Villanova did not live up to their recent success of the past, but the Wildcats look to have a better year this season. After acquiring some good pieces in the transfer portal and retaining key assets, they have the makings of a top-25 team. In particular, it is a big year for Kyle Neptune, as he must lead this Villanova team successfully.
Villanova Wildcats Preview 2023-24
Where They Succeeded Last Season
Eric Dixon’s Development
Eric Dixon proved to be one of the best bigs in the conference this past season. He led the Wildcats in scoring with 15.4 points a game and had good shooting splits with 49/38/79 last season. Dixon dominated all season and made impressive strides as a scorer and offensive engine for the Wildcats. He also grew defensively, with 21 blocked shots and 18 steals. Dixon was a ray of light for a Wildcat team struggling to generate points consistently. His decision to return for his final year legitimizes Villanova’s chances to make a run in the Big East. Dixon is one of the best players, giving Villanova reliable leadership and offense.
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
While it was not the best assist-to-turnover ratio in Villanova’s history, it was still good. Villanova had 377 assists to 343 turnovers. Maintaining a positive ratio comes down to solid decision-making and sound fundamentals. The Wildcats were a disciplined team throughout the season. Even though they had players with less playing experience and had moments of poor play, they generally kept a level head. That allowed them to generate more assists than turnovers as a team. They ran their offense and got shots off because they got more buckets than turnovers, a key to keeping a team consistent.
Where They Struggled
Shooting and Offense
Villanova did not have a great year on the offensive end. They averaged 69.6 points a game, eighth in the Big East. Therefore, they struggled to get buckets in big moments and did not have a great flow offensively. More importantly, their offensive woes came down to poor perimeter shooting. Their three-point shooting percentage was 33.4%, seventh in the conference. Their shooting and struggles offensively led to a 17-17 record last season.
Justin Moore’s Health
Justin Moore is a productive and successful guard for the Wildcats. With his Achilles injury in the 2022 Elite 8, Moore missed many games this season. Villanova did not have an experienced point guard, and that leadership gave them a chance to succeed in 2022. He only played 13 of their 34 games, and the Wildcats were 7-6 in the contests that he played. To put it in context, he was Second Team All-Big East in 2022, so his health is crucial for Villanova’s success.
Returning Players
Dixon and Moore are returning to Villanova, two of their three leading scorers from a year ago. They also brought back Mark Armstrong, Jordan Longino, and Chris Arcidiacono, who were significant pieces for the Wildcats a year ago.
Key New Additions for Villanova
Tyler Burton – Wing (Grad Transfer from Richmond) 6’7”, 215 LBS
Tyler Burton decided to use his last year of eligibility and transfer to Villanova. Burton was All-A10 last season and led Richmond in points (third in conference), rebounds, and steals. Averaging 19 points and 7.4 rebounds, Burton brings a slashing presence to the Wildcats. He is an athletic wing who can score and defend. Burton shot 69% at the rim, which is beyond impressive for a college player. He also can make pull-ups, cuts well, and dominates smaller guards in switching situations. He helps Villanova with their offensive struggles because Burton has no problem putting the ball in the basket. Burton can be an All-Big East performer and improve his draft stock this season.
Hakim Hart – Guard/Wing (Transfer from Maryland) 6’6”, 200 LBS
Hakim Hart is another fantastic addition to the Wildcats. The word to describe Hart is versatile. He scores by post-ups, attacking closeouts, and excelling in transition. He was in the 96th percentile for points-per-possession in transition, at 1.5. Hart guarded multiple positions at Maryland and is a major disruptor because of his length and size. He is not the most athletic guard, but his strength and length make him difficult to deal with on both sides of the ball. He also shoots the ball well in spot-ups, as he was in the 71st percentile in points-per-possession. Hart brings versatility and brings success to a team that needs to find prosperity.
TJ Bamba – Guard (Transfer from Washington State) 6’5”, 208 LBS
TJ Bamba is another excellent scoring option for the Wildcats acquired in the transfer portal. He averaged 15.8 points while shooting 37.2% from three. Bamba was in the 92nd percentile for spot-up situations and attacked the basket frequently. He brings value to the guard position because he creates his shot and shoots the ball well from three. Villanova needs shooting, so Bamba brings that skill to Villanova this season. He has good size for a shooting guard and gets his shot off quickly. Therefore, in the motion offense of Villanova, Bamba gives them spacing to allow Dixon, Burton, and Moore to attack the paint.
Lance Ware – Center (Transfer from Kentucky) 6’9”, 223 LBS
Lance Ware is another addition to add big depth for the Wildcats. Ware is an athletic big whose role is to block shots and finish around the rim in pick-and-roll situations. He did not see time at Kentucky but helps Villanova have some big depth to give Dixon some rest throughout the game. Ware shot 68% on shots around the rim, and it was 97% of his field goal attempts. Lance has a specific strength on the court and must maximize it when he is out on the court.
The Last Word on the Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats will find success this season. Their transfers address their needs, their returning players are healthy, and they have more experience. They should finish in the top 25 of the National Rankings, but Neptune needs to get the Wildcats to maximize their potential. Without Jay Wright, this is a big season for Neptune. He must prove he can get the job done.
