Current and former Villanova Basketball players on campus heading into holiday weekend

Happy Friday Nova Nation! Yesterday was just another great example of former Wildcats returning to campus to workout with the team. We know Josh Hart is in town for Made in America this weekend, and maybe some of the older guys came in for the concert too. But of course they all made their way to the Davis Center:

And since it’s the final Arizin of August, I figured we’d have a little hypothetical fun with this photo. If this group broke into a pickup game, what sides would you want to see and who would win? A few things to point out before we get started:

1. Collin Gillespie wasn’t in the picture, so he’s not in the game.
2. No offense to the walkons, but they’re not in this hypothetical either.

That leaves us with two groups of seven, so five on five with a pair of subs each. I did a little sorting and picked out some matchups I really wanted to see, and this is what I landed on.

I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch these two teams go at it. I think these teams are pretty evenly matched, but lets run through each position.

Point Guard - I think Caleb Daniels is going to be great for Villanova after getting a year on the sidelines learning the system. But I really like what I’ve seen of Justin Moore so far, and I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people this season. Point to Team White.

Shooting Guard - Bryan Antoine could be a first round pick next spring, but very guards can hold their own against Josh Hart. Heck, there are some forwards who can’t handle him. Another point to Team White.

Small Forward - If I could assign a personal mentor for Jermaine Samuels to develop into more of a perimeter threat, it would be James Bell. Bell could do it all, and often times was asked to. Love me some Big-Game-Jermaine, but I have to go with ‘Taj’ Bell on this one. Point to Team Blue.

Power Forward - This matchup is the whole reason I thought up this hypothetical to begin with. Saddiq Bey vs JayVaughn Pinkston. Easily two of my favorite forwards of the last decade for Nova, and you know neither of them are backing down from each other. In the end, I give the edge to experience, but this would be so much fun to watch! Point to Team White

Center - Neither of these guys are true centers, but there’s no doubt that they’ll both see considerable time at the five this season. You all know by now how much I love Cosby-Roundtree, especially his ability on the boards. But Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is something special. Not only am I already calling him as the Big East Rookie of the Year, but I think he could end up being Villanova’s MVP this year. At the end of the day, he’s just got a broader skill set than his opponents. Point to Team Blue.

Bench - This is a tough one because there’s just so much potential in this group. On Team Blue, Brandon Slater could be the biggest surprise this season based on what I’m hearing from people who’ve seen him play this summer. And of course Eric Dixon is exactly the type of versatile big man that thrives in Jay Wright’s system. On the other side, Swider could end up playing a huge role this year, and if his shooting improves from last season he’ll be lethal from the corner. Arcidiacono is the wildcard here because there isn’t going to be a loose ball in this game or this season that he doesn’t win. But at the end of the day, I just like the talent of Dixon and Slater a little bit more. Point to Team Blue.

That has me all tied up at 3-3, so I leave it to you to decide Nova Nation, who would win in this Blue vs White matchup:

In other “news”, Kyle Lowry’s emotional finals run, Jalen Brunson’s rising value, and a big weekend for Villanova Soccer. Enjoy the weekend!

NBA Wildcats

Why the Finals run, which coincided with the death of his grandmother, was so emotional for Kyle Lowry | The Athletic
Kyle Lowry returned to his old neighboorhood to share his championship exuberance and to thank all the people who helped him along the way. Subscription Required.

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Villanova Football

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Villanova Soccer

Wildcats Kick Off 2019 Friday Against Delaware | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova opens the 2019 regular season Friday at home.

Villanova to Face Oregon State and Oregon for the First Time in Program History this Weekend | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats will travel to the state of Oregon to take on the Oregon State Beavers and the Oregon Ducks for the first time in program

I Love My Job: Philadelphia Union Head Coach Jim Curtin | Philly Mag
The sports leader, who recently landed a multi-year contract extension, on making the transition from player to coach and his goals for the rest of the season.

Players with local ties to watch in Division 1 men’s soccer this fall | Brotherly Game
A look at players with ties to the area to keep an eye on this fall. Four Villanova players make the list.

Villanova Athletics

Wildcats Ready to Begin Season at Cowtown Classic | Villanova University Athletics
Fort Worth, Texas – The Villanova Wildcats volleyball team kicks off its 2019 campaign tomorrow when they take on Lipscomb at 5 p.m. in the Cowtown Classic, hosted

Wildcats Open Season Against Sacred Heart Sunday | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova Field Hockey team opens its season up at home against Sacred Heart this Sunday at 12 p.m. From there it starts the season-long goal

Villanova Baseball to Host Two Fall Scrimmages | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova, Pa. -- With fall practice getting underway, Villanova has scheduled two fall scrimmages that are both free and open to the public.