Villanova Basketball Dominating Early 2021 Rankings

Happy Tuesday Nova Nation! You’ve probably seen by now that Villanova is consistently ranked highly in the “Way-Too-Early” type polls for next season. That’s not a big surprise, a lot of Nova fans thought this team was a year away from another Championship run at the beginning of last season. What is surprising is that some of these projections are coming with the acknowledgement of losing Saddiq Bey.

Bey has been consistently mocked in the mid first round of the (eventually) upcoming NBA Draft, and there’s a good chance he ends up leaving early as a number of Wildcats did following the 2018 season. Now with the way last season ended and the craziness that’s happening in the world right now, I wouldn’t say it’s a 100% lock that he leaves. But if I had to guess, I’d say that’s the more likely outcome.

Even without Bey, Villanova would be an experienced squad returning a ton of talent. But #1 preseason overall? My gut reaction was that would be crazy, but it may not be so far fetched. Here’s a back and forth between our beloved Chris Lane and one of my favorite groups of basketball minds, the Three Man Weave:

I fell victim to something many of us do, forgetting that other teams play college basketball. Villanova is going to be very good next year regardless of Bey’s decision. But I’ll leave it to you Nova Nation, where do you believe Villanova will be ranked in the AP Poll to start the 2021 Season?

In other “news”, a look back at Scottie Reynolds’ floater, Bey and Gillespie named to the NABC All-District Team, and a pair of Wildcats stood out in their NBA sophomore season. Enjoy!

Villanova Men’s Basketball

Bey, Gillespie Named to NABC All-District Team | Villanova University Athletics
Wildcats duo honored for its work in 2019-20

Where Did Jay Wright Coach Basketball Before Villanova? | Sportscasting
Villanova's Jay Wright worked his way up quickly up through the ranks and has had a stable career as a college basketball head coach.

The Best NCAA Tournament Game I Ever Saw: Scottie Reynolds’ floater lives on | The Athletic
Villanova went back to the Final Four when Reynolds beat top-seeded Pitt in the Elite Eight with a buzzer-beater.

A First Friday at the NCAA Tournament: Lessons That Linger | Villanova University Athletics
Fifteen years after the fact, Villanova's first NCAA Tournament win of the 21st Century Offered Hints of What Was Ahead

Bey Named Honorable Mention AP All-American | Villanova University Athletics
Sophomore Saddiq Bey was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American Friday.

2021 Rankings

The way-too-early college basketball preseason top 25 | NBC Sports
It may still be March, but since the college basketball season is over, we can now starting talking about the 2020-2021 preseason top 25.

Villanova tops college basketball's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2020-21 | ESPN
The NBA draft will play a key role in determining the best in college basketball heading into next season, but an early picture is forming.

Big East

Croswell to transfer to Providence College | phillytrib.com
Ed Croswell, who played two seasons at La Salle University, has decided to transfer to Providence College. Croswell, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound sophomore forward, is looking forward to playing for the

2020 NBA Draft

Sacramento Kings Draft Prospect Report: Saddiq Bey | Villanova
From now until the first name is called, we will be breaking down many of the potential draft picks for the Sacramento Kings. Up first, Saddiq Bey.

NBA Mock Draft 2020: Predictions for Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Top Prospects | Bleacher Report
Despite the uncertainty around the upcoming offseason and the NBA draft, top prospects continue to announce they'll be heading to the pros for the 2020 campaign...

NBA Wildcats

The 2020 NBA All-Sophomore Teams | SportsRaid
The 2019-20 NBA regular season is more or less in the books, so it's award season. What sophomores had great years, other than Luka Doncic and Trae Young? Donte DiVincenzo and Mikal Bridges make the list.

Villanova Athletics

Paige Rauch Named One of Softball America's Top 25 College Players | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa. – Prior to the start of the 2020 softball season, Paige Rauch was designated as one of Softball America's Top 100 College Players, coming in at No.

Binghamton grad Rauch ranked 24th nationally | Press Connects
Villanova junior led the NCAA in home runs and was lone player outside a Power-5 conference ranked in top 25.

Two Wildcats Named Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I Scholars of Distinction | Villanova University Athletics
GILBERT, Ariz. – Two of Villanova's student-athletes, freshmen Shannon Drakeley and Caitlin Van Goeverden, were named Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I Scholars

Wildcat Baseball Posts Big Numbers During Shortened Season | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova, Pa. – At the end of an unfortunately short spring season, the Villanova baseball team had left its mark on both the conference and national statistical

On This Date: March 23, 2003 Was Inaugural Game at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa.—It was 17 years ago today that the baseball program moved into its new home at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. On March 23, 2003, the Wildcats

Made Up Madness

Mythical March Madness: Two No. 1 seeds fall in Sweet 16 simulation | tucson.com
No. 4-seeded Oregon scores big upset for Pac-12 with win over top-seeded Gonzaga in our whatifsports.com NCAA Tournament simulation.

College Basketball

25 classic March Madness games you can watch right now | Yardbarker
Here are 25 games — with links to view them — that a college hoops fanatic can watch today to help satisfy that craving.

The Best NCAA Tournament Game I Ever Saw | The Athletic
All week the staff of The Athletic is sharing our favorite March Madness games we've ever covered.

College basketball's coaching carousel slows down, searches get more complicated amid coronavirus threat | CBSSports.com
Conducting a college basketball coaching search in a pandemic adds 'multiple dimensions' to hiring right candidate

Ex-Texas A&M guard David Edwards dies after battling coronavirus | ESPN
David Edwards, a former Texas A&M guard who holds the school's single-season record for total assists from his play in the early 1990s, has died of complications from the coronavirus. Former St. John's guard Lee Green also died after battling the virus.