No. 2 Villanova Survives No. 7 Ohio State's Upset Bid; Will Play Michigan in Sweet 16
Mar 20, 2022
Villanova's Collin Gillespie (2) works to get around Ohio State 's Jamari Wheeler (55) during the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
No. 2 Villanova will return to the Sweet 16 after surviving a 71-61 win over No. 7 Ohio State on Sunday.
Collin Gillespie had 20 points at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, avoiding a potential upset bid in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Villanova was seemingly in full control of the game early, leading by 11 points at halftime and as much as 15 in the second half.
The Buckeyes still kept the game within striking distance, eventually making a move with under 12 minutes left. A 15-5 run cut the deficit to two, putting pressure on the South Region's No. 2 seed.
It was enough for Villanova to pull out a close win in a game it never trailed.
Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell combined for 40 points for Ohio State, but it wasn't enough for the upset.
Villanova sometimes has trouble reaching the second weekend, but the squad is usually dangerous from that point on. Three of the last four trips to the Sweet 16 later featured a Final Four appearance, including two national championships.
The Wildcats will face No. 11 Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Collin Gillespie Leads Balanced Effort for Villanova
It wasn't the best game from Gillespie, who finished 5-of-14 from the field and 2-of-9 from three, but he came through at important times for the Wildcats.
The senior helped Villanova build an early lead with excellent individual ability:
The Collin Gillespie Game.#Buckeyes have no early answers for the veteran guard, who has 10 of Villanova's 17 points. Ohio State has 7 points, and it's looked that decisive through 8 minutes.
Gillespie outscored Ohio State for the first eight minutes of the game as Villanova quickly went up double digits.
The guard went quiet during the middle stretch of the game when his team held a double-digit lead, but he sprung back into action with clutch buckets down the stretch.
It was then Gillespie who drew extra attention in the post before kicking it out to Dixon for the key three-pointer.
Villanova had four players in double digits, including a strong showing by Jermaine Samuels. It was still Gillespie who made the key plays in the game's biggest moments, helping the Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16.
Ohio State Falls Short Despite Branham's Heroics
For much of the game, Ohio State simply seemed overmatched against an opponent that was better on both ends of the court.
Liddell did his part, but the squad needed a secondary scorer to even be competitive.
Branham apparently got the message, lighting it up in the second half to get his team back in the game.
Will say, Malaki Branham’s ability to create a shot from nothing against this Villanova team is basically the only thing saving Ohio State’s ass on offense right now. His hesitation game is terrific. Just has such an innate feel for how to get defenders off balance.
Branham and Liddell put up a fight in the second half, but there simply wasn't enough scoring depth.
Once Kyle Young left the game with an apparent head injury, Ohio State couldn't keep up on the scoreboard.
5-Star SF Cam Whitmore Commits to Villanova Over UNC, Illinois
Oct 7, 2021
Highly touted wing Cam Whitmore committed to Villanova on Thursday.
The 6'6" small forward sits sixth at his position and 24th nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also the best player from the state of Maryland in the 2022 class.
In terms of what to expect from Whitmore, he offered a telling comment to Inside Carolina's Sherrell McMillan last August.
"My first priority is to attack the basket," he said. "I believe whoever is guarding me, there's no way they can stop me from getting to the basket. I'm working on shooting off the dribble and that's been getting better. Overall, I think I defend pretty well. I can block shots, and I'm versatile enough to really defend all positions."
If he sees a path to the paint, Whitmore won't hesitate to put his head down and go. His attacking instincts extend to when he's away from the ball as well since put-back dunks are one tool in his arsenal.
Eric Bossi of 247Sports also described Whitmore as the "basketball version of a heat-seeking missile whose target is attacking the rim and causing as much destruction as possible once he gets there."
There's a good chance the dynamic forward will put somebody on a poster as a member of the Wildcats.
Of course, athleticism and dunking ability only goes so far at the college level, at least for players who want to reach an elite level.
Whitmore acknowledged to McMillan he has some room to grow as a shooter. He can't afford to have opponents sag off him on the perimeter, thus cutting off his angles for drives into the paint.
As long as he can make defenders respect his jumper, Whitmore will be a terror on offense for Villanova.
He joins 4-star combo guard Mark Armstrong in Villanova's incoming 2022 class. Armstrong is 46th overall in 247Sports' composite rankings.
Beyond getting the program back to a place where it could contend for national championships, Jay Wright has been excellent at developing talent. Saddiq Bey, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart all maxed out in college en route to solid pro careers so far.
That probably didn't go unnoticed by Whitmore, considering how much his ceiling will rise if he can flesh out his offensive repertoire.
No. 5 Villanova Escapes with 73-63 Win over No. 12 Winthrop in NCAA Tournament
Mar 20, 2021
Villanova guard Caleb Daniels (14) celebrates a defensive stop with Justin Moore (5) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) in the second half of a first round game against Winthrop in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Friday, March 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Villanova has no time for Cinderella.
While many tabbed the No. 5 Wildcats as an upset candidate with Collin Gillespie sidelined by injury, they handled the No. 12 Winthrop Eagles 73-63 in Friday's first round of the 2021 NCAA men's tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Justin Moore led the way for the victors in Gillespie's absence.
A solid showing from D.J. Burns Jr. and Chandler Vaudrin was not enough for the Eagles, who have not won a game in the Big Dance since the 2006-07 season.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Leads Balanced, Methodical Effort for Wildcats
The Wildcats needed a spark with Gillespie sidelined, and they got it when Moore took the floor.
There was a time when his status was up in the air following anankle injurynear the end of the regular season, but he was healthy and ready to go Friday as the only player on either team in double figures by halftime.
Villanova needed that other scorer to emerge in the first half since Jermaine Samuels, who poured in a combined 41 points the previous two games without Gillespie, was quiet in the early going and unable to create the typical mismatches he usually does as someone who can hit from deep, cut into the basket and battle for boards.
While Samuels wasn't the go-to option that he was in previous games without Gillespie, Winthrop had no answer for Robinson-Earl.
The sophomore did a little bit of everything by protecting the rim, controlling the glass, scoring in the lane and facilitating when defenders collapsed on him. It was a pick-your-poison situation, though, because he scored on the blocks multiple times when additional defenders didn't provide much-needed help.
Robinson-Earl was the anchor, but Villanova's committee approach also saw Bryan Antoine and Cole Swider provide outside shooting from the bench and Caleb Daniels hit multiple three-pointers as a third scorer.
Samuels also got involved as the game progressed and the Wildcats found the balanced attack with a primary option leading the way in Robinson-Earl that they will need to survive and advance without Gillespie.
Winthrop's Upset Effort Stalls with Offense in Second Half
The 23-1 record entering the tournament stood out, but it was fair to question Winthrop heading into Friday's contest.
After all, it didn't play a single major conference team during the regular season and was just 119th in the country in KenPom.com's offensiverankings. Keeping up with the Wildcats, who were No. 9 in those rankings, was quite the task.
The Eagles looked up to that task from the start with balanced scoring, a willingness to push the ball in transition and a notable ability to protect the ball against Villanova's perimeter defenders. Winthrop had just three turnovers by halftime while avoiding some of the mistakes that have cost other underdogs.
Burns Jr. was also a force down low and either scored himself on the blocks or drew additional defenders to open up looks for his teammates.
His presence helped keep the Eagles within striking distance as they looked to set up a thrilling finish, but things changed when he picked up his fourth foul with around nine minutes remaining.
The offense stalled, Vaudrin started forcing the issue at times and the Big South representative fell behind by double digits for the first time all game. It also didn't help that Burns fouled out shortly after he returned to the game, forcing Winthrop to go small.
The result was just30 points in the second half as the Eagles saw their impressive season come to an end.
What's Next?
The Wildcats will face the No. 13 North Texas Mean Green in Sunday's second-round clash in the South Region.
Villanova's Collin Gillespie to Miss NCAA Tournament with Knee Injury
Mar 4, 2021
Villanova guard Collin Gillespie (2) in action during an NCAA college basketball game against Creighton, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Villanova will be without one of its senior leaders for the rest of the season and the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, guard Collin Gillespie suffered a torn MCL during Wednesday's victory over Creighton and will likely miss the rest of the season. This is a devastating loss for the Wildcats, who are national title contenders, Big East champions and competing for a top seed in the Big Dance.
Villanova head coach Jay Wright thanked people for their support in wake of the news:
NovaNation – thanks for your prayers and concern . Collin and the Villanova Basketball Family are overwhelmed with the outpouring of concern and support . https://t.co/CtGrgeeev2
"We are all devastated for Collin," Wrightsaid. "He is the heart and soul of our program. We know we can't replace him. We all just want to step up and play so that we honor him. ... Collin is as mentally tough and resilient as any player we have had here. I know he will get through this and make it a positive for his career."
Gillespie is second on the Wildcats in points (14.0) and leads them in both assists (4.6) and steals (1.0) per game, underscoring how valuable he is in a number of areas.
He is also shooting 37.6 percent from three-point range as someone who can hit from the outside, attack the basket off the bounce and set up teammates as the floor general for the Big East champions.
Villanova will likely rely even more on the combination of Caleb Daniels and Bryan Antoine in the backcourt with Gillespie sidelined.
The Wildcats are scheduled to finish their regular season Saturday against Providence.
Butler Upsets No. 8 Villanova 73-61 Ahead of Big East Tournament
Feb 28, 2021
Butler guard Chuck Harris (3) shoots over Villanova guard Collin Gillespie (2) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The 2020-21 season has been a nightmare for Butler, but the Bulldogs appear determined to finish strong.
Chuck Harris scored 20 points and Jair Bolden added 15 as Butler pulled off a 73-61 upset of No. 8 Villanova on Sunday.
The Bulldogs (9-13) have won two straight games for just the third time this season. Building off its strong defensive performance against Seton Hall, Butler held Villanova to 38.1 percent shooting and set the tone by limiting the Wildcats to 24 first-half points.
Bryce Golden and Bryce Nze were also in double figures for Butler.
Villanova's loss could knock Jay Wright's team off the No. 2 seed for the time being. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has had the Wildcats slotted for a No. 2 seed for weeks, but they may wind up dropping after losing two of their last four games.
The margin is thinner than ever in a shortened season, and Villanova laid an egg against a Butler team that will finish under .500 for the first time since 2012-13 barring a deep run in the Big East tournament.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Justin Moore and Collin Gillespie were in double figures for Villanova, which boasts a 10-3 conference record with two regular-season games remaining.
Wednesday's matchup against Creighton will essentially decide the regular-season Big East champion and give the Wildcats a chance to right themselves after a 16-point loss to the Bluejays earlier this month.
For now, Wright and Co. will have to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to get back into the Top 10 after they likely fall out in Monday's rankings update.
Butler closes its regular season Saturday against Creighton.
Villanova HC Jay Wright Tests Positive for COVID-19; Game vs. Xavier Postponed
Dec 27, 2020
Villanova coach Jay Wright talks with the team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Boston College, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Villanova is pausing its basketball activities following an outbreak of COVID-19 within the program, the team announced Sunday.
Head coach Jay Wright is among those confirmed to have tested positive for the coronavirus and addressed the situation:
"Our players have been very diligent and disciplined with all of the COVID protocols. Unfortunately, we have had two staff members test positive. I am one of them. My symptoms are mild, and we remain connected as a team and staff by phone and Zoom. I am grateful to our team physician, Dr. Mike Duncan, who has worked tirelessly to help guide us safely through this."
The Big East has postponed the No. 5 Wildcats' January 2 matchup with No. 22 Xavier. No makeup date has been announced.
It's the second consecutive game Villanova has postponed after both the Wildcats and St. John's agreed to push back their conference meeting scheduled for December 30.
"We just thought our players needed a break," Wright said of the St. John's game. "Their well-being is our top priority. We appreciate that St. John's is in agreement with us on this in wanting the same for their players."
Nova has now had five games postponed this season. The length of the program's layoff is to be determined as well.
The Wildcats last played December 23 in an 85-68 victory over Marquette to extend their winning streak to six games. Villanova remains atop the Big East standings with a half-game lead over No. 13 Creighton and Seton Hall.
If there are no further cancellations, the program could return for a January 5 contest against DePaul—which was previously postponed December 14.
Villanova's Jay Wright Says CBB Season Is 'Up in the Air' Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Jun 9, 2020
Villanova head coach Jay Wright gestures during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Washington. Villanova won 70-69. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The 2019-20 men's and women's college basketball seasons were canceled March 12 prior to most conference tournaments, as well as both NCAA tournaments, because of public health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Villanova men's head coach Jay Wright wouldn't be surprised if those concerns impact the 2020-21 campaign.
"I can't see, right now, having fans [this upcoming season]," Wright told reporters Tuesday. "College basketball is up in the air."
The 58-year-old continued:
While Jay Wright said no fans in the stands this upcoming season would be sad, he said it would make it easier for him to coach games because it wouldn’t be loud / no distractions. He referenced closed scrimmages and how it would likely look like that.
Jay Wright says he has no sense of when his players can come back to Villanova’s campus to work out. Right now, it continues to be zooms and at-home workouts.
Jay Wright said at the moment, he and his staff are preparing as if the first time they see their players again will be when school is back in session in August. He said anything before that “would be gravy.” #Villanova
Wright's Wildcats were 24-7 and tied with Creighton and Seton Hall atop the Big East when the season was canceled.
Duke men's head coach Mike Krzyzewski commented on the fate of next season in early May on the 94WIP morning show.
"I think college will try to learn from what the professional sports do," Coach K said. "You gotta just be really careful, but again you have to bring things back too. We're gonna watch what the NBA does especially, and I'm sure college football is going to watch what the NFL does."
The NBA approved a 22-team return-to-play plan last week. The league will host the remainder of the season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, beginning July 31.
The NCAA Division I CouncilannouncedMay 20 that basketball student-athletes would be allowed to participate in on-campus voluntary workouts starting June 1 as long as the programs weren't violating any state or federal laws.
Villanova's 2016, 2018 Title Teams to Face Off in Virtual NBA2K Sim for Charity
May 4, 2020
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 5-6 - FILE - In this April 4, 2016, file photo, Villanova players celebrates after Kris Jenkins, center, made the game-winning basket as they defeated North Carolina 77-74 in the championship game of the the NCAA Final Four college tournament in Houston. The Wildcats reign as champions for the first time in three decades. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
The debate between which Villanova team was better between the 2016 and 2018 championship squads will finally be decided.
Well, kind of.
As Myron Medcalf of ESPN reported, the two teams will face each other in a customized version of NBA2K on Monday as part of the World Showdown of Esports. It will air on Twitch and YouTube and raise money for the Philadelphia-based charity Philabundance to feed children in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2015-16 team went 35-5 and destroyed Oklahoma by 44 points in the Final Four before defeating North Carolina by three in one of the most memorable national title games in recent history behind a Kris Jenkins buzzer-beater.
That team featured Jenkins, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Ryan Arcidiacono, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo, although DiVincenzo, Brunson and Bridges were all freshmen.
"We've had some spirited arguments about which team would win if we went head-to-head," Kevin Rafferty, who was also on that 2015-16 team and organized this event, said. "Now we'll have an answer and help support a great cause in the process."
The 2017-18 team went 36-4 and won every single tournament game by double digits, including its 17-point domination of Michigan in the national title game. DiVincenzo, Brunson and Bridges were the leaders on a squad that also featured Omari Spellman, Eric Paschall and Phil Booth.
Medcalf noted players who were on both teams will choose which side they represent.
As for the player rankings, those on the 2018 champions assigned them to those on the 2016 champions and vice versa.
4-Star Center Prospect Nnanna Njoku Commits to Villanova over Miami, More
Apr 19, 2020
VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 05: A general view of Villanova Wildcats logo at center court prior to the game against the Army Black Knights at Finneran Pavilion on November 5, 2019 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Sunday evening, 4-star center Nnanna Njoku announced his verbal commitment to the Villanova Wildcats through a 36-second hype video:
"I picked Villanova because not only is it close to home, but the culture that they have there is unmatched, Njoku said, per 247Sports' Evan Daniels. "It's something that you don't see at all. I went to Villanova for the first time when they won the national championship and they had their Nova Mania the next season. At that point, I said to myself, 'This is crazy.'"
Villanova won national championships in 2016 and 2018.
Njoku attends the Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware. The 6'9", 245-pounder is ranked by 247Sports as the best Delaware-based prospect, as well as 15th-best center and 86th-best overall prospect in the 2021 class.
Njoku chose Villanova over Miami, Marquette, NC State, Pittsburgh and more.
"I feel like just growing up in Pennsylvania, Villanova was always a great school," Njoku added to Daniels. "I was always watching them on TV. It was always a place that I loved. Growing up, they are someone I just always paid attention to and watched a lot. When I grew up, I started to understand the concepts of college basketball, and I felt like I would fit in there perfectly."
Njoku also praised head coach Jay Wright's "entire demeanor" and specifically addressed the 58-year-old's ethos of "building men before he builds basketball players."
Wright has been in charge at Villanova since 2001. The program has had 10 players selected in the NBA draft since then, perRealGM, including Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry in 2006, New Orleans Pelicans swingman Josh Hart in 2017, Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges in 2018 and Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall last year.
The Wildcats were atop the Big East at 24-7 before the remainder of the 2019-20 college basketball season was canceled on March 12.
Daniels evaluated Njoku on Sunday:
"Njoku has a thick, strong build with a wide base. He gets good position and is physical in the paint. He's a willing floor runner, but just OK athletically, which is a concern. He does, however, have good hands, good shot mechanics and is a confident shooter with range out to the high school three-point line. On the block he's capable of getting to a right jump hook over his left shoulder. Njoku is also a very good area rebounder because of his motor and physical play."
