Villanova Basketball’s Sixth Big East Championship in Seven Seasons

Happy Monday Nova Nation! Play the music, throw the confetti, and hang up the banner. Your Villanova Wildcats are the Big East Regular Season Champions for the sixth time in seven years. This season was a three-way tie for the title with Seton Hall and Creighton, but that by no means diminishes the accomplishment in a much improved Big East.

The Wildcats have had shared titles in the past. In 2006 they shared the title with UConn, in 1997 when the conference had divisions it was a three-way split with Boston College and Georgetown, and in 1983 the Wildcats shared the title with Boston College and St. John’s.

But more important than splitting the title, this is Nova’s sixth Championship in seven years. In a power conference, runs like that don’t happen very often. In fact, in the modern era of college basketball (1987-today), Villanova is only the 4th team to accomplish that feat. Arizona was the first to win six conference titles in seven seasons when they dominated the now PAC-12 from 1988-1994. Kentucky technically pulled it off from 1998-2005, winning a share of the title seven times in eight seasons. However, in all of those years the conference was split into divisions and so all of those titles were shared. The most impressive run, and one we’ll likely never see again this era, is Kansas with fourteen consecutive Big 12 titles from 2005 to 2018.

And that leads us to Villanova, who has now won six Big East Regular Season Championships from 2014-2020. It’s an impressive list to be a part of, given how all of these teams simply dominated their conferences during that time period. And the craziest part about it is that this run might not be over for Nova. With the possibility of almost everyone returning (Bey is a lock for the NBA if he wants it, and he should), Villanova could be continuing this epic run well into the future.

In other “news”, Villanova beats Georgetown for a share of the Big East Championship, the Wildcats earn the #2 seed in the Big East Tournament, and Saddiq Bey looks like a lock for the first round of the NBA draft. Enjoy!

Villanova Men’s Basketball

Saddiq Bey leads a group of four Villanova players receiving Big East postseason honors | The Inquirer
Other Wildcats honored were guard Collin Gillespie on the all-conference second team, and center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and guard Justin Moore, unanimous selections to the all-freshman team.

Bey, Gillespie, Robinson-Earl and Moore Earn BIG EAST Honors | Villanova University Athletics
Four Wildcats were honored by the BIG EAST.

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Villanova defeats Georgetown

No. 14 Villanova holds on to beat Georgetown 70-69 | USA Today
Jermaine Samuels had a 3-point play with 5.6 seconds left as No. 14 Villanova survived a late scare to defeat Georgetown 70-69

No. 14 Villanova holds on to beat Georgetown 70-69 | Sports | delcotimes.com
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Villanova coach Jay Wright, the lack of seniors this season hasn’t been a problem. His Wildcats keep rolling as they head into the most important time

Villanova escaped Georgetown, but again failed to hold a lead | The Inquirer
The Wildcats had a great start against Georgetown, but needed to survive a wild finish.

No. 14 Villanova 70, Georgetown 69: Stats, highlights and reaction from the Wildcats’ victory | The Inquirer
The Wildcats got the winning points on a conventional three-point play by Jermaine Samuels, with the basket ruled a goal-tend on video review.

Wildcats Earn Share of BIG EAST Title with 70-69 Win at Georgetown | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova edged Georgetown Saturday on the final day of the BIG EAST regular season.

Big East Tournament

Villanova to Open BIG EAST Tournament Thursday at 7 p.m. | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova will open BIG EAST Tournament play Thursday at 7 p.m.

Big East Tournament 2020: Conference's Top Threats to Outlast Villanova | Bleacher Report
The Big East has produced some of the most exciting games in men's college basketball all season. That is expected to carry on at Madison Square Garden during the Big East tournament, ...

2020 Big East Tournament bracket: Schedule, scores, dates, location, updates, live stream for March Madness | CBSSports.com
Here's everything you need to know to follow 2020 Big East Tournament action throughout the event

NBA Wildcats

Mikal Bridges: One of the NBA's Most Versatile Players | Phoenix Suns
As Mikal Bridges continues to develop his skillset, polish his game and adapt to Head Coach Monty Williams’ system, Bridges has proven that he’s already one of the most versatile players in the NBA.

Golden State Warriors: Eric Paschall is a better fit than Andrew Wiggins | Blue Man Hoop
The Golden State Warriors will need to find their death lineup next season, and it may be with Eric Paschall and not Andrew Wiggins.

Josh Hart’s aggressive rebounding, energy off bench vital in Pelicans’ win over Heat | New Orleans Pelicans
Josh Hart pursues rebounds with so much aggression, so much reckless abandon, that even one of the NBA’s most physically-feared players sometimes looks over his shoulder when a missed shot bounces off the rim.

Bucks' Donte DiVincenzo has strong performance against Lakers | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
DiVincenzo put up 15 of his 17 points after halftime Friday night. He has demonstrated a knack for grabbing rebounds and making steals.

Villanova Women’s Basketball

Villanova Eliminated By Marquette in Big East Tournament Quarter-Final | Villanovan.com
The best rebounding team in the Big East showcased its talent on Saturday night as Marquette defeated Villanova, 72-59, ending ‘Nova’s tournament run.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT: Marquette Women’s Basketball 72, Villanova 59 | Anonymous Eagle
The Golden Eagles move on to Sunday’s semifinal!

VILLANOVA FALLS TO MARQUETTE IN BIG EAST QUARTERFINALS | Villanova University Athletics
CHICAGO – The Villanova Wildcats gave a valiant effort, but came up short in a 72-59 loss to No. 2 seed Marquette in the quarterfinal round of the BIG EAST Tournament.

VILLANOVA SURVIVES XAVIER IN OVERTIME IN BIG EAST TOURNAMENT | Villanova University Athletics
CHICAGO, Ill. – In the first round of the 2020 BIG EAST Tournament on Friday afternoon, the Villanova Wildcats registered a 64-56 overtime win against the Xavier

Villanova Athletics

Villanova Secures Sweep with Extra-Inning Victory | Villanova University Athletics
Winter Haven, Fla. – Villanova secured the weekend sweep of Bucknell in dramatic fashion with a 6-4 win in 10 innings. After surrendering a three-run lead and trailing

Rowing Has Success at Metro Cup Regatta | Villanova University Athletics
Winter Park, Fla. – Villanova rowing had a successful day on the water to open up the spring season at the Metro Cup Regatta in Winter Park, Florida. Villanova took

No. 14 Villanova Rallies to Defeat No. 9 Penn 12-10 | Villanova University Athletics
Philadelphia, Pa.- The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Penn Quakers during the first day of the Philly 4 Lacrosse Classic at Franklin Field by a final of 12-10.

Bracketology

ESPN's Joe Lunardi Shares His New NCAA Tournament Bracket | The Spun
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has shared an updated NCAA Tournament bracket on Sunday evening. Here's the latest.

Bracketology: Why Dayton jumps up to a No. 1 seed after San Diego State's loss and how it can stay there | CBSSports.com
The Flyers have the nation's longest winning streak and join Kansas, Baylor and Gonzaga on the top line

College Basketball

Archie Miller compares bracketology to Sesame Street after Indiana's loss | NBC Sports
Archie Miller criticized bracketologists after Indiana lost at home to Wisconsin as Miller isn't pleased with how some perceive the Hoosiers.

March Madness 2020: Conference tournament brackets, scores, schedules, NCAA Tournament automatic bids, updates | CBSSports.com
See when all the automatic bids are being handed out for the NCAA Tournament