clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2018 Villanova Basketball Season Recap: Phil Booth

Phil Booth now has 2 National Championships.

By BillyV21
NCAA Basketball: Final Four-Villanova vs Kansas Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Booth Career Stats

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 2P 2PA 2P% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Season G MP FG FGA FG% 2P 2PA 2P% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2014-15 36 14.5 2 3.6 0.563 1.1 1.7 0.645 0.9 1.8 0.485 0.9 1.3 0.739 1.5 1.4 0.3 0 0.8 1.4 5.8
2015-16 40 21.9 2.2 6.1 0.368 1.3 3 0.42 1 3.1 0.317 1.6 1.8 0.877 2.1 2.1 0.8 0.1 1.4 1.9 7
2016-17 3 24 1.7 6.3 0.263 0.7 3 0.222 1 3.3 0.3 1.3 1.3 1 1.7 2 0.3 0 2 1 5.7
2017-18 33 27.4 3.3 7.4 0.441 1.6 3 0.53 1.7 4.4 0.379 1.8 2.3 0.8 3.2 2.9 0.8 0.2 1.4 1.7 10

Phil Booth returned from a red shirt season due to a knee injury, and was a captain and “senior” leader on a National Championship team. The 6’3” guard averaged career highs in most major categories this season. A double digit scorer for the first time in his career, Booth shot 53% on two point shots and 37.9% from behind the three point line.

Booth’s season was unfortunately interrupted due to another injury. A broken shooting hand kept the Baltimore native out of action for seven games, from January 28th to February 17th. Despite some initial struggles upon return, Booth was a critical piece in the National Championship run.

  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
  • Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
  • Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
  • Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
  • Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
  • Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
  • Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
  • Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
  • Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
  • Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
  • Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Did Phil Booth meet or exceed expectations in 2017-18?

I think most would say Phil Booth met, if not exceeded, expectations in his red shirt junior season. Booth’s average of 10 points means 76% of Wisdom of the Crowd voters were correct. There was a real concern that Booth’s knee issues would extend into this season, so him getting through the entire season without any reports of issues was a big win in and of itself.

The numbers were likely on par with what most people expected before the season, but Booth’s presence as a glue guy can not go understated. Two of Villanova’s four losses came without Booth, and a third came in his second game back when he was still easing his way back. Booth’s defense was also a major factor in the National Championship run. To go with Mikal Bridges and Eric Paschall, Booth formed a very strong defensive trio that really started to excel after Booth’s return from injury.

As the player Jay Wright called the “heart of the team” and major contributor to a National Championship, it would be tough to call Phil Booth’s red shirt junior season anything but a tremendous success.

More From VU Hoops