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Happy Monday Nova Nation! One of our more well known commenters here at VUHoops, Jimdribbleless, brought up an interesting point after this weekend’s win over Ohio University. Through three games this season, Collin Gillespie is leading the Wildcats in Field Goal Attempts with 33. Yes it’s a small sample size, and yes Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are right behind him with 32 a piece, but Gillespie is still the shot leader early in the year.
So of course this sent me down one of my statistics rabbit holes, and had me looking at Villanova’s overall shot distribution. I’ll be honest, the results were somewhat surprising.
Villanova Basketball Shot Distribution for 2019-2020
| Rk | Player | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA? | FGA% | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA? | FGA% | PTS |
| 1 | Collin Gillespie | 3 | 3 | 88 | 10 | 33 | 17.4% | 31 |
| 2 | Saddiq Bey | 3 | 3 | 89 | 17 | 32 | 16.8% | 43 |
| 3 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 3 | 3 | 95 | 14 | 32 | 16.8% | 43 |
| 4 | Justin Moore | 3 | 3 | 84 | 11 | 30 | 15.8% | 32 |
| 5 | Cole Swider | 3 | 0 | 65 | 12 | 24 | 12.6% | 35 |
| 6 | Jermaine Samuels | 3 | 3 | 82 | 9 | 22 | 11.6% | 31 |
| 7 | Brandon Slater | 3 | 0 | 48 | 3 | 10 | 5.3% | 7 |
| 8 | Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree | 3 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 5 | 2.6% | 4 |
| 9 | Chris Arcidiacono | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1.1% | 0 |
| 10 | Kevin Koehn | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
| 11 | Tim Saunders | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
The Wildcats have been incredibly balanced on offense, even if it is Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Saddiq Bey who are leading the charge when it comes to scoring. The six main offensive weapons for the Wildcats are all taking over 11% of the team’s shots. There’s also less than a 6% difference between 1-6 in Team FGA%, which has not been the case in recent seasons. Last year that wasn’t the case, as Phil Booth and Eric Paschall were each over 20%FGA%, and only Gillespie and Bey broke 10%. In 2018, Villanova did have six players with at least 10% FGA%, but there was an 11% difference between Jalen Brunson (21%) and Phil Booth (10%). Also in that Championship season, those attempts were heavily skewed towards Brunson and Mikal Bridges.
So what does the distribution mean this early in the season? Villanova is still figuring things out on offense. While they have a good idea who the go to guys are, everyone’s getting a shot and being encouraged to get aggressive on offense. The result has been pretty even shot distribution as the coaching staff focuses on developing both the freshmen class and the older players taking on new roles. Like 2018, that shot selection will continue to favor guys like Robinson-Earl and Bey as players roles become more defined and everyone settles into the offense. But for now, it’s really good that Villanova is spreading things around so much.
In other “news”, Villanova Cross-Country dominates regionals with the NCAA Championships in sight, everything you could possibly want to know about Villanova vs Ohio, and a big win for Villanova Football. Enjoy!
Villanova Men’s Basketball
2020 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: James Wiseman to the Warriors | Scout.com
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is the only Wildcat in this mock, and goes 13th to Sacramento.
2020 NBA Draft: Top 3 Prospects at Every Position | Bleacher Report
The 2020 NBA draft will offer teams both star-caliber talent and variety, as there is a potential top-five pick at every position. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl comes in as the #2 PF in the draft.
Teams to Watch During the College Basketball Season | The New York Times
They’re not all ranked at the top of the polls. But any could make a deep run at the N.C.A.A. tournament in March.
Villanova defeats Ohio
Big run at end of 1st half lifts No. 10 Villanova over Ohio | NBC Sports Philadelphia
Saddiq Bey scored 19 points Saturday and a 27-4 run to end the first half helped lift No. 10 Villanova to a 78-54 win over Ohio after the Wildcats' blowout loss Wednesday to Ohio State.
Villanova and Justin Moore get back to business with win over Ohio | Philadelphia Inquirer
A late first-half spree took care of things Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center
Takeaways from Villanova's win over Ohio | Philly Sports Network
On Saturday afternoon, the Villanova Wildcats took on the Ohio Bobcats from the Wells Fargo Center.
Villanova Rights Ship Versus Ohio | The Villanovan
After a difficult loss to Ohio State earlier in the week Villanova bounced back convincingly, beating Ohio University, 78-54, on Saturday.
Justin Moore steps up in Villanova's big win over Ohio | Basketball Society
Justin Moore was one of the many highly touted prospects for Villanova and stepped up big in the team's win over Ohio today.
Moore's breakout game gets Villanova back on winning track | Delcotimes.com
PHILADELPHIA — The first five-plus minutes of Villanova’s 78-54 drubbing of Ohio University Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center gave no indication that freshman Justin Moore was on his way
Bey's 19 points lead No. 10 Villanova over Ohio 78-54 | ESPN
Get a recap of the Ohio Bobcats vs. Villanova Wildcats basketball game.
Bey, Moore Help Lead Wildcats Past Ohio 78-54 | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova handed Ohio University its first loss of 2019-20 Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.
Big East
Big East Basketball: 5 biggest takeaways from 2019 Gavitt Games | Busting Brackets
Big East Basketball collectively fell to the Big Ten in the 2019 Gavitt Games. What are the overall takeaways from the conference?
Seton Hall placed on probation for three years for transfer tampering | NBC Sports
This is not a good look for the Pirates.
UConn vs. Florida score: Huskies get first ranked win at home in six years, also against Gators | CBSSports.com
Is Florida the most overrated team in college basketball this season?
Former Villanova Players
Villanova Basketball: Tim Thomas Reveals Info on Christmas Tournament | Heavy.com
Villanova hoops and NBA legend, Tim Thomas checks in with Scoop B Radio & discusses December holiday hoops tournament. Brandon 'Scoop B' Robnson has more.
Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen Hotel Story Revealed by Vet | Heavy.com
Tim Thomas tells Scoop B Radio about a memorable Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen hotel story. Heavy.com's Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson breaks it down.
Lakers: Legend Makes Surpising Claim about NBA Finals, Sixers’ Ben Simmons | Heavy.com
Retired NBA player, Tim Thomas checked in with Heavy.com's Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson on the Scoop B Radio Podcast & talks Lakers, Sixers, Ben Simmons.
NBA Wildcats
Warriors' rookie Eric Paschall already a key building block | Mercury News
Thanks to what he learned in Harlem, Fordham and Villanova, Eric Paschall is as mature a rookie as there is this season.
Experience qualifies Brunson, Jackson to deliver message of perseverence in life, basketball | Mavs.com
Mavericks players Jalen Brunson and Justin Jackson, barely 12 hours after arriving home from New York at the end of a six-day road trip, helped the Mavs Basketball Academy host the group that consisted of students from St. Timothy and Prestonwood Christian at the Jr. NBA Clinic, presented by Nike.
Omari Spellman has been an offensive rebound machine this season | Warriors Wire
Warriors second-year forward Omari Spellman has averaged 2.7 rebounds through 13 games this season.
Eric Paschall after another 30-point effort: ‘I belong in this league’ | Warriors Wire
Despite losing to the New Orleans Pelicans by a final score of 108-100, Eric Paschall had another strong effort and continues to impress.
Five observations: Draymond Green runs point, Eric Paschall scores 30, Warriors lose seventh straight | The Athletic
Green got the start at point guard for the first time in his career. It was a move that was all about offense.
BayHawks stumble in first road game of season | GoErie.com
Capital City Go-Go beat Erie 106-89.
Villanova Women’s Basketball
VILLANOVA EARNS 73-66 WIN AT FORDHAM | Villanova University Athletics
BRONX, N.Y. – The Villanova Wildcats earned their first win of the season with a 73-66 road win at Fordham on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, the Wildcats improve
Villanova Football
Villanova avoids trap game, defeats LIU | Philadelphia Inquirer
Villanova's convincing win over LIU puts them in solid position to make the FCS Playoffs.
Like father, like son: Coatesville coach Matt Ortega and quarterback Ricky Ortega making most of final games together | Philadelphia Inquirer
Coatesville has gone 47-7 over the last four seasons and captured multiple championships. But the father and son are approaching the end of the line for a special partnership.
Friday Night Lights: Wildcats Defeat LIU, 35-7, in Non-Conference Finale | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa.—In the first regular season Friday night home game in 22 years, No. 13 Villanova (8-3) scored four touchdowns in the first half and went on to a 35-7
Villanova Cross-Country
Villanova men’s and women’s cross country teams advance to NCAA championship meet | Philadelphia Inquirer
The Wildcats won the men's team championship and finished second in the women's competition. Villanova's Lydia Olivere captured the women's individual title.
Lydia Olivere Individual Regional Champion in Cross Country – Villanova Finishes Second | Philly College Sports
The Villanova Wildcats finished second in the Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Championships at Lehigh paced by Lydia Olivere who won the individual title covering the distance in 20:02. Olivere was also the Big East titlist.
Villanova men, women headed to NCAA cross country championships | Sports | delcotimes.com
Villanova placed five runners in the top 13 stops to win the NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Regional at Lehigh University Friday and qualify for the NCAA championships Nov. 23 in
Men’s Cross Country Wins Mid-Atlantic Title, Clinches NCAA Championships Berth | Villanova University Athletics
BETHLEHEM, Pa.—All five Villanova scoring runners placed in the top 13 overall and the Wildcats won the team title at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Friday morning.
Olivere is Individual Champion and Women’s Cross Country Heads Back to NCAA Championships for Fifth Straight Year | Villanova University Athletics
BETHLEHEM, Pa.—Sophomore Lydia Olivere (Wilmington, Del.) is the latest Villanova cross country runner to become an individual regional champion and the Wildcats
Villanova Athletics
Penn men's and women's swimming compete in first home meets against Villanova and Brown | The Daily Pennsylvanian
The men won both meets, while the women were unable to find victory.
Women Earn Second Win, Men Fall to Quakers on the Road | Villanova University Athletics
PHILADELPHIA, Pa - Villanova swimming and diving split a pair of duals on the road at Penn on Friday night. The women's side took the contest, 157-102, while the
Wildcats Fall in Four Sets at No. 9 Marquette | Villanova University Athletics
Milwaukee, Wisc. – Villanova dropped their second match of the road trip despite putting up a good fight against No. 9 Marquette, falling 3-1 in Milwaukee Saturday
College Basketball
College basketball Power Rankings -- Michigan State back on top, but for how long? | ESPN
Kentucky's stay at No. 1 was brief thanks to Evansville's shocking upset. This week, the Spartans get the nod over No. 2 Duke.
Kentucky commit Devin Askew reclassifies into 2020 class, signs letter of intent | WYMT
Askew was a top-10 player in the 2021 class.
Kansas tries to run out the clock in blowout win, but Monmouth player gets steal and dunks on the Jayhawks | CBSSports.com
This is not how you typically see late-game scenarios play out at any level of basketball