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Happy Thursday Nova Nation! The NCAA officially shut down recruiting efforts while the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that hasn’t stopped prospects from bringing up Villanova and Jay Wright as they continue to think about the upcoming basketball season.
Two recruits in particular have had things to say about Villanova this season: 2020 SG Donovan Williams, and 2021 SF Trey Patterson.
Williams released a Top 6 earlier this week, which includes Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Villanova.
2020 4⭐️ guard Donovan Williams will focus on these six schools!
— College Basketball and Recruiting (@EditsRecruiting) March 17, 2020
Where do you think he goes? ⬇️ #EMAW #KUbball #GigEm #GoPokes #NovaNation #HookEm
Per @TiptonEdits pic.twitter.com/5swFQJ1EMK
The Wildcats seem like an unlikely landing spot at this point given the depth of the roster. But with the NBA draft still looming and the wildcard that is the transfer portal, Williams could be an option should something unexpected happen on the Main Line.
Villanova has been much more focused on the Class of 2021, and one of their main targets has been 4-Star New Jersey native, Trey Patterson. He was recently interviewed about his recruitment, and the Wildcats were the first team he mentions.
We’ll keep an eye on these two and the rest of the 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes as the off-season presses forward. While the recent restrictions may delay some decisions, we’re certainly not far away from the next wave of recruiting announcements.
In other “news”, Villanova finishes Top 10 in the AP Poll, Saddiq Bey is on everyone’s watch list, and be on the lookout for re-airings of classic Villanova title games. Enjoy!
Villanova Men’s Basketball
Wildcats Finish at No. 10 in Final AP Poll | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova closed the year at No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25.
Westwood One will air classic NCAA Tournament games in its normal tournament windows | Awful Announcing
Villanova's 1985 and 2016 Championship games will be among them.
With No N.C.A.A. Tournament, Here Are Past Games Coaches Say You Should Watch | The New York Times
The cancellations of the national tournaments short-circuited the plans of millions to watch basketball. The country’s top coaches know where to find good games: digital archives. Bill Self wants to see Villanova vs Georgetown from 1985.
An early look ahead to what will be awaiting UConn in the Big East | CTInsider.com
UConn is rightfully ecstatic about returning to the Big East, but beware — a much stronger conference, led by Villanova and Creighton, awaits.
Jeff Goodman's Postseason Awards and All-Americans for the 2019-20 Season | WPMI
Now that the season is over, it's time to hand out some hardware with the Goodman Postseason Awards: Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Frosh of the Year, Coach of the Year and All-Americans.
What can we expect from the Villanova Wildcats next season? | NBC Sports Philadelphia
With the sports world shutting down indefinitely, the Wildcats can only look ahead to next season. But several key questions must be answered before they start dreaming of another national championship.
Kerr says USA Basketball still planning for Tokyo 2020 | New Haven Register
The USA Basketball coaching staff for the Tokyo Olympics is still preparing as if there will be a gold medal to try and defend this summer, even in highly uncertain times caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Recruiting
Kansas basketball: Four-star recruit Donovan Williams cuts list to six | Through the Phog
Four-star recruit Donovan Williams recently narrowed his top choices to six schools and Kansas basketball is one of them.
Video: IU Basketball 2021 Target Trey Patterson Talks Junior Season and Recruitment | The Daily Hoosier
Patterson is also one of Villanova's targets in the class of 2021.
Rankings
Kansas winds up No. 1 in final Associated Press poll; Villanova takes No. 10 ranking | The Inquirer
The season ended early when the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the entire NCAA Tournament, meaning no national champion would be crowned.
Michigan basketball over Michigan State in early preseason top 25 | Detroit Free Press
The 2019-20 college basketball season ended abruptly. But that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to next year and the teams that should be in the Top 25. Villanova comes in outside the Top 10.
Preseason Edition: Early Rothstein 45 for 20-21 | College Hoops Today
Rothstein has Villanova #2, with Saddiq Bey returning.
KenPom's final college basketball rankings for 2019-20 | 247 Sports
#18 Villanova: The Wildcats were one of the tougher teams to figure out this year.
2020 NBA Draft
NBA Draft: Profiling the top 5 small forwards from the 2020 class | Sir Charles In Charge
Profiling the top 5 small forwards that are expected to be included in the 2020 NBA Draft class. Which will shine the brightest?
DRAFT WATCH #1 - Premature sure, but let’s take a look | NetsDaily
Even before the coronavirus hit the NBA, we decided not to put too much faith in the mock drafts. Why? Because last year, the Nets went into June with two first rounders and a second. By Draft...
NBA Wildcats
Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic dominates Jalen Brunson in FIFA 20 | The Smoking Cuban
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic defeated Jalen Brunson in a streamed game of FIFA 20 on March 17 after a playful Twitter exchange between the two.
Villanova Athletics
Moro Wins Final 2020 IWLCA/StringKing Division 1 Player of the Week | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa. – On Tuesday afternoon, sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Moro was named the IWLCA/StringKing Division 1 Defensive Player of the Week for her performance
College Basketball
Report: NCAA unlikely to grant an extra year of eligibility for basketball players | NBC Sports Washington
College basketball players reportedly aren't likely to get another season of eligibility despite the coronavirus the cancelation of the NCAA Tournament. The idea doesn't really make sense either.
Dawkins dishes on college hoops corruption in HBO film | wdrb.com
Christian Dawkins is the guy who helped bring the University of Louisville basketball program to the ground, and he's talking again.
Was Christian Laettner's Buzzer-Beater the Greatest Shot in NCAA Tournament History? | Sports Casting
Christian Laettner was a part of many memorable NCAA Tournament moments, but was "The Shot" against Kentucky the best of all time?
New audio recordings featured in HBO's film on the FBI's investigation into college hoops | NBC Sports
We get a chance to listen in on the wiretapped phone calls involving Arizona’s Sean Miller and LSU’s Will Wade.
This Could Have Been One Of The Most Wide-Open, Unpredictable NCAA Tournaments In Years | Forbes
Although all sports have taken a back seat as the nation attempts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, it's OK to mourn the loss of the trivial things we typically enjoy. For instance, it's a shame in a season of upsets that we will not get to see things play out in the NCAA basketball tournament.
What I’ll miss about the tournament: All the little things | The Athletic
Dana O'Neil's March calendar is open for the first time in 29 years.
New HBO doc provides audio of Will Wade, Sean Miller talking about pay-for-play schemes in college basketball | CBSSports.com
The doc implicates both Wade and Miller's involvement in the scheme
Why Kansas should not be called the 2020 men's college basketball national champions | CBSSports.com
The Jayhawks may have had the best regular season in the sport, but never had the chance to prove it in the postseason