Wildcats Review

[OmahaGuy]

Wow! What a run and a season for this squad! I knew this squad would be good but if you told me they'd win the 'Ship, I would've thought you've gone insane. Let's not forget the fact that they had an incredibly TOUGH run to the 'Ship. Beating some very good and great teams like Iowa, Miami, Kansas, Oklahoma, and finally North Carolina. Holy crap! With all of that being said, let's take a way-too-early look at Nova.

Who's out?
*Ryan Arcidiacono
*Daniel Ochefu
These guys were STUDS and were significant contributors not just in the tourney, but for the whole year. Big losses there and they'll be sorely missed.

Who's back?
*Josh Hart
*Kris Jenkins
*Jalen Brunson
*Phil Booth
*Mikal Bridges
*Darryl Reynolds
All of these guys are also some big time studs. I could be wrong but I'm just going to predict that Hart and Jenkins will be back along with Brunson. Those guys right there (along with Booth), form such a SALTY backcourt for the future. I even liked what I saw out of Bridges and Reynolds this season, hopefully they'll continue to improve.

Who's in?
*Omari Spellman-5-Star HS kid from Ohio
*Dyaln Painter-HS kid from Hershey, PA
*Eric Paschall-Transfer from Fordham. He was very highly touted.
That's a pretty damn good recurring class right there that should keep Nova at the top of the BigEast and among the top teams in the country!

The defending champion Wildcats will be back to do some serious damage once again in their quest to defend their title. They've got a TON of guard talent to go with some talented big guys. And there's no doubt in my mind that Jay Wright will continue to lead this program to special places.

Welp, I'm done with these reviews. I tried to do them all to the best of my ability. Now comes the longest offseason wait ever........is it November yet??

[marquette]

Thanks for the write up. This thread could also read "BOOM! MIKE DROP"

[jckund]

Just to add - Nova had 2 freshman this season who weren't seen. Donte Divicenzo (wing shooter, might be the most athletic wing on our team - got injured, didn't play much). 6'9ish Tim Delaney who sat out after undergoing surgery. Supposed to be a pretty reliable shooter for a big, could fit into a good stretch 4/5 role.

[xusandy]

Once again, OmahaGuy, thank you thank you for all the hard work you put into this series, and for "nuggetizing" (why isn't that a real word?; it works so well here!) so much good info for every BEAST team for 2016-17. I'd love to see your entire series re-posted next fall, so I could reread it as basic pre-season prep without having to dig through mountains of old topics to find these 10. Hey admins, got a way to format that?

[MackNova]

It wasn't that long ago where people on this board ranked Nova 2nd or even 3rd next season. You can maybe make a case for Xavier, but I don't see how you can pick anyone other than Villanova to win the league next year, unless you're just trying to be contrarian.

I assume everyone will be back, though Hart/Jenkins could potentially go pro.

[pki1998]

First I just have to say that I am so glad we had to wait so long for this review!!!! Congrats Nova on winning the best championship game I've ever watched!!!!

Second we have to tip our hat to Nova. They have dominated the current configuration of the Big East over the last three years. They are my preseason number 1 regardless of who they have coming back until I am proved wrong. With that being said, even without there dominance in years 1-3 it would be hard to pick anyone else. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Hart and Jenkins end up in the top three of Big East player of the year voting. Throw in some second team (or better) potential all league players (Brunson, and Booth) and some quality new players and Nova will be a forced to be dealt with.

I'm not saying we should crown them already, but its going to be a real uphill battle for someone to unseat Nova at the top. My Muskies have the best chance, assuming that Trevon Blueitt comes back. I can't wait to see XU v Villanova at the Cintas next year. Hell I'm even considering making a trip to philly and going to see X up there.

[gtmoBlue]

First off - Another hearty congratulations to the Villanova Wildcats, on a great job this season and on winning the NCAA National Championship. Well done 'Nova.

Alas, but the season is over...or is it?

It appears that perhaps, just perhaps the 2016-17 BE Basketball anointing is a bit premature. In all fairness, a better juncture for such pre-emptive crowning might be after we see who actually declares, gets an agent, and leaves for the draft (whether the individuals actually get drafted or not). The media has already begun its' "way too early" beauty contests of the usual suspects. Let us not parrot their (the media's) efforts. Don't get me wrong...If we go into the biz of early crowning - I surely hope that means the rest of us can take the year off? Tahiti, Bora Bora, or San Andres (islands)...here I come. Waitress, where's my Tequila Sunrise?

Again, an excellent year for Villanova and again congratulations for winning the national championship and a fine job of representing your university, Philadelphia, PA., and the Big East Conference.

[DougGottlieb]

This championship should have a big old "*" next to it in the record books. Put this years Villanova team in the B1G, ACC, or Big 12 and they finish in the bottom half of the league. Those tournament wins against Miami, Oklahoma, Kansas, UNC... FLUKE. Mid-majors get hot in the tourney all the time, Villanova just stayed hot a little bit longer. Yeah, Nova has good culture, chemistry, and character, but no real talent. Talent is what carries true champions and Nova is lacking in that.

[cu blujs]

...If we go into the biz of early crowning - I surely hope that means the rest of us can take the year off? Tahiti, Bora Bora, or San Andres (islands)...here I come. Waitress, where's my Tequila Sunrise?

Gtmo, aren't you already living in Paradise? I have often wondered where someone living in the tropics on or near the ocean would want to go for vacation. Now I know.

[GumbyDamnit!]

I hate having to talk about next year so soon...

Nova next year is going to be so interesting. First time in a decade Nova will only have 2 lead guards (Booth and Brunson) and they'll trot out a slew of guys 6'5"-6'9"guys. Cerebral, fundamental players (Arch, Ochefu) are going to be replaced with athletic freaks. I almost think that Jay Wright was questioning if he could get it done with guys like Scottie Reynolds and Ryan Arch before this year happened. When you look at who he started to recruit, he went out and found length, and speed and athleticism, maybe in anticipation of having to match up physically with the teams that we were losing to in the tourney previously.

DiVencenzo (6'5", 40+" vertical):





Paschall (6'7" 215, 40+" vertrical):





Spellman (6'9" 275 beast).



If Josh Hart stays (as a 2G), we will have some serious athleticism. It will be interesting to see if the Arch/Ochefu scrappy & smart play remains in the program, or if JW tries to just overwhelm teams physically. Either way this team will NOT look anything like a Villanova team from the past 10 years when they take the floor.