Villanova Basketball: Who Will Stay and Who Will Go?

Happy Tuesday Nova Nation! The rumor mill has been working overtime with news that Jay Wright could be heading to the Knicks. While that’s not been pretty emphatically shot down, the aftershock rumors of Sixers, Bulls, even Cavs are all popping up. I know, it’s comedy hour in the NBA.

So for today I figured we’d just go ahead and address all the coaches and players that could be headed out of town at the end of the season. Mind you these are all guesses and opinions, but what the hell, it’s fun. We’ll start with the man himself, Jay Wright

Jay Wright

Stay or Go?: STAY. Jay Wright isn’t going anywhere. That’s not to say he’d never test the NBA waters, but we’re still a ways off from that. He’s coaching in the Olympics this summer, and that should be more than enough to scratch the NBA itch for a while. Then he gets to return to a team that will have another year under its belt, and should be expected to be one of the best teams in the country. Relax Nova Nation, Jay’s staying.

Saddiq Bey

Stay or Go?: Go. Saddiq Bey is having a career year. In a conference full of sharp shooters that includes Markus Howard, Bey is the man leading the Big East in three point shooting at 50% in Big East play, and 45.1% on the year. Put that kind of shooting on an NBA ready body and throw in above average wing defense, and he’s the prototypical 3 and D wing that NBA scouts are drooling over these days. With a “weak” class around him, Bey has been consistently showing up in the late teens or early twenties in the 2020 mock drafts. That puts him squarely in the first round, and that means it’s time to go!

Bryan Antoine

Stay or Go?: Stay. This year hasn’t gone the way anyone wanted for Antoine. The offseason setback was too much to overcome, and not because of a lack of effort on anyone’s part. But the simple fact is that in order to be successful this season, Antoine was going to need to put on some weight and be more physical. Four months recovering from surgery isn’t the way to do that, and December and January just wasn’t enough time to pull it all together. All of that said, next year we should expect big things from the rising sophomore. Some people have speculated a possible transfer, but I think that’s the least likely outcome from this season.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Stay or Go?: Stay. This may be the most borderline stay or go of the bunch, but at the end of the day I think Robinson-Earl decides to give it one more go at the college level. Yes, it’s a weaker NBA draft and his upside alone probably makes him a high to mid 2nd round pick. If a team really falls in love with him I could see him slipping into the end of the first because rebounding is one of the college metrics that translates well to the NBA. But with another year in the gym, a chance to improve his outside shooting, and the added exposure of what could be a team set up for a Final Four run in 2021, I think he’s best served by staying around for one more season. But at the end of the day, it’s all going to come down to his NBA workouts when he “tests the waters” this offseason.

A Role Player Transfer

Stay or Go?: Stay. The only way I think a player leaves this team is via the NBA Draft. Yes, there will be more mouths to feed next year, but I don’t see that being a reason anyone calls it a career at Nova. Bey’s departure should open up minutes for guys like Antoine and Daniels. In fact the addition of Daniels should allow for Wright to shave a few minutes off of Gillespie’s team high 34 per game. Dixon will start getting some opportunity in the mis with Swider and Slater. Arcidiacono isn’t going anywhere after year two, he knows he’ll have to wait until the second half of his career to compete for playing time. The only one I could see transferring is possibly Cosby-Roundtree. But I think he’s so bought into the program and doing whatever makes the team better that he’ll want to finish his career on the Main Line.

Kyle Neptune

Stay or Go?: Go-ish. Last year Neptune’s name started to get floated for head coaching jobs, and deservedly so. He’s in his 7th season as an assistant under Jay Wright, and his 2nd as the lead assistant. He’s been with Nova for all three of their Final Fours, and had a short stint as an assistant at Niagra before returning to the staff in 2013. This departure would have much more to do with what’s available than Neptune just deciding to up and go. He’s not going to head out until the opportunity is right, but that moment is soon approaching. With Dwayne Anderson waiting in the wings to step back up to the assistant level, the staff wouldn’t take too big a hit with his departure. I’d say if not this year, then probably next. The Jay Wright coaching tree just continues to grow, and there’s no stopping it.

In other “news”, Gillespie and Robinson-Earl earn Big East honors, Eric Paschall has something to prove, and Saddiq Bey has become a mainstay in the NBA mock drafts. Enjoy!

Villanova Men’s Basketball

Updated 2020 NBA Mock Draft: Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Deni Avdija And James Wiseman Make Up The Top Four | Forbes
Without a consensus top overall selection, this could be an unusually unpredictable draft. Saddiq Bey again looks like a mid-first round pick.

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Gillespie, Robinson-Earl Earn Weekly Awards | Villanova University Athletics
Honors from the BIG EAST and Philadelphia Big Five were awarded to a pair of Wildcats on Monday.

NBA Wildcats

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It's been a rapid journey for Paschall, from getting picked 41st to flying in Joe Lacob's jet to scoring 23 in the Rising Stars Challenge.

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Villanova Women’s Basketball

Philly Women’s College Basketball Week in Review & Awards | Philly College Sports
The Wildcats used defense to defeat the Hoyas and swept the season series.

Herlihy Earns BIG EAST Honor Roll Accolades | Villanova University Athletics
NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference announced the weekly women's basketball award winners on Monday afternoon and Villanova senior forward Bridget Herlihy (Braintree,

Villanova Athletics

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The Terps look to start the season 4-0 in the Tuesday matchup.

Danny Wilkinson Earns BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week | Villanova University Athletics
NEW YORK -- Villanova freshman left-hander Danny Wilkinson was named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for his work against then-No. 3 Arizona State in a 2-1 Wildcats

Wildcats Host No. 4 Maryland Tuesday Afternoon | Villanova University Athletics
Facing Off: The Villanova Wildcats will close out their three-game home stand on Tuesday afternoon when No. 4 Maryland comes to Villanova Stadium. First faceoff

Giampolo, Rauch Earn BIG EAST Weekly Honors | Villanova University Athletics
NEW YORK – After the second weekend of the 2020 season, Villanova's Paige Rauch and Angela Giampolo have been honored as the BIG EAST Pitcher and Player of the Week,

Rosati Named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week | Villanova University Athletics
NEW YORK - Senior captain and midfielder Grainger Rosati was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week after her performance on Saturday against Cornell.

Crowley Earns BIG EAST Weekly Honors | Villanova University Athletics
New York, N.Y.- Junior Colin Crowley earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon, after having a career

Villanova Golf Wraps Up Season Opener | Villanova University Athletics
After a shaky first round, Villanova golf showed improvement in rounds two and three of the Martin Downs Collegiate in Palm City, Florida. Villanova finished in

Bracketology

March Madness 2020: Predicting NCAA tournament field | Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated's latest Bracket Watch looks at how Georgetown and Kentucky could be on the move in NCAA tournament seeding.

College Basketball

John Beilein: Potential schools if NBA coach returns to NCAA | Sports Illustrated
If John Beilein leaves the NBA and returns to college, what schools might be interested? Plus, predicting the Big Ten, ACC and more conference races.

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John Beilein's days in the NBA appear to be numbered. Where could the former Michigan coach fit if he returns to the college game?