:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63294623/Nova_Mug.0.jpeg)
Happy Monday Nova Nation! Maybe more of a melancholy Monday as Villanova fans are still in the wake of Saturday night’s NCAA Tournament loss to the Purdue Boilermakers. The 2019 season is in the books for the Wildcats, at least on the court. There will still be awards, speculation on next season, and of course the NBA Draft. But for now, let’s take a minute to celebrate the careers of two All-Time Villanova Greats: Phil Booth and Eric Paschall.
It’s hard to argue that any players did more for the Villanova program than these two did. They were both part of the connective tissue in the Wildcats recent string of success in the Big 5, Big East, and NCAA Tournament. But more than that, they made a commitment to lead Villanova’s next generation of players through a transition season. Booth and Paschall both could have left last year to start pursuing their careers, especially once they saw four of their teammates headded into the NBA Draft.
But they wanted to come back and be leaders for this team. More than leaders, they were coming back to teach their younger teammates what it meant to be a Villanova basketball player. They took on the roles of leaders, mentors, and even assistant coaches when it came to the finer points of Villanova’s complex concepts. But true to their characters, they were also friends, teammates, and just all around great guys.
This could have been a lost season without these two. There would be no 6th early season Championship. There would be no Big East Championship. There would be no Big East Tournament Title. And there likely wouldn’t have been a second NCAA Tournament game to lose in the first place, or even an NCAA bid at all.
And so I and every member of the VUHoops community send our most sincere thanks to these players that gave everything asked of them and more to Villanova University and its basketball program. Thank you for all of the achievements, thank you for all of the memories, and thank you for being true embassadors of Villanova’s culture. You’ve made the last five years of watching this team the most enjoyable we’ve ever experienced as a fan base, and you will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat.
In other “news”, Nova goes down in the Women’s NIT, another big Thank You to Joe Cremo in his final season, and the Wildcats are back to work for next season. Enjoy!
Purdue defeats Villanova
Villanova loses to Purdue in NCAA Tournament second round | The Inquirer
The Wildcats fell behind by 19 at the half, trailed by as many as 35, and saw their season come to an end.
NCAA Tournament 2019: Purdue vs. Villanova basketball video highlights | Journal & Courier
NCAA Tournament 2019: Purdue vs. Villanova basketball video highlights, score from round two of March Madness.
March Madness 2019: Carsen Edwards sends Purdue to Sweet 16 | SI.com
Carsen Edwards was at his best in Saturday's rout of Villanova, and his slump-busting performance should have the South region taking note.
Villanova vs. Purdue score: Boilermakers end season of last year's NCAA Tournament champions | CBSSports.com
Purdue is on to the Sweet 16 after pounding the Wildcats.
Villanova shows its age in NCAA Tournament loss to Purdue | The Inquirer
The season ends with a thud for the defending national champions.
Carsen Edwards pours in 42 as Purdue pounds Villanova | New York Post
HARTFORD — Carsen Edwards had heard all of the questions in recent days about his hobbled back, but more annoying to him were the inquiries about his shooting...
Fan taunts Villanova with Wikipedia edit after Purdue laugher | New York Daily News
Wikipedia is far from foolproof, though this short-lived edit spells some truth.
Edwards leads Purdue to rout of reigning champ Villanova | NBC Sports Philadelphia
Phil Booth and Eric Paschall played their final games at Villanova as Purdue knocked the reigning national champion Wildcats out of the NCAA Tournament Saturday night in an 87-61 rout.
Phil Booth and Eric Paschall
Phil Booth, Eric Paschall gave all they could to Villanova: ‘They’ve been like big brothers, fathers almost to these guys’ | The Inquirer
The two seniors accounted for nearly 48 percent of the Wildcats' offense but they did so much more, leading their younger teammates and sparking the team to Big East regular-season and tournament championships.
Villanova’s Phil Booth adds two records to an impressive resume as Wildcats win first NCAA Tournament game | The Inquirer
The Wildcats' fifth-year senior set the program record for most games played in a career, 147, in Thursday night's win over St. Mary's, and tied the NCAA record for most consecutive tournament victories with 13.
Villanova's Wright may have special honor for Booth | delcotimes.com
\Villanova has a series of awards it gives out at its annual men’s basketball banquet.
Eric Paschall Fordham: Why Did He Transfer to Villanova? | Heavy.com
Dobbs Ferry native Eric Paschall earned the reputation of a scorer in high school and he lived up to it during his freshman season with Fordham in 2014.
Villanova Basketball
Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball team returns to campus after losing to Purdue | 6abc.com
It was the end of the road for the Villanova Wildcats Saturday night in the NCAA tournament.
Villanova begins to prepare for next season: A rebuilding challenge with more depth but less experience | The Inquirer
Villanova has one of the top recruiting classes coming in, but with the departure of Phil Booth and Eric Paschall, they won't have a senior in the playing rotation.
March Madness: Is Villanova reaching the end of its championship era? | USA Today
After winning two national titles in three years, Villanova brought a young team to the NCAA tournament and got squashed in the second round by Purdue.
Joe Cremo's college career ends in disappointment | Times Union
This may not have been how senior Joe Cremo envisioned the end, but life doesn't always allow you to write your own script.
WVU women's basketball: Mountaineers down Villanova in WNIT's second round | wvgazettemail.com
MORGANTOWN — The West Virginia University women’s basketball team featured three players in double figures as the Mountaineers took down Villanova 64-57 Sunday at the WVU Coliseum.
Jeff Jacobs: NCAA, CBS should be on the hook for leaving fans hanging in Hartford | Connecticut Post
The thousands of fans who missed much of the first half of the Villanova-St. Mary’s NCAA Tournament game Thursday at the XL Center deserve more than an apology.