than the 2020-21 season.

Daniels’ leadership and offensive spark off the bench The Villanovan | 29

for the Wildcats.

“Caleb’s path has been really unique,” Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune said.

“Started at Tulane, leading scorer, then came here and has played a lot different [of a] role. He’s been a defensive guy, he’s been a guy who’s been asked to play a role, and now he’s done all those things, and also has scored a lot too. And now, he’s going to be in a spot where he’s going to be asked to score a lot more, but he already has the habits on the other side of the ball as well.”

Daniels seems ready to step up. After being the youngest sibling in a “basketball family” (both Daniels’ brothers also played collegiate basketball), there’s nothing that he wouldn’t have the toughness and grit to face head on.

“They’ve taught me a lot growing up, especially my brothers too,” Daniels said. “Playing a game of 21, everyone for themselves, teaches you how to be tough. It taught me a lot and it molded me into not only the player I am but the person I am too, so I’m really appreciative for it all.

“I wasn’t leaving the gym until I won.”

30 | The Villanovan

Big East Player of the Year, USBWA third team All American, Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year, led the Big East and ranked second in the country in scoring, registered 21 20-point games including nine 30-point performances, has 51 career 20-point games and 17 career 30-point efforts, posted 12 double-doubles and has 37 for her career, scored double figures in points in all 27 games. These are not even half of the achievements senior forward Maddy Siegrist accomplished in the 2021-2022 season alone.

When you think of Villanova women’s basketball, Siegrist is one of the first people that comes to mind. As she enters her final year with a Villanova jersey, there is a lot to both reflect on and look forward to for the star.

Starting off four years ago, in the 2018-2019 season, Siegrist was

redshirted. She didn’t take this decision lightly.

“I had no idea,” Siegrist said. “(Former head coach) Harry (Perretta) and I fought about that a lot. I didn’t want to redshirt at all. He traditionally redshirted players and I was like, ‘Nope, I’m not going to redshirt.’ Of course I got hurt but even after that I was a little like, maybe I’ll come back.

But Harry and Coach Joe (Mulaney) helped me a lot that year.

They told me I didn’t have to rush it. I just wanna play so badly at that time. I’m grateful that they were adults and helped me see it.”

Perretta retired after Siegrist’s sophomore season, breaking up her undergraduate career between two coaches, as Denise Dillon took over before the 2020-21 season. When asked about that transition, Siegrist talked about the fluidity of the

Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

process.

“I think it was a really smooth transition,” Siegrist said. “I mean, obviously it’s always different when you go from one coach to another, but I was fortunate I got to be coached by two really great coaches and I think when someone’s your coach, they’re your coach for life. Fortunately, Harry’s very much still around the program which has been great.

And then Coach Dillon, just to have the opportunity to play for her has been incredible.”

Looking back at the ankle injury that Siegrist dealt with her redshirt year, Siegrist recalls a time of struggle. Dealing with the pain of not being able to play, Siegrist relied heavily on her faith.

While she grew up in a Catholic family, a true dedication to a commitment to her faith came when she was alone in college and had to make that decision for herself.

From starting off on Sundays only to start going to the Tuesday and Thursday Masses as well, Siegrist found comfort in that community.

“I realized a lot more people than you think would go,” Siegrist explained. “Harry used to go all the time, Lynn Tighe, Mark Jackson, and more. People that you respect in the athletic program. For me it’s always been important to keep your faith first because, in sports, there’s so many unknowns and it’s easy to get caught up in the anxiety, The TheVillanovan Villanovan| |3131

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

what’s next, the doubt, and the fear.”

All of her preparation off the court helps Siegrist when she steps on the floor. Entering her senior season means that Siegrist has had three seasons of Villanova basketball under her belt.

When looking back, her best and proudest moments are actually two different ones.

“Well, the best moment I think was beating UConn last year, that was incredible,” Siegrist said. “Best moment at a Villanova game was probably Harry’s last game with DePaul in the Pavilion. Obviously I was proud of our whole team with the UConn win, but our win against BYU in the NCAA Tournament stands out. I was just proud of everyone. You know, we didn’t play great in the first half in that game and then we were able to really come back in the second half. That was a proud moment.”

Consistency on the court is what has made comebacks

32 32 || The The Villanovan Villanovan

Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography like the BYU game possible for this Villanova team. Specifically, Siegrist is known for being a key player on the court and for being completely active and involved every second she plays. Another Villanova alum, Mary Gedaka, was also recognized for those same qualities and, when asked which player she looks up to, Siegrist spoke on Gedaka’s influence on her as a player.

“She was really steady,” Siegrist said. “She was consistent. I think that’s important as a leader and as a strong player. You want to be consistent. You can’t be hot and cold, and obviously you’re gonna shoot good some nights you’re gonna shoot not well some nights. There’s some things that you can control. You could always make sure you’re hustling, rebound extra possessions on the floor, things like that to put yourself in a good spot. So I think watching her when I was a freshman and sophomore, really gave me something to look up to.”

When talking about Maddy Siegrist, you have to mention her points total. Scoring 583 in her freshman year, 548 as a sophomore, and 684 in her junior

year, Siegrist is now on pace to become Villanova basketball’s all-time leading scorer. The title is currently held by Shelly Pennefather, who scored 2,408 points in her career. When asked about the record, Siegrist showed how humble she is.

“I mean, I try not to think about it,” Siegrist said. “Shelly is an unbelievable player and person. I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with her before and it’s just incredible to even be in the same sentence as her. If something like that happens, it happens. I don’t think I’m as good a player as she is, but you know, it’s just an honor to be in the same sentence.”

Looking ahead, Siegrist isn’t sure what plans are in store for her after this season.

“We’ll see what happens,” Siegrist said. “You have to have faith.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the crystal ball. However God’s plan is gonna unfold, it’s gonna unfold and I think every opportunity after this year is gonna be great.

I think I have a lot of basketball left, whether it’s here, professionally, wherever. So I’m excited for it.”

It’s Brizzi Time

After redshirting last season, Angelo Brizzi will see the floor for the first time at Villanova this season.

By Matt Ryan When Angelo Brizzi arrived at Villanova during his freshman year, he weighed about 160 pounds. He had some illness issues during the summer that knocked down his weight, but even before that, he was only around the 170-pound range.

Now, after spending all of last season redshirting and working on his body, the 6-foot-3 guard is up to 190 pounds and ready for his first real-game action in a Villanova jersey.

He can feel the difference.

“Being able to handle the physicality, hold your ground in certain situations, things like that,” Brizzi said on the added weight’s benefits. “It’s really different than it was last year.”

Brizzi knew that redshirting his first year on campus was likely when he committed to Villanova, but when guard Collin Gillespie announced he was returning to the Wildcats for one final season, that solidified it. However, Brizzi was happy about Gillespie’s return to the Main Line because that meant he got to learn behind one of the best Villanova guards of all time.

During that season, Gillespie and Brizzi were roommates on the road, something it seems is a staple with veteran point guards and newcomers (when Jalen Brunson was a freshman, he was road roommates with senior Ryan Arcidiacono).

One of the big things Brizzi took from playing behind Gillespie was the fifth-year player’s mental approach.

“We spent a lot of time together, and we still talk now,” Brizzi said. “…

His mental approach and how he just attacks every day is just the best thing I took, and I’m trying to emulate that in my own way.”

Brizzi’s journey to the Main Line was rather unconventional. The first time he stepped on campus was the day he moved in. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he couldn’t take any official or unofficial visits to Villanova.

A star at Highland High School in Virginia, Brizzi had his share of college offers, including from schools such as Michigan and Arizona, but in the end, the four-star recruit felt Villanova was the right spot for him.

“Ultimately, why I chose Villanova was just the connection I have with the staff, and I thought they recruited me the hardest,” Brizzi said. “And I just felt like […] they really had a plan and showed it to me, and I believed in it. [...] I just really felt like they wanted me to come be a part of it.”

But since he committed to Villanova, there has been a major change. The man that turned Villanova from a solid program to a Blue Blood is now gone. Jay Wright retired, and in steps Kyle Neptune.

Brizzi spoke to Neptune occasionally during his recruiting process, but the two are really starting their relationship from scratch.

“I think [our relationship is] built really well,” Brizzi

said.

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography The Villanovan | 33

“Obviously, he knows the culture. He was here for so long. And he just wants to come in and continue it and uphold it. And I think he’s doing a great job, and he’s young, got a lot of energy. I’m happy I have the opportunity to play for him.”

Since high school, Brizzi said his work ethic has improved. He couldn’t pinpoint one reason why that is, it has just become part of his routine.

A big part of Brizzi’s aforementioned jump in weight has been working with Strength and Conditioning coach John Shackleton, aka “Shack.” Playing in the Big East, a notoriously physical league, Brizzi needed to get bigger.

Mission accomplished.

“Shack, he’s the man,” Brizzi said. “He knows what he’s doing. I think he’s the best in the business. So I appreciate him so much.

I owe it all to him, how much my body’s improved over this past year.

“He gets it done for us, and he loves what he does.”

While Brizzi’s body was the main physical aspect he worked on during his redshirt year, there was also a focus on the mental side of things.

“We preach attitude here, so learning how to have a great attitude every day,” he said.

“It’s easier said than done. So learning how to do that and carrying that over to this year.

Learning how to play hard on every possession.

Learning how to do all the things like that, that you really don’t think about when you’re coming to college.”

In terms of his on-the-court game, Brizzi spent the redshirt year not working on anything in particular but rather “fine-tuning a lot of different things.” He mentioned some of those things were his shooting, ball handling, physicality with and without the ball and postups.

With Gillespie gone and standout guard Justin Moore sidelined for the beginning of the season after tearing his Achilles, Villanova’s guard rotation is somewhat of a question mark at the moment. Brizzi could be in line to start, or that spot could go to someone like freshman Mark Armstrong.

But whatever that role is for Brizzi, he will take it and attack it just as he did when he was a 160 pound freshman last year.

“I don’t really have any expectations for my role,” he said. “I’m just waiting to see what it is and whatever it is, I’m gonna try and contribute and play as hard as I can and just play Villanova basketball the best I can.”

34 | The Villanovan

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

Going with the Flow

By Jacob Artz

After starting every game last season, Lucy Olsen proved she’s a pivotal piece for a Villanova team with high expectations.

Sometimes, the best results happen to people that are not focused on the results but rather the process to reach the desired outcome.

That is the case with sophomore Lucy Olsen’s basketball journey.

Olsen always loved the game of basketball. That love was built through competition with her older sister Olivia, whom she watched play when she was younger, and younger sister, Lyla.

The middle Olsen’s path became defined quickly, even if she was not looking for the end goal at the time.

“I would go to her [Oliv-

ia’s] games and be on the sidelines dribbling and stuff, and I would just want to play, so I would practice with her team,” Olsen said.

“I never really thought like, ‘oh I want to play in college,’” Olsen added. “It didn’t really matter where I was playing as long as I was playing.”

Olsen started playing the game merely by shooting in the driveway for fun, and it progressed more once she started to pursue the game more seriously.

In addition to shooting around in the driveway to become better, Olsen is the ultimate competitor, hating losing more than she enjoys winning.

Olsen averaged 7.0 points per game last season Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

“Whenever I am in the gym playing, like if I go play pickup somewhere, I’ll keep playing until I win the last game,” she said.

Olsen did not think about playing college basketball until she was in ninth or tenth grade when she switched AAU teams.

She was so focused on her love for the game and improving that she hadn’t thought about the recruiting process, but she took that next step to her basketball progression in stride.

Olsen is no stranger to the Villanova area. She went to Spring-Ford High School in Royersford, which is about a 40-minute drive from campus.

“I love being close to home, Olsen said. “My family, friends from high school, the community from high school, can come watch me play.”

Olsen starred for the 6A school, garnering the all-time leading scoring mark for the school with 1,699 points. She was awarded 2021 Miss Pennsylvania Basketball and two-time first team All-State honors.

But she is not just a basketball player. She played soccer until eighth grade and was a tennis player in high school. Not only did she play tennis, she was a PIAA Fall 2020 state champion in doubles.

Her mom played tennis and her coach pushed her to be a multi-sport athlete. Tennis stressed The Villanovan | 35

the same intangibles needed in basketball, athleticism and competitiveness. Tennis also gave her a mental break from basketball that she could be fresh for the season.

Olsen did not have a go-to shot, but she pointed out how she used her ability in close range shots.

“I would try to get everything at the net, and try to put it away,” Olsen said.

Being a prominent figure on the Spring-Ford team prepared her for Villanova in certain aspects.

“I think just having the ball in my hands so much in high school made me comfortable when I came here,” Olsen said.

She was not a huge Villanova basketball fan, but as the recruiting process continued, she knew that Villanova was the place to be.

Olsen had to take on a different role when she arrived on campus because she is no longer the team’s top option. That distinction applies to senior Maddy Siegrist, who Olsen called “crazy good.”

The 5-foot-9 guard is still figuring out how to best implement her game to improve both her own as well as Siegrist’s.

“I think I could’ve been more aggressive (last year) to help out Maddy because they just double teamed her, and I kinda just let them double team her without making the other teams pay for trying to take Maddy away,” Olsen said.

As far as the strengths of her game are concerned, she did not mention anything specific but harped on the work she puts in outside of practice.

“I think just hard working is my main strength,” Olsen said.

“I just want to be better.”

This hard work includes much work outside of practice, including dribbling, shooting and working on jumpers.

There is a specific area she 36 | The Villanovan

wants to improve upon as well.

“Just controlling the pace of the game (as the) point guard and being a coach on the floor, connected with Coach (Denise) Dillon,” Olsen said.

The biggest challenge for Olsen with her integration into the Villanova basketball culture and Big East play was becoming more accustomed to playing without the basketball. Also, she had to think through much of the offense, but this year will be different for Olsen.

“I’m really excited for this year, just seeing how the less thinking I think, I play the better,” she said.

Olsen’s defense is a strong point in her game, as she is constantly tasked with defending the opponent’s star player. For Olsen, the defense is improved through practice, testing her skills against the solid players Villanova has on the roster.

Olsen has already amassed a solid resume for her career at Villanova. She was named to the Big East All-Rookie team. She started all 33 games and averaged 7.0 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game. One of

her most impressive games came against UConn, where she tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

When asked about the definition of success for the team, Olsen was fairly pointed with her answer.

“I think winning a Big East Championship,” Olsen said.

“That’s our main goal, and then, making it further in March Madness than we did last year.”

Last season, the Wildcats made it to the Big East Tournament Championship game and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

Individually, Olsen is focused on improving her defense as well as helping her teammates with more assertiveness.

“I think one goal is Defensive Player of the Year,” Olsen said. “I want to step up my defense a lot more, and then, I think I said it earlier, just being more aggressive making it easier for Maddy and the rest of the team to score.”

From the start of her basketball career, the mindset is always the same: Stick to the process.

Olsen was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team last season.

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

NEW YORK — Kyle Neptune stands on the side of the Madison Square Garden court. He’s spent the morning sitting at a chair next to his players, dealing with a throng of reporters.

When he stands up, he’s ushered to a desk for a TV interview, and now that that’s finished, he’s waiting for a podcast to be ready for him to go on.

He’s been on this schedule for months now. Everyone asks the same thing.

“Some sort of Jay Wright question,” Neptune says, “in terms of what it’s like to follow him, what are you going to be like. Some sort of remix of that question.”

Neptune has the unenviable task of replacing someone who outgrew his role to the point where

his name is synonymous with the school itself. Wright was Villanova, and now, Wright’s not here anymore.

“I never focused on not being him,” Neptune said in early October. He’s not Jay Wright, and doesn’t claim to be. Yet at the same time, Neptune sees Wright as one of the most influential people in his life. Nearly everything Neptune has learned as a coach was from Wright, and his main goal as Villanova’s head coach isn’t to build something new, but instead, continue what Wright has built.

Neptune isn’t trying to be Wright. Of course, if it somehow happens, Neptune wouldn’t mind.

“He was a Hall of Famer, to me, the best coach in college basketball the last ten years,” Neptune

said. “I would like to be a lot like him.”

--The Kyle Neptune story began a little less than six miles from the MSG court, in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. He was born to immigrant parents, his mother from Trinidad, his dad from Guyana, and they taught him many things, but none were more important than the importance of hard work and education.

Neptune’s love of basketball quickly made itself known. He played on an AAU travel ball team of kids from Brooklyn, where he wasn’t the star, but one of many quality players.

For middle and high school, The TheVillanovan Villanovan||3737

Neptune attended a small private school called Brooklyn Friends.

While he wasn’t the star in AAU, he was at Brooklyn Friends, scoring the most points in school history and leading the team to a state title.

That title helped open doors, allowing Neptune to move on and play at Lehigh. Neptune came off the bench for the first two years with the Mountain Hawks, but started 30 of 31 games and averaged 11.1 points per game as a junior.

In college, Neptune was dedicated to basketball yet describes his lifestyle as “pretty much like any college kid.” He majored in journalism and wrote for his college newspaper, but his number one focus was his sport.

“Got up probably late, slept in a lot, watched a lot of TV,”

Olivia Pasquale/ Villanovan Photography

38 | The Villanovan 38 | The Villanovan

Neptune faces the task of following one of college basketball’s great coaches.

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

Neptune said. “I was definitely in the gym a lot. I loved being in the gym, loved trying to get better. I was pretty much like any other college athlete who slept in a lot.”

Neptune played briefly overseas, but realized his basketball future would come in coaching.

“As most players, you all still hold out hope that you can play at the highest level,” Neptune said. “And I was no different.

I grew up wanting to be Michael Jordan and play in the NBA and play in the Garden and do all that stuff. At some point you start to realize, alright, maybe that’s not gonna be my path.”

Through shared connections, Neptune was hired as a video assistant at Villanova in 2008. He went to the Final Four in his first season and was

“hooked.” After two years in the role, where Neptune built a reputation for the depth of his scouting, he was hired as an assistant at Niagara. Neptune spent three years in upstate New York before rejoining Wright’s staff as a full assistant in 2013.

From 2013 to 2020, Neptune fully indoctrinated himself in the Villanova way, winning two national titles and six Big East crowns with Wright. When Fordham came calling in 2021, Neptune was ready to build his own program.

At Fordham, Neptune inherited a program that went 2-12 the year before and then proceeded to lose most of its players. He rebuilt the staff and hit the transfer portal, adding nine new faces, then led the Rams to a 16-16 record. A .500 mark is a far cry from Villanova’s lofty standards, but for Fordham, it was just the second non-losing season since 2007.

When Fordham lost to Davidson in the A-10 quarterfinals

in March, Neptune immediately started preparing for the next year.

He was recruiting and making practice plans when he got a call from Villanova Director of Athletics Mark Jackson, checking his interest in Villanova’s job. Neptune assumed that Wright was just tired and would reconsider, as he’d threatened retirement before, but within hours, Neptune had signed a contract to be Villanova’s new head coach.

The task is monumental, but even at the press conference two days later, Neptune knew what his new position entailed.

“One of the things that Coach Wright always says (is that) everybody’s role is different, but everyone’s status is the same,” Neptune said. “My role now is just (to be) the standard bearer for Villanova basketball.”

--Throughout the offseason, headlines have focused less on Neptune being the head coach,

Neptune coaching Justin Moore as a Villanova assistant.

Courtesy of Getty Images

more that it’s no longer Wright.

Yet a truth remains: apart from the man leading the line, not much has changed.

The immediate question was whether the players would stay the same, and apart from Bryan Antoine’s transfer to Radford (expected even before Wright’s retirement), every player returned. Even the recruits, all of whom committed to play under Wright, decided to stay for Neptune as well.

Neptune coaching at Fordham last year.

Courtesy of Fordham University

“He’s keeping the Villanova way,” freshman guard Brendan Hausen said. “The tradition in the locker room, he’s passing down to our captains. As a team, everyone’s on the same page.”

Many have looked for outward changes in the program, yet again, all seems the same as it was under Wright. “(The transition’s) been smooth so far,” senior guard Justin Moore. “Just watching Coach Wright, I think (Neptune’s) taken great steps in that aspect, learning from him.”

In early October at Media Day, Villanova hosted a brief open practice, showcasing its players before the upcoming season. The team shot free throws and used shot fakes and bounce passes to create easy opportunities, just as they had demonstrated at Wright’s Media Day the year before. The team broke the practice with “Attitude” on three, just as they had before.

The interview answers are the same, the values are the same, the wristbands each player wears are the same. And that’s just the way Neptune likes it.

The Villanovan Villanovan || 39 39 The

Neptune at his introductory press conference.

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

Neptune’s attacked every task with fervor. He’s hit the road recruiting, led practices with intensity he’s learned from Wright (albeit reportedly with less swearing), and shown up at public appearances representing both Villanova the university and Villanova the basketball team.

He doesn’t take time off, but he’s enjoying the challenge.

“You get some free time, but we love this,” Neptune said. “I think most coaches would agree. I don’t think this is something we have to do, it’s something we love doing.

Anytime I could be around the game recruiting or making recruiting calls or watching film, I don’t look at that as a job. I look at that as something I get to do every day.”

--While Neptune has done all he can, passing every preseason test and answering every question with polish, regardless of how many 40 | The Villanovan 40 | The Villanovan

times he’s been asked them, there is one thing he hasn’t done.

Neptune hasn’t won a basketball game at Villanova.

Because of this, and the fact that he hasn’t won a Big East road trip, or cut down the nets at MSG or Houston or San Antonio, he’s still not yet seen as the Villanova head coach.

He’s seen as the guy who replaced Jay Wright.

Of course, Neptune says he doesn’t see it that way, but for now, it’s the truth. When your predecessor catapults a team from one of the better teams in its conference to Blue Blood conversations, it’s only natural that the beginning of his time in charge is currently seen as the post-Wright Era instead of the Neptune era.

“I truly don’t look at it like that out of respect for Coach Wright,” Neptune said. “He deserves a lot of praise. You look back to what he did and what he went through building this program up

until what it is now. I will always say this, for the last 10 years, I think he’s the best college basketball coach.”

Now comes the hard part.

Come November 7th and a matchup with La Salle, it’ll finally be time for Neptune to lead the ‘Cats into a game that matters.

As he stands off to the side of the Madison Square Garden court, answering the same questions yet again for one of the final times before the season kicks off, Neptune emphasizes his Villanova ties once more.

“I’m uniquely a Villanova person,” Neptune said. “I really look at it like I grew up here as a man. I’ve matured here as a coach.

And I’m excited to be back here as the head coach.”

And with that, a handshake and a smile, Neptune turns and walks off the court. Yes, he’s got a train to catch. And sure, he’s got a basketball team to coach.

But more importantly, he’s got an era to begin.

When Denise Dillon moved into her office in the Davis Center, she made one important design decision. She left the wall above the couch blank.

The significance? When the office belonged to former head coach Harry Perretta, that spot was occupied by photos of his teams which beat UConn in the ‘90s and 2000s.

Dillon, a member of the 1992-93 team that upset the Huskies on the road, remembered that feeling of accomplishment and had her sights set on reaching that point again.

“The girls would come in here and ask ‘What are you putting on that wall?’” Dillon said.

“And I told them when we beat UConn, at The Pavillion in front of a sellout crowd, then we’ll put that picture over the couch.”

While the dream was for the win to come at home, what the Wildcats were able to pull off on Feb. 9 at the XL Center in Hartford was a feat too large to not put a picture above the couch.

“After we got them at their place last year, Maddy Siegrist came over and told me, ‘Well now we have a picture for above your couch,’” Dillon said.

The win snapped the Huskies’ 169-game conference win streak dating back to 2013, and marked the first time that

Villanova beat UConn on the road since Dillon’s freshman year. As a member of that team, this win also made Dillon one of only two women to beat the Huskies as both a player and a coach, the other being Dawn Staley of South Carolina.

While Dillon knew that she would eventually reach this milestone at Villanova, was she expecting it to happen this fast?

“No,” Dillon quickly answered. “In sports, anything is possible. But I felt there are just some pieces that always need to come into play. And also recog-

nizing an area of taking advantage of some situations like them missing top players. [...] You always give yourself a chance if you’re willing to compete.”

In her two years, Dillon’s teams have never struggled with said willingness to compete.

She has been able to develop a culture within the program and every player is fully committed to the common goal.

“It always comes back to playing for each other and playing for Villanova,” Dillon said.

“That’s the only way to describe it.”

Photos of the UConn celebration that hang above the couch in Dillon’s office.

The Villanovan | 41

Being able to play as a cohesive group and achieve Dillon’s desired “togetherness” is significantly improved by the team’s relationships off the court. With six local players on the roster and several families that travel to attend games, the team has a family feel.

“We’ll do something on a Friday night at my house or something set up here and we will joke with the players (and often their families) and call it ‘forced fun,’” Dillon said. “But they always say ‘We like it, it’s not forced. We like hanging out with each other.’”

This vibe translates to the locker room and it starts from the top with Dillon and her staff.

While they have worked hard to cultivate this, the players made it easier by welcoming her with open arms when she was hired in 2020.

“I was appreciative of them embracing me in the new position,” Dillon said. “The ones who are returning and then the Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

42 | The Villanovan

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

ones that we’ve brought in just being on board with getting to know each other and (figuring) it out.

The good, the bad and the ugly.”

Prior to Villanova, Dillon spent 17 seasons as the head coach at Drexel. Dillon led the Dragons to 10 postseason appearances, including one NCAA Tournament berth and one WNIT Championship in 2013.

When she joined the Wildcats, the players recognized her coaching accolades.

But arguably more importantly, they respected her experiences

as a player who was once in their shoes at Villanova.

“We never asked anything of them that we haven’t been asked in the past,” Dillon said.

“But at the same time, I think they feel my genuine love and passion for this university. And all I want is for them to have a similar experience that I had.”

The knowledge that Dillon gained in her time as a student athlete at Villanova did not come from the games alone, but rather from all the time that she spent learning from Perretta. Dillon played for the legendary head coach for four years before joining his staff after graduating. Dillon served as an assistant coach at Villanova from 1997-2001, an invaluable experience that kick-started her coaching career.

“I think his teaching of the game,” Dillon said of what she learned from Perretta. “It doesn’t matter what we know as coaches if our players don’t understand it, so teach it. With understanding comes great confidence.”

Perretta is known for his basketball mind, but Dillon took something even greater from her

Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

time spent under him as a player and a coach.

“I think his greatest strength was building relationships with his players, and that was something I certainly wanted to have as well,” Dillon said.

This focus on relationships all comes back to the culture that Dillon has developed which has helped make the transition from Perretta as seamless as possible.

Dillon has only been at the helm for two years, yet the program has already taken a step forward in success and recognition.

Dillon has led the Wildcats to an overall record of 41-16, including 24-9 in Big East play over her first two years. Last season, Villanova tied the program record for most conference wins in a single season (16), earning the team a second place regular season finish and Dillon the title of Big East Coach of the Year.

The ‘Cats advanced to the Big East Tournament championship game, but came up short against the top-ranked

UConn. Despite this loss, Villanova earned an at-large bid and advanced as an eleven-seed to its first NCAA Tournament since 2017-18. The Wildcats upset No. 6 BYU in the first round before falling to No. 3 Michigan in the Round of 32.

While the ending was not what the team had hoped, Dillon and the Wildcats outperformed preseason expectations and earned national recognition.

Dillon is pleased with the notoriety that the team has gained, but

she knows that there is still more to come.

“I don’t think we will be a great surprise this year with Maddy Siegrist’s reputation, and her leading the way,” Dillon said. “But we want to be known nationally as a team who’s consistent with what we’re doing on both ends of the floor and getting the result because of it. It wasn’t just last year.

This is where we’re going.”

As Dillon enters her third season at Villanova and 20th as a head coach, she is excited to see what comes next.

“I’m most excited to see this team grow and watch them come together and continue to grow and progress,” Dillon said. “I think they’re capable of a lot and if they remain true to who they are and stick together, it’ll show at the end of the season.”

While there is still room to grow and more to accomplish, with the space above the couch already filled, Dillon is well on her way to cementing her Villanova legacy.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

The Villanovan | 43

History of Villanova Men’s Basketball

By Aphrodite Dimopoulos

The Villanova men’s basketball team had its first season in 1920. In 1954, the team was a charter member of the Philadelphia Big 5, a group that consists of the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University, Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University and Villanova University.

Over its 102 years as a Division I program, the team has won three national championships (1985, 2016 and 2018), seven NCAA Tournament Final Fours and 15 NCAA Tournament Elite Eights.

For the first 16 years of the men’s basketball team, Michael Saxe, John Cashman, and George Jacobs held the head coaching position. The team’s first ever game was played in Alumni Hall against Catholic University and ended in a 43-40 win for the Wildcats. Later, in 1932, the team officially moved

44 | The Villanovan

over to play in the Jake Nevin Field House, then known as the Villanova Field House.

In 1936, Al Severance was hired as head coach of the team. For 25 seasons, Severance held this position and prompted the program towards the esteem and regard Villanova has today.

There were many notable moments of Severance’s career.

In 1939, the Wildcats won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game, making it to the Final Four that year. The team went on to be in the tournament in 1949, 1951 and 1955. In terms of star players, names such as Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Arizin, Joe Lord, Larry Hennessy, Bob Schafer and George Raveling all played under Severance.

In 1961, Jack Kraft became Villanova’s head coach following Severance and coached Villanova for 12 years. During this time, the team went to the NCAA Tournament six times. Some star players included Chris Ford, Tom Ingelsby, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Howard Porter, Jim Washington and Hubie White. In 1971, the team

not only went to the NCAA Tournament, but made its first championship game appearance. This game was against the iconic UCLA Bruins who, at the time, were coached by John Wooden.

The UCLA squad went 28-1 that season and held many future NBA players. Though it was a close game, the Villanova squad fell six points short to UCLA in a brutal 68-62 loss. Following this, Villanova had to vacate the entire 1972 season due to star player Howard Porter signing a professional contract during his senior year.

From 1973-1992, Villanova entered a new era with the introduction of head coach Rollie Massimino. On a technical level, the team joined the new Eastern Eight Conference in 1975. Five years later, the team moved into the brand new Big East Conference, where it continues to play today.

When Villanova joined the Big East in 1980, it went with

made the program what it is today. In Wright’s 21 years as head coach, he reached four Final Fours and won two National Championships. No other Villanova men’s basketball head coach in program history is this decorated.

In terms of players, the Wildcats have had their fair share of NBA players. After the 2018 championship, four players from that team were drafted During into the NBA the next year: Jalen the nine Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Donte years DiVincenzo and Omari Spellunder man.

Lappas, After last year’s Final the WildFour loss, Wright announced his cats went retirement and passed the torch 174-110 and onto Kyle Neptune. Awaiting had some the era of Neptune, Villanova’s notable playhistory has shown the consisteners, such as cy and growth in the program Michael Bradand an expectation for success ley, Kerry Kittles, looking forward.

Jason Lawson, Tim Thomas, John Celestand, Alvin Williams and Eric Eberz.

In 2001, Jay Wright was named head coach of the team. Having worked as Massimino’s assistant for five years, Wright knew the program and had a plan for its future. His vision and leadership

a national title was secured and the Wildcats were led into the ‘90s.

Steve Lappas followed Massimino’s lead from 19922001. Considering how hot the team was over the previous few decades, the Wildcats seemed to cool off a bit.

Georgetown, St. John’s and Syracuse. In 1985, the Big East had one of its best years, when Villanova, Georgetown and St. John’s all reached the Final Four. Villanova was an eight seed and went on to beat top-seeded Georgetown in the championship game. Wildcat great Ed Pinckney went on to win the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. The 1985 Villanova men’s basketball team remains the lowest seed ever to win the NCAA Tournament.

Under Massimino, the Wildcats went to the NCAA tournament 11 times and the Elite Eight five times. Furthermore, in 1986, Villanova played its first game at what is now known as the Finneran Pavilion.

Massimino’s tenure was the time that Villanova was recognized as a prominent program. A name and reputation was established,

The Villanovan | 45

History of Villanova Women’s Basketball

by Amanda McKean

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which states that no person should be denied the right to participate in academic programs and opportunities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX was revolutionary for women’s sports, yet even before this law was put into effect, Villanova formed a scraggly team in 1969 when two seniors, Marie Maguire and Rosemarie Greyson Fleg started a team after being part of pickup games on campus in the early 1960s.

The first season was not a long or successful one, as head coach Liz Cawley led the team to a record of 4-6. From 1970 to 1975, new head coach Jane Sefranek had winning seasons every year, finishing her career with a record of 51-23. From 1975 to 1978, head coach Joan King had mixed results in her seasons, going from a 7-7 season to a 6-11 season. However in her last season, King finished with a 15-7 record and handed this winning team off to the next head coach: Harry Perretta.

In 1978, Perretta took over the mantle of coaching the Wildcats, one that he would hold for the next 42 years.

During the first four seasons of Perretta’s career, the Wildcats and women’s college basketball teams everywhere were part of the Association for Intercolle46 | The Villanovan

giate Athletics for Women, the female counterpart of the NCAA. The NCAA did not admit women until 1982. In his four seasons in the AIAW, Perretta’s teams went 88-23, including a trip to the AIAW Final Four in 1982.

Two years later, the Wildcats would begin going through one of the most significant four years in its basketball history with the introduction of freshman Mary Michelle “Shelly” Pennefather.

While she was in high school, Pennefather won every game of basketball she played.

She spent three years at Bishop Machebeuf Catholic High School in Denver, Colorado and led her team to three consecutive state championships and a 70-0 record. In her senior year, she went to Notre Dame Junior Senior high School in New York and led them to a state championship with a 26-0 record.

During her first season in Villanova, she scored 504 points and was named the Big East Freshman of the Year. By the end of her sophomore season, Pennefather already crossed the 1,000 point threshold. During her junior and senior years, Pennefather led the Wildcats to the

second round of the NCAA Tournament and picked up two Big East Tournament championship rings. In 1986, Pennefather scored 685 points, the most she would score in a single season at Villanova, although she only missed her record by ten points during her senior year. At the end of her Villanova career in 1987, Pennefather and the Wildcats were Big East regular season champions three times and Pennefather was named Big East Player of the Year three seasons

in a row. Throughout the history of both men and women’s basketball, Pennefather holds the record for most points scored in their career with 2,408.

After Pennefather, the Wildcats were in a slump for the next 12 years, only recovering around early 2000. In the 2000-01 season, Perretta led the Wildcats to one of their best seasons since the ‘80s, making it back into the NCAA Tournament and to the Second Round.

The Wildcats continued to have winning seasons for the next five years, and in 2003, they made it all the way to the Elite Eight, the farthest a Villanova team has ever gotten. For the next fifteen years of Perretta’s career, the Wildcats had pretty average seasons and occasionally made it to the Second Round in the NCAA tournament. By his retirement in

2019, Perretta had an overall record of 783489.

To replace Perretta, Villanova hired former player Denise Dillon as head coach.

During her time as a Wildcat from 199296, Dillon was one of only a select number of players who scored 1,000 points.

As a player, she is enshrined in the Big 5 Hall of Fame and the Villanova Varsity Club Hall of Fame. She began her coaching career in 2004 at Drexel and led the Dragons to a 19-10 record. During her 12 seasons at Drexel, she had 11 winning records. In 2012-13, the Dragons won the WNIT title, and in her last year at Drexel during the 2019-2020 season, she won her fourth CAA Coach of the Year award.

During her first year as head coach for the Wildcats, Dillon led the squad to a 17-7 record. However, last season she led the Wildcats to one of its most successful seasons in years, finishing second in the Big East with a 24-9 record. The Wildcats also made it to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Michigan in the second round. At the end of the sea-

son, Dillon was named Big East Coach of the Year.

After this upcoming season, the Wildcats will be saying goodbye to graduate forward Maddy Siegrist who will go down in history as one of the best players in program history.

She redshirted her freshman season at Villanova after suffering from an ankle injury. During her freshman year playing on the team, Siegrist scored 578 points and was named Big East Player of the Year. Similar to Pennefather, by the end of her second season playing for the Wildcats, Siegrist had already scored over 1,000 points for the Wildcats. In the 2021-22 season she scored a total of 684 points, one point away from tying Pennefather’s season record. She was also awarded Big East Player of the Year and over the summer, played for USA Basketball’s 3x3 women’s basketball team.

The Villanovan | 47

Legendary Coaches: Looking Back as New Eras Commence

By Katie Lewis The collegiate basketball community was stunned last April when former Villanova men’s basketball head coach Jay Wright announced his retirement after more than two decades as the figurehead of the program. Yet no reaction could compare to that of the students and community members who filled the stands of Finneran Pavilion every season and knew that it was the end of an era.

Wright was a testament to the power of coaching leadership in fostering a community and culture around athletics.

As Villanova basketball players have amassed a long history of Big East Conference titles, NCAA Final Four appearances and National Championships, much of the program’s success can be attributed to a series of some of the strongest coaching staffs seen in collegiate basketball.

Five women’s and nine men’s head

48 | The Villanovan

coaches have led Wildcat basketball to become the heart of Villanova sports.

Liz Cawley led the team in the debut season of women’s basketball in the 1969–70 season, finishing with a 4–6 record.

Jane Sefranek then took over the position for the next five years, establishing a winning team early on with an overall win rate of nearly 70%. The following three seasons, from 1975–78, were coached by Joan King.

The women’s basketball program began a major uphill climb following the introduction of Harry Perretta as head coach in 1978. After Perretta accepted the position at the age of just 22, as Villanova’s youngest women’s varsity head coach, he became a Villanova legend.

Perretta led the Wildcats for the next 42 years until his retirement in 2020, establishing himself as the all-time winningest coach in Villanova basketball history.

One of Perretta’s major achievements early in his coach-

ing career was joining the Big East Conference for the 1982-83 season, after the Wildcats’ first AIAW Final Four appearance the previous year. Following this significant step, Villanova excelled in the postseason, reaching the NCAA Second Round for the first time in the 1985–86 season, and the NCAA First Round for the following three seasons. The Wildcats have also appeared in every postseason since 1997 but four.

Last season, Villanova alumni Denise Dillon ’96 succeeded Perretta, arriving with 17 years of Division I head coaching experience and a former head coach position at Drexel University. Dillon, a star player on Perretta’s team from 1993– 96, is a member of the Villanova Varsity Club Hall of Fame, as well as an All-Big East honoree and three-time All-Big 5 selection. At Drexel, Dillon was the winningest head coach in the program’s history and promises to bring her success back to the Villanova court.

The men’s team was led by Michael Saxe when the Wildcats played their first season at Alumni Hall in 1920. Saxe continued

for the next five seasons, compiling an overall record of 64–30 before John Cashman coached from 1926–29, followed

by George “Doc” Jacobs from 1929–36.

Al Severance led the Wildcats for the next 25 seasons from 1936–61, in which Villanova established itself as a frequent postseason contender and major basketball program. Severance, also a professor of business law, was head coach when Villanova won its first NCAA Tournament game in 1939, landing in the Final Four for the first time that same year. Severance took the team to three other NCAA Tournaments in 1949, 1951, and 1955.

Following Severance’s retirement, Jack Kraft took the helm of men’s basketball from 1961–73. Under Kraft’s leadership, the Wildcats built an overall record of 238–95, a 72% win rate, going to the NCAA Tournament six times with five NIT bids. That set the stage for one of Villanova basketball’s most acclaimed eras, under Rollie Massimino.

As head coach for 19 seasons, Massimino is credited with transitioning the Wildcats from independent status to conference play, first as a member of the Eastern Eight Conference before joining the Big East in 1980. A passionate member of the Villanova community, Massimino famously turned down a head coaching offer with the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, choosing to stay with the Wildcats.

It was with Massimino

that Villanova won its first National Championship in 1985 in a historic upset against Georgetown, redefining the team’s presence in college basketball for decades to come.

On the momentum of Massimino’s victories arrived Steve Lappas, who left Manhattan College to become head coach of the men’s team from 1992–2001. With Lappas, the Wildcats won the NIT in 1994 and clinched the Big East Tournament championship in 1995, reaching the NCAA Tournament four times.

Wright, a former assistant coach to Massimino and now one of the most iconic names in college basketball history, returned to Villanova in 2001 after being the head coach at Hofstra University for the previous seven years.

In Wright’s first ten seasons as head coach, Villanova made a postseason tournament every year. During his complete head coaching career at Villanova, Wright’s teams amassed six Regionals, four Final Four appearances, two National Championships in 2016 and 2018, and Wright’s leadership was honored in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

After Wright’s surprise departure following last season, Kyle Neptune, previously at Fordham University but well acquainted with the Villanova basketball culture as a former Wright assistant,

is entering his first season as the head coach at Villanova.

With a solid foundation of head coaching history behind them, the future of Villanova basketball awaits with Neptune and Dillon to establish unique legacies of their own.

The Villanovan | 49

Philly Special:

Wells Fargo Games

by Tyler Moore Hats, gloves, heavy coats, the 8 a.m. alarm, Wawa cups and, of course, basketball. With another season comes the great Villanova tradition of Wells Fargo tailgating. Tailgating in South Philadelphia has become a memorable moment of the Villanova experience, as buses roll into the lots, and the parking lot is packed with students before tipoff.

“This is one of the most unique college basketball atmospheres in the country,” former head coach Jay Wright said after last season’s game against Butler. “This is an NBA arena but a college crowd. You’ve got to see all the students out there. To see them tailgating in seven-degree weather, which blows my mind every year. … Every time I see it, I’m like ‘I can’t believe they still do that.’ It’s a fun place to play and a great experience for our guys.”

Wright says this constantly, even at Hoops Mania this year, but this time around, the landscape is a bit different.

Instead of the typical three games at Wells Fargo that there were last season, the 50 | The Villanovan

Wildcats are treated to five games over the course of the season. What’s more, two of the games are 8 p.m. tipoffs.

“With this being my last basketball season, I’m excited for all of

the games at Wells Fargo this year,” senior Charlotte Bohra said. “It is always a great atmosphere and it is fun to travel to Philly for the day with my friends, especially with night games this time.”

The first Wells Fargo game of the season comes early this year as the Wildcats face Oklahoma in the Big 12Big East Battle. The matchup takes place before winter break on December 13th at 12 p.m. To compare, the first matchup at the Wells Fargo last year was on January 16th.

The Sooners may not be one of the top programs in the country, but they find

ways to upset some of their top Big 12 foes, including an upset of the former defending national champion Baylor in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

The Wildcats have a bit of a break until their next Wells Fargo matchup, waiting until January 29th for a 12 p.m. tipoff against the defending Big East regular season champion Providence.

Villanova won both games against the Friars last year.

Shortly after, Villanova plays its first late night contest against rival Seton Hall on February 11th at 8 p.m. The last eight matchups against the Pirates were decided by eight points or fewer.

Despite the importance of all the games at the Wells

“I don’t plan on staying because I’ve already made Spring Break plans with my friends,” sophomore Riley Murray said.

“I feel as though many people have alFargo this season, the biggest ready done the same in order to one comes against Creighton make the most out of the time on February 25th. The Bluejays are the only Big East team we have.”

Undoubtedly, there is a ranked higher than Villanova great advantage to the Wells Farin preseason polls, and rightfully so. Creighton brings back go Center both for the team and great talent and has shown fierce for the students. The arena has a capacity over three times the competition against Villanova in the past, including in the Big amount of the Finneran Pavilion East Tournament Championship and allows for fans and alumni last season. Villanova must prove to have easy access to with this game that the Big East games. For the team, home court advantage does, in fact, still run through becomes even greater the Main Line. as students build up The last of the slate excitement throughcomes against a fierce rival out the morning (or UConn in the last matchup of all day) to support the regular season. This game could have major implications the team in what is always a hard and potentially determines seeding for the Big East Tourna- fought battle. Wells ment that follows the week after. Fargo delivers The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. some of the best games in Villaon March 4th. The contest is the first day of Spring Break for nova history, and students, which brings the trou- with five tough ble of scheduling trips with the matchups imminent, there will game in mind. Some students have already expressed that they be plenty more soon. won’t be able to attend.

QUICK TIPS:

1. Don’t bring a purse, the security guards will take it or tell you to go hide it somewhere.

2. Bring a portable charger. Your phone will be in Low Power Mode before the tailgate’s even over guaranteed.

3. Bring hand warmers. Real professionals actually wear gloves and stick them inside.

4. Check the weather forecast the night before to see how warm you need to dress.

5. Stop at WaWa the night before for big cups.

6. If you bring snacks, make sure they fit in your pockets.

7. Share your location with some of your friends.

The Villanovan | 51

MARK ARMSTRONG “My Jordan 4s. I like all Jordan 4s.”

ERIC DIXON “My favorite ones that I have are probably my Shattered Backboard [Jordan] 1s.”

JUSTIN MOORE

“Any 11s I own, I have a lot of 11s and 1s, those are two of my go-tos.”

52 | The Villanovan

On men’s basketball media day, we asked some of the team about their favorite sneakers to wear off the court. Here’s a selection of the team’s favorite kicks to wear on their off days.

By: Owen Hewitt

BRENDAN HAUSEN “Any Jordan 11s, especially my Concords”

ANGELO BRIZZI

“I have a pair of “Stranger Things” sneakers.

Wouldn’t really wear them around but it’s cool to have them.”

KYLE NEPTUNE

Neptune rocked a pair of Air Jordan 1 “University Blue” on media day.

The Villanovan | 53

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

as they lost to Mike Krzyzewski and his Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

By Brooke Ackerman For MSU, legacy on the sideline is not an issue.

On Nov. 18, the Wild- The Spartans are led by vetercats will travel to East Lansing an head coach Tom Izzo, who to take on Michigan State. is the winningest coach in the This is only the fourth Big Ten. time the schools have played However, on the court one another, with the last is an entirely different story. matchup being 20 seasons With MSU’s top two scorers ago. gone, the Spartans have their The Spartans closed work cut out for them. Last out their 2021-22 season with season, forward Gabe Brown a 23-13 overall record and a led the Spartans with 11.6 11-9 conference record, plac- points per game, followed ing them seventh in the Big closely behind by Marcus Ten. MSU did have a small, Bingham Jr., who averaged yet humbling, postseason run 9.3 points and led the team

54 | The Villanovan

with 6.3 rebounds per game.

Now, the Spartans have only 10 scholarship players on the roster, three of whom are true freshmen, as Nick Sanders is a walk-on for the squad.

The only names that may sound familiar on the roster this season are Jason Whitens, who missed last season due to an ACL injury, and Joey Hauser, who is a sixthyear in the college ranks.

With new faces on the roster and old heads making their way back on the court, Izzo and his squad have some work to do in order to compete in the Big Ten, as well as in a tough non-conference game against the Wildcats.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

reach the Sweet 16.

With these departures, the return of team captain Gabe Kalscher is vital for the

By Elijah McDow team’s success. Two key transfers joining the team are Jaren Coming off a season in Holmes from St Bonaventure which head coach TJ Otand former Temple player zelberger guided Iowa State Jeremiah Williams. Holmes to a 22-13 record, a seventh averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 place finish in the Big 12 and rebounds and 3.6 assists last a Sweet 16 appearance, the year, while Williams is arriving Cyclones are adjusting after in Ames following a season the departures of star players where he was the Owls’ third Tyrese Hunter to the transfer leading scorer with 9.5 points portal and Izaiah Brockington per game. to graduation.

While these transfers Brockington was last will fill the spots of Hunter season’s leading scorer, averand Brockington, the bigaging 16.9 points and 6.8 regest addition to the Cyclones bounds, while Hunter was the is Osun Osunniyi, a St. Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Bonaventure transfer who has Both players were instrumenhad plenty of success: ​​Lefty tal in helping the Cyclones Driesell Defensive All-Ameri-

ca Team, Two-Time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the year and the 2021 Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player. Based on these achievements, it’s clear that Osunniyi’s presence in the paint is something teams such as Villanova will need to be wary of when matching up with the Cyclones.

Despite losing more games in the Big 12 than it won, Iowa State was still one of the last 16 teams left in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Now with the help of the transfer portal, and Kalscher’s return, the Cyclones chances of making it back to the “Big Dance” appear to be very strong.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

son. Despite these losses, the Sooners may still be contenders in the competitive Big 12.

Moser was able to bring in some new talent from the transfer portal, highlighted by senior point guard Grant Sherfield, who averaged 19.1 points and 6.4 assists per game last season at Nevada. Another transfer who will start for the Sooners is junior Joseph Bamisile, who averaged 16.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game at George Washington. Although Bamisile will be facing some tougher competition this year, he still will prove to be a vital piece for Oklahoma.

Carolina in the championship to win its second national title.

Oklahoma is coached by second-year coach Porter Moser. He is known for

By James Haupt his huge upsets, as he led Loyola-Chicago to a Final On December 3rd, the Four and Sweet Sixteen prior Wildcats play at Wells Fargo to taking over the Sooners last Center against the University year. of Oklahoma.

Last season, Moser and This is the third the Sooners finished with a straight game Villanova will 19-16 record, good enough for be facing a tough non-conseventh in the Big 12. Oklaference team. Last time the homa will be missing three Sooners and Wildcats faced key starters this season after off, it resulted in the biggest losing Umoja Gibson, Jordan blowout in Final Four history Goldwire and Elijah Harkless. as Villanova won 95-51 in They all averaged more than 2016. Villanova beat North 10 points per game last sea-

The Villanovan | 55

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

By Victoria Newsome

Villanova will host American at the Finneran Pavilion on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:00 pm. The teams last faced each other on November 14, 2019, and the ‘Cats fell to the Eagles, 76-54.

During the previous matchup at Bender Arena, the Eagles held the ‘Cats to only two points until the final two minutes of the first quarter. The ‘Cats struggled with making shots and defending the Eagles’ quick pace. American held the advantage in second chance points (12-4) and bench points (31-5), and finished the game shooting 32.3% from the floor, 25%

56 | The Villanovan

from three-point range and 77.8% from the line. At the time, sophomore forward Maddy Siegrist came off the bench to lead the ‘Cats with 22 points and eight rebounds.

This time around, the ‘Cats are seeking revenge.

They rank third in the 202223 Big East Preseason Poll, while the Eagles were eighth in the Patriot League. Both teams went to the NCAA Tournament last season, with Villanova earning an 11 seed

and American qualifying as the Patriot League’s automatic qualifier and earning a 14 seed. Both teams were knocked out by Michigan.

Players to keep an eye on during the matchup are the Eagles’ senior guards, Jade Edwards and Emily Fisher.

Edwards is the Eagles’ team leader for points and rebounds as Fisher leads in assists. For the ‘Cats, Siegrist leads in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, but sophomore guard Lucy Olsen is one to watch.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

nouncement of fifth-year Ashley Joens returning for her final season. Joens is sensational, earning the honor of Big 12 Defensive

By Tyler Moore Player of the Year, and she holds Iowa State is undoubted- the title of the program’s all-time ly the most difficult opponent on leading scorer (2,369 points). the Villanova women’s basketball Joens cannot do it all non-conference schedule this alone, and she has a very solid season as the Cyclones come into team of returning players behind the season ranked eighth in the her. However, the most notable is polls. In fact, the Cyclones are transfer Stephanie Soares. Soares the second toughest team on the is a two time NAIA Player of entire schedule, behind UConn. the Year during her time at The Iowa State finished the 2021-22 season 26-6, falling to Creighton in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. The Cyclones set numerous program records last year, including the most single season wins in program history. Expectations for the Cyclones are just as high this year, especially with the an-

Master’s University, and stands tall at six-foot-six, bringing much needed physicality and strength to the team.

This will be a strong matchup for the Wildcats and a true test of what kind of team they will be this season. The matchup with the Cyclones takes place in Uncasville, Connecticut, in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on December 18th.

Marist College

Marist adds four freshmen this season but with a veteran-heavy roster, the Red Wolves will rely on leadership and experience to improve on last year’s performance.

By Meghann Morhardt The Wildcats open their season with Marist on the road on Nov. 7. While this game should be a relatively easy win for the Wildcats, it holds some extra significance for Villanova senior Maddy Siegrist. The Poughkeepsie native grew up going to Red Fox women’s basketball games and this season opener gives her a unique “home-court” advantage.

Marist finished last season with a 8-21 record including 6-14 in the MAAC.

The Red Wolves, No.10 in the MAAC, fell to No.7 St. Peter’s in the first round of their conference tournament to end their season.

The Red Wolves are led by Kiara Fisher who averaged 12.6 points per game last season before suffering a season ending shoulder injury in January. The junior guard is the only returner that averaged double digits last season.

Fellow junior Ziara Shazer will also be key to the Red Wolves’ success. The forward averaged 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds last season while tallying a team high 39 blocks throughout the year.

The Villanovan | 57

The Big 5: MEN’S PREVIEW

The Big 5 is an informal association of five major basketball programs in the Philadelphia area including La Salle University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph’s University, and of course, Villanova University. The five programs have played each other every year since 1995, with an exception of the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Villanova has the most titles of the Big 5 and are the reigning champions, going 3-0 last season. Combined, the Big 5 has 13 Final Four appearances and four national championships.

The history of the tournament runs deep after it was formed in 1955, a year after La Salle won the 1954 NCAA Men’s D-I Basketball Tournament. The Explorers are the only ones from the Big 5 who have won a national championship other than Villanova.

Villanova opens the regular season and its Big 5 campaign on Nov. 7th at 6:30 PM at the Finneran Pavilion against La Salle. The Explorers ended last season with a losing record, going 11-19. They have lost nine out of the last 10 matchups against the ‘Cats, including a 72-46 loss last year. La Salle is in the first year of the Fran Dunphy era. Dunphy was formerly a head coach at two other Big 5 programs in Temple and Penn. The Explorers are missing its two leading scorers from last year in Clifton Moore and Jack Clark, but 58 | The Villanovan

they return some strong players in senior Josh Nickelberry (11.2 points per game) and sophomore Khalil Brantley (8.0 ppg). With a high amount of roster turnover following the firing of former Villanova assistant Ashley Howard, Brantley and Nickleberry figure to shoulder much of the offensive load.

The next game continues Big 5 play as the ‘Cats face Temple at Liacouras Center on November 11th at 7:00pm. The Temple game during the 2021-2022 season was canceled due to COVID-19 issues in the Owls’ program. Therefore, the last time the ‘Cats faced the Owls was on Sun. Feb 16th in 2020, when the ‘Cats won 76-56 at Liacouras Center. The Owls went 17-12 last season, despite missing their star player, Khalif Battle, for the majority of the year. Battle’s season was cut short with a foot injury, but in the seven games he played, he averaged 21.4 points. The junior guard will lead the charge this year.

Redshirt sophomore Damian Dunn is another player to watch for the Owls as last season he averaged 14.9 points.

The ‘Cats play Penn on Wednesday, Dec. 7th, at 7:00pm at the Finneran Pavilion. The ‘Cats won the last matchup against the Quakers, which went 12-16 last year, on Dec. 1st, 2021, at the Palestra. The Quakers’ offense goes through junior guard Jordan Din-

By Victoria Newsome

gle, who averaged 20.9 points last season. Clark Slajchert was second on the team in scoring last year at 10.7 points despite only starting two games. He figures to play a bigger role this season as a junior. Junior guard/forward Max Martz will also be a key player for Penn this year.

The ‘Cats have won the last nine of the 10 matchups and are looking to take the win this December.

Lastly, the ‘Cats play at Saint Joseph University in Hagan Area on Saturday Dec. 17th at 4:00pm. Last season, St. Joe’s went 11-19, including a 81-52 loss to Villanova. The Hawks are coached by former Villanova assistant Billy Lange and have a new look roster this season after do-it-all guard Jordan Hall is now playing professionally and Taylor Funk transferred to Utah State. Returning for St. Joe’s is sophomore Erik Reynolds II, who averaged 12.1 points as a freshman. Ejike Obinna is also back for a graduate year. The forward/ center averaged 12.1 points and 7.9 rebounds last season. St. Joe’s also brought in three star recruits in Christian Winborne and Christ Essandoko. The ‘Cats are undefeated in their last 10 matchups against the Hawks.

Based on the history of the Big 5, Villanova is in great shape to continue its Big 5 title streak. It would be no surprise if it wins the title again this season.

A Philly Tradition WOMEN’S PREVIEW

By Zac Tipton

Each team in the Big 5 comes into the season looking to compete with Villanova, which made it to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament last year. While most teams were able to retain most of their core players, Temple is starting over and will show an almost completely new team this year. La Salle and Saint Joseph’s are projected to have above average seasons, while Penn and the Owls are projected to remain middle of the pack in their collective conferences.

Temple is the most changed group in the Big 5, as it let go of Tonya Cardoza, the team’s all-time winningest head coach, and brought in Diane Richardson, who coached Towson from a 9-24 record in 2017 to the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019 and a 24-8 record last year. She is bringing along three transfers from Towson, Tarriyonna Gary, Aleah Nelson and Rayne Tucker. She also is bringing in Kendall Currence from Northeastern, Denise Solis from UMass-Lowell and Ines Piper from Northwest Florida State. Both Currence and Nelson were named to the CAA First Team last year.

Jasha Clinton is the only remaining player from last year’s team who started over half the team’s games.

She averaged 6.4 points per game last season.

La Salle is on the other end of the spectrum from Temple. The

Explorers will be trying to do even better than last year. La Salle had its best season in 25 years, going 9-6 in conference play. The Explorers did not lose a single starter from last season either. All five are returning, including Kayla Spruill, who was named to A-10 Conference Preseason First Team and to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watchlist. Spruill averaged 15.9 ppg and 7.1 rebounds per game last year. Claire Jacobs, another starter, averaged 10.3 ppg last year and, along with Spruill, joined La Salle’s 1,000-point club this past season.

Molly Masciantonio, Jaye Haynes, and Amy Jacobs mark the other returning starters. The big addition for La Salle is Charity Sears, a grad transfer from West Virginia State. She holds the Yellow Jackets’ all-time three point record and the record for most points in a game in the MEC. St. Joe’s is another team that is projected to have a solid season. It is picked sixth in the A-10, which might not sound great, but is the highest the Hawks have been projected in years. They are led by Katie Jekot and Talya Brugler. Jekot was named Second Team Preseason All-Conference after ranking third in the conference in assists per game last year and averaging 9.6 ppg. Brugler was named Third Team All-Conference after leading the team in scoring and rebounding

last year. She averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg with 18 double digit scoring games and three double-doubles.

The other two starters St. Joe’s is bringing back are McKenzie Smith and Julia Nystrom. The rest of the starting lineup spots are up for grabs, as three players transferred out of St. Joes, including two contributors in Kaliah Henderson and Laila Fair.

Penn had a pretty standard offseason, losing two of its starters, but retaining the other three, including Kayla Padilla, who was named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watchlist. Padilla has gone from being named Freshman of the Year to First Team All-Ivy League twice in a row. She led the Ivy in scoring (18.6 ppg) and free throw percentage (79%), and was third in assists with 4.2 apg. Jordan Obi, who averaged 14.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg, is also set to return, as well as Mandy McGurk, who was named team captain along with Padilla. Penn was picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the Ivy League Preseason Poll, picked to finish fifth after finishing in the same spot last year.

Villanova’s first Big 5 match this year will be against Penn on November 17th, followed by Temple on November 20th. The Wildcats’ next Big 5 games are against St. Joe’s on December 10th and La Salle on December 21st.

The Villanovan | 59

MEN’S BIG EAST

PREVIEW

ST. JOHN’S

By Elijah McDow

St John’s enters the 2022-2023 season with a mix of old and new faces. Under head coach Mike Anderson, the Red Storm finished last season seventh in the Big East after going 8-13 in conference play and 17–15 overall. This season, one of the most important players for Anderson is Posh Alexander, who is coming off a season where he earned All-Big East Honorable Mention and led the conference with an average of 2.3 steals per game. Dylan Addae-Wusu, who averaged 8.5 points per game, is also back for his junior season.

In addition to the two key players from last year, Andre Curbelo joins St Johns as a transfer from Illinois. He is a player that teams around the Big East should keep an eye on. Despite missing two months last season due to a severe concussion, his Big Ten experience is vital to this St John’s team trying to make a name for itself in the Big East. Curbelo was on a team last year that had a 23-10 record, was co-champion of the Big Ten Regular Season, and was a four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The previous season Curbelo was the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year and made the conference’s All-Freshman Team. With a combination of Alexander, Addae-Wusu and the addition of Curbelo, Anderson now has three experienced players he can turn to for leadership. All three will be of great importance if the Red Storm want to make a push for a Big East championship and beyond.

COURTESY OF ST JOHN’S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Ryan Kalkbrenner returns for the 22-23 season.

St. John’s Dylan Addae-Wusu.

By Zac Tipton

CREIGHTON

Creighton is coming into this year as the favorite in the Big East conference. After losing in the second round of the tournament last year, Creighton is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation in the preseason AP Poll and has brought in a ton of talent to go along with its incredibly young lineup.

The Bluejays lost star forward Ryan Hawkins to graduation but retained the rest of their starters in junior Ryan Kalkbrenner, 2021-22 Big East Freshman of the Year Ryan Nembhard, sophomore Arthur Kaluma, and sophomore Trey Alexander. The Bluejays are also getting Shereef Mitchell back, who was a medical redshirt last year. The biggest move of the Blue Jays offseason, however, was acquiring star guard Baylor Scheierman from South Dakota State. Scheierman was one of the top names in the transfer portal and Creighton scooped him up.

The Summit League Player of the Year averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and shot 46% from three last season.

Creighton didn’t do too much in recruiting outside of the transfer portal as it only had two three stars in Ben Schtolzberg and Jasen Green. It also added an international prospect in Fredrick King from Mexico City, who had offers from Miami and Louisville as well.

This is head coach Greg McDermott’s 13th year at Creighton, and this team will come into the season with the highest expectations it has ever seen.

60 | The Villanovan

UCONN

By Lauren Armstrong

The Huskies are losing four of their five star players, leaving behind both a legacy and a multitude of spots on the court to fill.

This season, the Huskies will be led by 6’9’’ Adama Sanogo, a center who averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and nearly two blocks a game this past season. Another key returner is Andre Jackson, who started in 32 of the team’s 33 games last season. Jackson only averaged 6.8 points a game, but with 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game, he made an impact.

Joining Sanogo and Jackson this year is the No. 50 prospect for the class of 2022, Donovan Clingan. The 7’2”, 265lb center from Bristol, CT scored an impressive 2,268 points in high school, ranking seventh in state history. In most cases, being ranked the No. 50 prospect would get a player starting time almost anywhere, but with Sanogo and Clingan both playing center, it is very likely only one of these two power players will be on the court at once.

UConn adds four transfers this season, including Tristen Newton from East Carolina, Joey Calcaterra from San Diego, Nahiem Alleyne from Virginia Tech and Hassan Diarra from Texas A&M. Going into his fifth year at UConn, head coach Dan Hurley has high hopes for this year’s team. Hurley has led his Huskies to two straight Big East semifinal appearances, but expectations are higher in Storrs.

Villanova will face UConn on December 28, 2022 at the XL Center and on March 4, 2023 at the Finneran Pavilion.

COURTESY OF UCONN ATHLETICS

6’9’’ Adama Sanogo, a center who averaged 14.8 points for UCONN.

COURTESY OF XAVIER ATHLETICS

Xavier guard Colby Jones returns for the 22-23 season.

By Victoria Newsome

XAVIER

Villanova plays Xavier at home on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, and away on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in the Cintas Center. The 2022-23 Big East Preseason poll shows Xavier ranked second, while Villanova sits in third. Ranking the Musketeers above the ‘Cats was unexpected yet shows the high expectations for Xavier this season.

Xavier finished last season with an overall record of 23-13, including 8-11 in Big East play. The Musketeers capped off the season with an NIT Championship, the second in program history.

The Musketeers have a new head coach this season, as Sean Miller returns to the program where he started his head coaching career. Miller was head coach at Xavier from 2004-09 before spending the last 12 years at Arizona. Xavier only lost one of its top four scorers from last year and will look to build on last year’s success. The Musketeers will be led by graduate Jack Nunge and junior Colby Jones, who averaged 13.4 and 11.6 points per game last year, respectively. The squad also adds graduate transfer Souley Boum from UTEP, who is expected to make an impact this season.

With a new head coach yet several experienced returnees, look for the Musketeers to challenge the top of the Big East this season.

The Villanovan | 61

BUTLER

By James Haupt

This is an exciting season for Butler as it looks to make some ground in the Big East with its new additions. The headline of the offseason is the hiring of new coach, Thad Matta, who has one of the best win percentages in college basketball history. Matta has never had a losing season as a college coach and seems to already have sparked new energy into the Bulldogs.

Butler lost some key players this offseason in Aaron Thompson, Bryce Golden and Bryce Nze. However, it was able to bring back key starters Chuck Harris and Simas Lukosius. Harris is coming off a down year, but he has led the Bulldogs in scoring the last two seasons. He is projected by most to be a top-10 player in the conference as he looks to improve this season and raise the ceiling of this Butler squad. Lukosius showed some real potential last season, particularly with his 27-point, seven rebound performance in the Big East Tournament. He entered the transfer portal after the firing of LaVall Jordan, but Matta was able to bring him back.

Matta didn’t stop there. He was able to recruit several players to join his team, including three who will likely break the starting five. First is Eric Hunter Jr., a transfer from Purdue who provides elite defense at the guard position. He was a member of the All-Defensive team last season and also provides some solid outside shooting. Next comes Ali Ali, a transfer from Akron, where he nearly doubled his averages last season. His 6-foot-8 frame along with his shooting skill provides Butler with a great forward option. The last new addition to the squad is center Manny Bates, who joins from NC State.

Bates is a great shot blocker and provides elite defense to the Bulldogs.

The Wildcats face the Bulldogs first on January 13th at the Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana. They then see each other again at the Finn on February 14th.

COURTESY OF BUTLER UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF DEPAUL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Butler brings back key starters like Simas Lukosius.

Head coach Tony Stubblefield is entering his second season.

By Anders Pryor

DEPAUL

DePaul entered the offseason as a continually improving team looking to take the next steps, but the transfer portal and passage of time didn’t exactly favor it in that pursuit.

The Blue Demons lost their top two scorers from last year in Javon Freeman-Liberty and David Jones. Freeman-Liberty is currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, and David Jones transferred to the other side of the Big East to St. John’s.

But there’s good news, too. Ahamad Bynum, a redshirt freshman point guard who was a top 100 prospect and a four star recruit, will be making his debut this year. The Blue Demons are also bringing in four star Class of 2022 prospect Zion Cruz, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, who will add size and athleticism to an exciting young backcourt.

Head coach Tony Stubblefield is entering his second season after a 15-16 record last season, a better winning percentage than 11 of DePaul’s last 13 seasons. His role in causing the program to ascend is clear and he looks to continue that trend despite a roster gutted of many of its upperclassman players.

62 | The Villanovan

SETON HALL

By Jacob Artz

The Seton Hall-Villanova rivalry has been a premier attraction of the Big East with Villanova edging Seton Hall twice by the same exact score, 73-67, last season.

Since then, the face of Seton Hall has been revamped. There is a new head coach and many new players, making Seton Hall the wild card in the Big East Conference this season. The Pirates were picked seventh in the Preseason Big East poll. Some key departures include Jared Rhoden, who averaged 15.5 points, and Myles Cale, who started almost every game in his four years.

The big splash the Pirates made was the hiring of head coach Shaheen Holloway, who led small school Saint Peter’s on a magical Elite Eight run last March. He returns to his alma mater to take over for Kevin Willard.

Seton Hall will take some time to gel for two reasons. One, the Pirates brought in five transfers and boast three freshmen, including Tae Davis, a high three star recruit known for his defense. His brother, Dre Davis, transferred in from Louisville. Two, the Pirates have a tough non-conference schedule, as they travel to Kansas and Rutgers, along with games against Memphis and Iowa.

Other notable names to look out for are St. Peter’s transfer KC Ndefo, who was a force for the Peacocks offensively and defensively. Ndefo averaged 10.5 points and on defense, he was top 10 in the country in block rate, per KenPom. Kadary Richmond is a key player returning from last season when he averaged 8.8 points and 4.1 assists. Jamir Harris,Tyrese Samuel and Tray Jackson are other names to look for.

Seton Hall should be in the middle of the Big East standings with a few surprise wins along the way.

COURTESY OF SETON HALL ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

Shaheen Holloway led St. Peter’s and now returns to his alma mater.

The Hoyas had a program-worst 0-19 record last year.

GEORGETOWN

By Loghan Hirkey

Georgetown men’s basketball faced its share of adversity last year, ending the season with a 6-25 record.

With a record of eight Big East Conference tournament wins, most recently during the 2020-2021 season, 11 Sweet Sixteen appearances, five Final Four appearances and one NCAA National Championship win, the history of Georgetown’s team shows promise and success. So, the big question is, what went wrong?

The men’s team started out strong in the 2021-2022 season with four wins in four days, as well as a notable win against rival Syracuse. However, that glimmer of hope was soon crushed, as the team lost 19 straight Big East games. This losing streak led to the program’s first-ever winless season in conference play. The reason behind these drastic losses was Georgetown’s poor defense during the season, especially when defending the 3-pointer. It was ranked 336th in the country in opposing 3-point percentage.

This season Georgetown will be depending on returning player Dante Harris, a junior guard who averaged 11.9 points per game. The Hoyas also have new players that may be crucial to getting the team back on track, including Akok Akok, a senior forward who transferred from Connecticut and was ranked 15th in the country for blocks per game during the 2019-2020 season, and Jay Heath, a junior guard who transferred from Arizona State and averaged 10.6 points per game. Although last season wasn’t successful, the Hoyas should not be counted out this year. If their defense improves they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Villanovan | 63

PROVIDENCE

By Brooke Ackerman

The Providence Friars are coming off a successful season last year as they finished 14-3 in conference, and had a 27-6 overall record. The men had a solid postseason run, making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, losing to the eventual national champion, Kansas.

Taking the momentum from the end of last year’s season, the Friars head into the 2022-23 season hoping to keep their number one spot in the Big East. However, to accomplish this, Providence is going to need to focus on their offense this season. It lost its two top scorers, Al Durham, who averaged 13.6 points per game, and star center Nate Watson, who averaged 13.3 points per game.

Providence added two four-star newcomers, with one coming from the transfer portal. Redshirt freshman Corey Floyd used his redshirt season at UConn but will now bring his intensity to the Friars as one of the nation’s top shooting guards. Joining Floyd is freshman Jayden Pierre, who was ranked as a Top-40 guard in the nation, and No.1 in New Jersey. With these two top recruits, as well as tenured players like assist leader Jared Bynum, the Friars are looking to keep their offensive attack strong.

Providence goes into the upcoming season under the strong leadership of 12-year head coach Ed Cooley, who is now the longest tenured coach in the Big East after Jay Wright’s retirement. Under Cooley’s leadership and the young rising stars, the Friars are hoping to bring home a Big East Tournament Championship for the first time since 2014.

COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Providence returns assist leader Jared Bynum.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper returns for the Golden Eagles.

By Anders Pryor

MARQUETTE

Shaka Smart’s first season as the head coach at Marquette after a successful stint at Texas was strong. The Golden Eagles finished 19-12 with an 11-8 conference record.

However, this year’s squad will need new leaders. Last year’s star, Justin Lewis, now on a twoway contract with the Chicago Bulls, is the biggest loss. Lewis led the team in scoring and rebounding.

Marquette will also be without its second leading scorer in Darryl Morsell, who signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz.

The Golden Eagles have two ascending players who could fill in as new stars for the team. Sophomore guard Tyler Kolek led the team in assists last year with 5.1 per game and in steals with 1.4 per game. His role as a floor general should expand as the season progresses, especially against tougher Big East defenses. They’ll also be returning junior forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a promising player whose skills were overshadowed by Lewis’s dominance in the Golden Eagle offense. Now with an expanded role, Prosper will be able to show off an improved three point shot and his excellent consistency from the free throw line.

Smart should be able to keep his promising start at Marquette going, even with a less experienced roster than last year.

64 | The Villanovan

WOMEN’S BIG EAST

PREVIEW BUTLER

By James Haupt

Butler comes into the 2022-2023 season with many new faces, highlighted by newly hired coach, Austin Parkinson. Parkinson has some great experience in the NCAA as he comes off 12 seasons at IUPUI, where he had a record of 224-141. Last season, he led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Now, he looks to help a Butler team which has struggled recently, with a 4-44 record over the last two seasons. Parkinson brought several former IUPUI coaches along with him to the Bulldogs.

There will be eight new players arriving for the Bulldogs this season and only seven returners.

Three of them came in the freshman class: Jessica Carrothers, Chloe Jeffers and Jordan Meulemans, all guards. All can compete for roles on this Butler team. Parkinson brought some IUPUI players with him as well, as Rachel McLimore and Anna Mortag both followed him to Butler this season. Other transfers, Shay Frederick, Caroline Strande and Kelsy Taylor, look to improve the Bulldogs this season, too.

The Bulldogs have some key players returning that bolster the roster. This includes senior guard Tenley Dowell who played all 28 games last year and averaged 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds, leading the team in boards. Sophomore guard Trinity White, sophomore forward Sydney Jaynes and junior guard Kendall Wingler return as well. All the returners will have to adjust to Parkinson’s new system to have success this season. Villanova will face Butler on January 8th at the Finneran Pavilion and on February

COURTESY OF BUTLER UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Butler Guard Tenley Dowell played all 28 games last year.

COURTESY OF WOWT

By Zac Tipton

Creighton is looking to build off an Elite Eight run.

CREIGHTON

For the first time in school history, Creighton women’s basketball will start the year ranked in the top 25. The Bluejays are currently ranked No. 21 and are the only other ranked team besides UConn from the conference.

Creighton went on a Cinderella journey last year, knocking off Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, en route to the Elite Eight. The Bluejays are returning one of the best players in the Big East in Emma Ronsiek. The South Dakota Native was named Freshman of the Year two years ago and was a First Team All-Big East player last year. Creighton also brings back Big East Sixth Women of the Year Morgan Maly, and Co-Most Improved Player Lauren Jensen. Last season, Creighton averaged 74.8 points, with each of those three averaging over 12 points.

Senior Carly Bachelor will also be back. She was second on the team in rebounds last year.

Their only major losses were Tatum Rembao and Payton Brotzki, who both graduated. Rembao started all 33 games last year and dropped 19 points in the Sweet 16, while Brotzki only averaged 15 minutes a game but still started 30 games for the Bluejays.

Jim Flanery is entering his 21st season as head coach at Creighton, and similarly to Creighton’s men’s team, will have a lot of hype going into the season.

The Villanovan | 65

UCONN

By Lauren Armstrong

After making it to the NCAA Tournament Championship last season, UConn is entering this season missing some key players from the run. After losing players such as Christyn Williams, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Evina Westbrook, everyone expected the team to rely on its top shooter and player Paige Bueckers, but the junior guard tore her ACL in August and will miss this season.

In Bueckers’ absence, sophomore Azzi Fudd, who averaged an impressive 12.1 points a game last season, will be a key contributor to this season’s team. Joining Fudd is incoming freshman Ayanna Patterson who is the No.4 recruit in the class of 2022 and was named Preseason Big East Freshman of the Year. Patterson was expected to play alongside the No.5 recruit, Isuneh “Ice” Brady, but UConn announced in late October that Brady suffered a patella dislocation and will miss the 2022-23 season.

Head coach Geno Auriemma is returning to UConn for his 38th season with a total record of 1,149 wins to just 150 losses.

UConn only lost one game in the Big East this past season and that was to Villanova. The Wildcats defeated the Huskies 72-69 in February, yet were routed later in the Big East Tournament Final.

The teams will face off on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at the XL Center and on February 18, 2023 at the Finneran Pavilion.

COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT ATHLETICS

Azzi Fudd will be a key contributor to this season’s team.

COURTESY OF XAVIER UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Xavier junior Mackayla Scarlett returns for the 22-23 season.

By Victoria Newsome

XAVIER

Villanova Women’s Basketball plays Xavier University on Sun. Jan 1. at 12:00pm and Tues. Jan 17. The first matchup will be away at Xavier’s Cintas Center, and the second will be home at the Finneran Pavilion.

The ‘Cats have dominated in most games against the Musketeers, leading the series 17-1 since 2006. During the 2021-2022 season, the ‘Cats went 2-0 against the Musketeers. Xavier is entering this season without three of its top four scorers from last year. After finishing last season with an overall record of 9-21, 4-16 in conference play, these departures are of some concern for the Musketeers.

Xavier will likely look to sophomore Aanaya Harris, senior Shaila Beeler and junior Mackayla Scarlett for scoring as they are the only remaining players on the roster who averaged more than eight points per game last season. To make up for the three crucial losses, the Musketeers will rely on veteran leadership to guide the three freshmen and one transfer joining the squad.

Head coach Melanie Moore puts a strong emphasis on culture and she will rely on her eight upperclassmen to lead the charge. Moore is in her fourth season at the helm, but she has only won eight games at Xavier. Going into this season, the Musketeers have lost the last 10 matchups with the ‘Cats, dating back to 2017.

66 | The Villanovan

ST. JOHN’S

By Elijah McDow

COURTESY OF ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Coming off a year in which it went 12-19 overall, 7-12 in the conference, St John’s is hoping to improve from its seventh place finish in the Big East. The team is very experienced with a mixture of graduates and super-seniors to lead the few underclassmen on the roster.

Unfortunately, the Red Storm lost Leilani Correa, one of its most important players from last season to the transfer portal. Ahead of last season, Correa was named to the All-Big East Preseason Team and ultimately made the All-Big East Team at the end of the year. Correa also recorded a double-double against Villanova when she dropped 20 points and 10 rebounds. To say her presence will be missed is an understatement, but it is something that head coach Joe Tartamella and his staff will have to accept.

Despite Correa’s departure, Unique Drake, who shot 41.9 percent from the field last season, is back for her senior year. Other key players who are back include fifth-year Danielle Cosgrove and sixthyear Danielle Patterson. Patterson averaged 23.7 minutes, 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, while Cosgrove averaged 21.8, 7.5 and 3.4 in the respective categories last season. The Red Storm have also added Mimi Reed, an Ole Miss transfer who started in all but three games for the Rebels last season.

Tartamella will have plenty of leaders he can count on to show up in big moments throughout the season, as his team has players with experience from all over the country. Despite the loss of their star player, the Red Storm can still compete in the Big East.

Unique Drake returns for her senior year.

COURTESY OF DEPAUL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

DePaul’s Darrione Rogers, Aneesah Morrow and Kierra Collier.

By Anders Pryor

DEPAUL

DePaul is looking to get back in the right direction after losing by 31 points to Dayton in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four last year. However, last year’s 22-11 record may be hard to replicate.

The Blue Demons lost three of their top four scorers from last year in Sonya Morris, Deja Church, and Lexi Held, but their last year’s top scorer returns. Aneesah Morrow averaged 21.9 points per game as a freshman a season ago, ranking second in the Big East and first amongst freshmen by a large margin. She also pulled down 13.8 boards a night at 6-foot-1, the only player in the Big East to average more than 10.

Morrow will be able to get help from senior transfer and former McDonald’s All-American Anaya Peoples, who spent her last three seasons at Notre Dame. She averaged 12.6 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Irish and will surely be in the starting lineup to open the year. DePaul also brings in two top 150 prospects in guard/forward Madison Wardell and forward Zaria Hurston.

Doug Bruno is entering his 37th total season as DePaul’s head coach. With his top player staying and new talent brought in, the NCAA Tournament is a realistic target for the Demons. Getting a tournament win is their next step.

The Villanovan | 67

GEORGETOWN

By Loghan Hirkey

Last season, the Georgetown women’s basketball team finished 10-19 overall and 4-15 in Big East Conference play. This ranked it ninth in the Big East Conference. The reason for this struggle was the team’s inability to deliver on offense as it finished last offensively in the Big East. Unfortunately, this offensive trouble may still be a problem this season after the Hoyas lost three out of its five top scorers.

The most notable loss for Georgetown is Milan Bolden-Morris, who was the top scorer last season with 12.6 points per game. The guard was also the Hoyas’ strongest from distance, leading the team with 83 threes on 36% shooting.

But the team isn’t losing hope. It is banking on key players such as junior guard Kelsey Ransom and senior forward Graceann Bennett to lead the team with more scoring. Ransom led the team in assists last season at 3.7 assists per game and was the only other double-digit scorer besides Bolden-Morris, at 12 points per game. Bennett put up only seven points per game but was second on the team in rebounds with 5.4 per game. These two will be crucial for building a better offense.

Two transfers will be joining the Georgetown team and are expected to be an asset this season.

Jada Claude, a senior forward from Morehead State, averaged 13.7 points per game last season and 7.1 rebounds, numbers that would have led the Hoyas last season. Kristina Moore, a graduate student from Florida State, is not expected to have as much of an impact as Claude. However, with four years of experience under her belt, she will bring much needed leadership to the group.

Overall, Georgetown must find more effective ways to score this season if it wants to improve its record from last season.

COURTESY OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF SETON HALL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Hoyas Add Kristina Moore to the 2022-23 Roster.

Seton Hall senior guard Lauren Park-Lane.

By Jacob Artz

SETON HALL

Seton Hall women’s basketball stormed through the second half of last season, finishing with a 24-13 record and dancing all the way to the WNIT championship before losing to South Dakota State.

If the momentum is to continue, senior guard Lauren Park-Lane and senior center Sidney Cooks must lead a team that includes six transfers. Park-Lane averaged 18.3 points per game last year. She led the Big East with 7.6 assists per conference game. She also chipped in 2.9 rebounds per game. This points per game average was punctuated with a career-high 33 points in a 72-60 win over Villanova on Feb. 13. Cooks is a reliable presence, who finished with 15.9 ppg and 7.9 rebounds per game. Cooks earned All-Big East First Team honors and All-WNIT accolades.

The Pirates advanced to the Big East Tournament semifinal, where they lost to the Wildcats, 64-55. A key transfer is graduate forward Alexia Allesch, who averaged 13.5 ppg and 9.7 rpg at Appalachian State, and starts her second stint at Seton Hall. Another key transfer is senior guard Kae Satterfield as she averaged 11.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg at Xavier.

The Pirates finished sixth last season in Big East play, going 12-8 in the conference. Seton Hall lost a key scorer in Andra Espinoza-Hunter, who gave the Pirates 15.0 ppg. Seton Hall will look for senior forward Mya Bembry, who engineered 4.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg, to step up for the team.

Park-Lane and Cooks must play well to keep this team on its winning ways. If the transfers can play well alongside Park-Lane and Cooks, this team will compete amongst the top teams in the Big East.

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PROVIDENCE

By Brooke Ackerman

Providence is coming off a season that didn’t go the way it had hoped. With a 6-14 conference record, the Friars finished eighth in the Big East and had an overall record of 11-19. Providence lost in the first round of the Big East Conference Tournament to Georgetown.

Luckily for the Friars, they return their top scorer from last season, Janai Crooms, who is now a Big East veteran. Crooms played and started in 29 games for the Friars last season and was a force on the court. She averaged a team-best 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, earning her AllBig East Honorable Mention.

However, while Crooms will return, two big names for the Friars, Alyssa Geary and Mary Baskerville, have officially ended their time for the Black and White. Baskerville had her standout season back in 2020-21, but offered key leadership to the team last season. As for Geary, she was the Friars’ second leading scorer last season and the only player to start all 30 games. For the team, she averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

The big question for the Friars this upcoming season is who can step up to bring this team out of the below .500 slump they’ve been experiencing for the past three seasons. Kammie Ludwig is the only freshman recruit the Friars have, and with her averaging 24.6ppg in her senior year of high school, Providence is hoping that the Illinois powerhouse can help put some points up on the board for the squad this season.

COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Janai Crooms, the Friars’ top scorer from last season, will return this season.

Senior forward Chloe Marotta returns for the 22-23 season.

By Anders Pryor

MARQUETTE

After finishing 21-10 and advancing to the Women’s NIT Sweet 16 in 2021-2022, Marquette is looking to build on its success.

Senior guard Jordan King was named to the preseason All-Big East Team and looks to take the charge for the Golden Eagles after leading scorer Lauren Van Kleunen graduated. King led the team in both assists and steals last season and was third in scoring at 11.3 points a game. She’s a strong candidate to put herself in the 15-a-night range.

But King won’t be on her own. Senior guard transfer Nia Clark comes over to Milwaukee from Big East rival Xavier, where she averaged 11.7 points a game. She and King look to form an impressive back court that can compete for the best in the conference.

Megan Duffy is the defending Big East Coach of the Year and is looking to keep her momentum going. Duffy likes her teams to pass the ball around as Marquette ranked eighth in the country in assists per game last season, with 18 per game. With pass-first players like King and senior forward Chloe Marotta, that style of play should be able to be developed and continued.

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