Villanova Basketball’s All-Decade Team

Happy Wednesday Nova Nation! There’s been a lot of talk regarding Dana O’Neil’s All-Decade Team this week, specifically that it’s missing Jalen Brunson. Her responses to those criticisms are in the links below, but instead of getting into that I figured we’d just make our own All-Decade team for Villanova Basketball.

I’ve got five starters, and ten players off the bench. That’s right, we’re going NBA style since there were two cuts I just couldn’t bring myself to make. Also note that I am only counting time played between 2010 and 2019. Since Jay’s been here the whole decade, he runs unopposed for the head coach spot. I’ll warn you now, Here’s Villanova Basketball’s All-2010’s Team.

The Starters

Guard, Jalen Brunson - I’ll let you form your own opinions about whether Brunson should have been on that list (he should), but here’s what he accomplished in his time at Villanova. Big East All-Freshman Team, 2x First Team All-Big East, Big 5 Player of the Year, Big East Player of the Year, 2nd Team Academic All-American, Bob Cousey Award (Best PG), Consensus First Team All-American, Consensus National Player of the Year, 2x National Champion. He belongs on the list.

Guard, Ryan Arcidiacono - Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Big East Co-Player of the Year, and the cornerstone of Villanova Basketball’s turnaround that brought upon the “Golden Era”. There’s nothing not to love about Ryan Arcidiacono, and he’ll forever be the embodiment of Villanova Basketball.

Guard, Darrun Hilliard - I don’t think there’s a single player I wish could have been a part of one of Villanova’s Championship teams as much as “Bethlehem Steel”. Always a professional, a high level defender, and an absolute lights-out shooter. Simply one of those guys who you always wanted to see with the ball in his hands because you knew good things were going to happen.

Guard, Josh Hart - What needs to be said? After Brunson he’s the second most decorated player of the decade. Had it not been for the losses of Phil Booth and Omari Spellman in 2017, there’s a good chance he too would be a two time National Champion. Always a contributor in every season at Nova, and arguably should have been National Player of the Year as a senior. You don’t get many players with the drive, competitiveness, and compassion of Josh Hart.

Forward, Daniel Ochefu - Maybe one of the more under appreciated players in Villanova’s history, Ochefu wasn’t always destined for this list. But man did he work hard, winning a most improved player award and eventually becoming the centerpiece of the best defense Villanova had all decade. Oh, and did we mention his pivotal role in winning a National Championship? Yeah, Ochefu is one of the best big men Jay Wright has ever had.

The Bench

Here’s Villanova’s All-Decade bench in alphabetical order:

• James Bell
• Phil Booth
• Mikal Bridges
• Donte DiVincenzo
• Corey Fisher
• Kris Jenkins
• Eric Paschall
• JayVaughn Pinkston
• Scottie Reynolds
• Omari Spellman

Honorable Mentions

• Core Stokes
• Maalik Wayns
• Mouphtaou Yarou

Be sure to put your starting five in the comments below, and let me know your best guesses for who the 2 I couldn’t cut were :)

In other “news”, Kelly Jekot will transfer to Penn State, Villanova Football is a road favorite in the first round of the playoffs, and Villanova’s Sheila Reid is named Women’s Runner of the Decade. Enjoy!

Villanova Men’s Basketball

Penn Quakers have our attention, Collin Gillespie shows he’s a point guard, and other City 6 observations | The Inquirer
The Quakers could realistically be 5-0 and be the kind of team in the at-large NCAA conversation. Instead, 3-2 so far, a long, contested jumper away from that conversation.

November's Villanova Wildcats Standouts | Philly Sports Network
Identifying the standout players in the opening month of the 2019-2020 NCAA Men's Basketball season for the Villanova Wildcats.

Recap: Dana O’Neil answers your college basketball all-decade team questions | The Athletic
On Monday we published Dana O'Neil's all-decade college basketball team. On Tuesday she was asked by everyone why Jalen Brunson was missing.

How have the top 10 recruiting classes started in 2019? | 247 Sports
The top 10 recruiting classes from 2019 have had numerous games on the court so far as freshman. Here is how they have started out.

NBA Wildcats

Ja Morant and the NBA’s Most Impressive Rookies So Far | The Ringer
While Zion Williamson remains sidelined, these 11 rookies are wasting no time making an impact around the NBA

Eric Paschall fell into perfect position with Golden State Warriors | Blue Man Hoop
Eric Paschall is very lucky to have been drafted by the Golden State Warriors. Here is how the Dubs have created the perfect environment for Paschall.

Villanova Women’s Basketball

Former Cumberland Valley, Villanova standout Kelly Jekot to spend final season playing for Penn State | pennlive.com
Jekot was Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and senior and helped lead Cumberland Valley to back-to-back state titles.

Villanova Football

Villanova heads south to open FCS playoffs | KYW
The Villanova University football team is headed to the FCS playoffs. Read more here.

SLU head coach Frank Scelfo named SLC’s Coach of the Year | FOX8
Southeastern football head coach Frank Scelfo has been named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year.

FCS: Spreads, Total Points For The 2019 First-Round Games | HERO Sports
Who are the favorites to advance to the second round? Villanova is the favorite in a high scoring affair.

FCS PREDICTIONS: The First Round Of The Playoffs | HERO Sports
HERO Sports senior staff writers Brian McLaughlin and Sam Herder predict the scores of the first round of the playoffs.

Football Lands 10 Players on CAA All-Conference Teams | Villanova University Athletics
RICHMOND, Va.—The postseason major award winners and CAA Football All-Conference Teams were announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon and Villanova had

Villanova Athletics

Gillian O'Sullivan on watching her sister become an Irish legend | The42
‘I think my mother is still genuinely waiting for her to get a real job.’

The LetsRun.com Decade Awards: Which NCAA Cross Country Programs & Athletes Were the Best of the 2010s? | LetsRun.com
Villanova's Sheila Reid, the only woman to win multiple individual titles this decade, is the Women's Runner of the Decade.

Wildcats Win a Pair Against La Salle | Villanova University Athletics
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - It was a quick turnaround that the Wildcats faced, but they handled it like experts. After a three-day competition at West Virginia last week,

Montesi Named BIG EAST Swimming & Diving Female Athlete of the Week | Villanova University Athletics
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Villanova's swim and dive team took to West Virginia last weekend to compete in the first ever Mountaineer Invitational and came away with spectacular

College Basketball

Duke vs. SFA score: No. 1 Blue Devils upset by Lumberjacks in stunning overtime loss at home | CBSSports.com
Duke's first loss of the season comes on a stunning last second layup from the Lumberjacks

College basketball conference rankings: SEC rebounds from ugly start | Fansided
The ACC remains the dominant conference in college basketball conference rankings thanks to another flawless week from Coach K and Duke. Meanwhile the Big East's top teams are still looking for signature wins.