The Big East has lost some of its most prestigious and historically successful programs in recent years, but Villanova is not one of them. Yet, Jay Wright and the Wildcats haven’t been to the Sweet 16 in more than five seasons.
Our Recruit and Reload series moves on to Philadelphia, as we look at the task coach Wright has in front him, trying to get Villanova back on track in March.
Key Losses: Darrun Hilliard II (graduation), Dylan Ennis (transfer)
Possible Losses: No announcements made
Key Returners: Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, Daniel Ochefu
Key Newcomers: Jalen Brunson (five-star, point guard), Donte Divincenzo (three-star, shooting guard)
Breakdown: Eventually, Jay Wright and Villanova are going to need a deep run into the NCAA Tournament to silence some of the negativity surrounding their program. Yes, they won the Big East. Yes, they earned a No. 1 seed for March Madness. However, whenever you do so, losing in the second round is going to bring on heavy criticism. Compound that with losing your best player in Hilliard, and your point guard to-be in Ennis, and the Wildcats haven’t had the greatest last few months. However, returning Hart and Arcidiacono on the perimeter, and Ochefu on the inside could help lessen the blows that Wright and company have suffered recently. Add in a five-star point guard in Brunson, and Villanova might not be taking the kind of step back that many in the Big East thought they were prepared to. Brunson is a dynamic talent with the ball in his hands, capable of making defenders pay dearly off of the pick and roll game, something he’ll have plenty of opportunities to do playing for Wright.
