2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team

The 2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jay Wright in his 17th year, the Wildcats played their home games at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as members of the Big East Conference. The Wildcats finished the season 36–4, 14–4 in Big East play to finish in second place. They defeated Marquette,[1] Butler,[2] and Providence to win the Big East Tournament championship.[3] As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East region, their third No.1 seed in four years.[4] They defeated Radford,[5] Alabama,[6] West Virginia,[7] and Texas Tech to advance to the Final Four for the second time in three years.[8] In the National Semifinal, they defeated Kansas[9][10] before defeating Michigan in the National Championship game to win their second national championship in three years.[11][12] They won every game of the tournament by a double-digit margin and the team's tournament run has been called the most dominant ever.[13]

2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 2
2017–18 record36–4 (14–4 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaWells Fargo Center
2017–18 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 3 Xavier15–3 .833  29–6  .829
No. 2 Villanova †14–4 .778  36–4  .900
Seton Hall10–8 .556  22–12  .647
Creighton10–8 .556  21–12  .636
Providence10–8 .556  21–14  .600
Butler9–9 .500  21–14  .600
Marquette9–9 .500  21–14  .600
Georgetown5–13 .278  15–15  .500
St. John's4–14 .222  16–17  .485
DePaul4–14 .222  11–20  .355
† 2018 Big East Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The Wildcats' home court, The Pavilion, underwent a temporary closure for a $60 million renovation project during the season.[14] It reopened for the 2018–19 season with the new name of Finneran Pavilion after a Villanova alum who donated $22.6 million to Villanova.[15][16] Accordingly, all home games for the 2017–18 season but one were played at the Wells Fargo Center.[17] The exception was the November 29, 2017 game with Big 5 rival Penn; it was instead held at Jake Nevin Field House, which had been home to the team before the Pavilion's initial1986 opening.[18]

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2016–17 season 32–4, 15–3 in Big East play to win the regular season championship. In the Big East Tournament, they defeated St. John's, Seton Hall, and Creighton to win the tournament championship.[19] As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats were given the Tournament's overall No. 1 seed as a No. 1 seed in the East region. In the First Round they defeated Mount St. Mary's before being upset by No. 8-seeded Wisconsin in the Second Round.[20][21] The loss marked the second time in the previous three tournaments that Villanova was upset by an eighth-seeded team.

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Kris Jenkins2F6'6"235SRUpper Marlboro, MarylandGraduated
Josh Hart3G6'5"215SRSilver Spring, MarylandGraduated

2017 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree
PF		 Philadelphia, PA Neumann-Goretti High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Apr 5, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 81
Jermaine Samuels
SF		 Franklin, MA The Rivers School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Aug 27, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 86
Collin Gillespie
PG		 Warminster, PA Archbishop Wood Catholic High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jan 14, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 64
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2015-06-01.

    2018 recruiting class

    Preseason

    In its annual preseason preview, Blue Ribbon Yearbook ranked the Wildcats No. 12 in the country.[22] Jalen Brunson was named a third team preseason All-American.[22]

    Villanova was picked to win the Big East in the conference's preseason Coaches' Poll for the fourth consecutive year.[23] Jalen Brunson was named the unanimous preseason All-Big East player of the year.[24]

    Roster
    2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 1 Jalen Brunson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrStevenson High School Lincolnshire, IL
    G 2 Collin Gillespie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrArchbishop Wood Warminster, PA
    F 4 Eric Paschall 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)255 lb (116 kg) RS JrFordham Dobbs Ferry, NY
    G 5 Phil Booth 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS JrMount Saint Joseph High School Baltimore, MD
    G 10 Donte DiVincenzo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) RS SoSalesianum School Wilmington, DE
    F 14 Omari Spellman 6 ft 9.5 in (2.07 m)245 lb (111 kg) RS FrSt. Thomas More School (CT) North Royalton, OH
    F 21 Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS FrNeumann–Goretti Philadelphia, PA
    G 22 Peyton Heck 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)175 lb (79 kg) JrArchmere Academy Wilmington, DE
    F 23 Jermaine Samuels 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)225 lb (102 kg) FrThe Rivers School Franklin, MA
    F 24 Tom Leibig 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) SrHaverford High School Havertown, PA
    G/F 25 Mikal Bridges 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS JrGreat Valley High School Malvern, PA
    F 34 Tim Delaney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg) RS SoBlair Academy Mullica Hill, NJ
    G 35 Matt Kennedy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) SrFlint Hill School Fairfax, VA
    G 40 Denny Grace 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)175 lb (79 kg) GSCalvert Hall College High School Catonsville, MD
    F 42 Dylan Painter 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) SoHershey High School Hershey, PA
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    November 1, 2017*
    8:30 pm    		 No. 6 Drexel
    Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Exhibition    		 W 87–68 
    		 16 – Brunson  12 – Spellman  6 – Brunson  Jake Nevin Field House 
    Villanova, PA
    Regular season
    November 10, 2017*
    8:30 pm, FS2    		 No. 6 Columbia W 85–60  1–0
    		  15 – Paschall  11 – Spellman  3 – Tied  Wells Fargo Center (10,504)
    Philadelphia, PA
    November 14, 2017*
    6:30 pm, FS1    		 No. 5 Nicholls State
    Battle 4 Atlantis Mainland game    		 W 103–76  2–0
    		  23 – Bridges  6 – 4 tied  5 – Tied  Wells Fargo Center (8,517)
    Philadelphia, PA
    November 17, 2017*
    8:00 pm, FS2    		 No. 5 vs. Lafayette
    Allentown Showcase    		 W 94–57  3–0
    		  24 – Bridges  9 – Spellman  6 – Brunson  PPL Center (6,652)
    Allentown, PA
    November 22, 2017*
    2:30 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 4 vs. Western Kentucky
    Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinals    		 W 86–68  4–0
    		  18 – Brunson  8 – 2 Tied  3 – 3 Tied  Imperial Arena (1,199)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    November 23, 2017*
    12:30 pm, ESPN    		 No. 5 vs. Tennessee
    Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals    		 W 83–77  5–0
    		  25 – Brunson  6 – Paschall  6 – Brunson  Imperial Arena (2,102)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    November 24, 2017*
    12:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 5 vs. Northern Iowa
    Battle 4 Atlantis championship    		 W 74–60  6–0
    		  18 – Bridges  7 – Bridges  4 – Brunson  Imperial Arena (2,831)
    Nassau, Bahamas
    November 29, 2017*
    7:00 pm, FS2    		 No. 4 Penn
    Big 5    		 W 100–62  7–0
    		  17 – Brunson  7 – 2 Tied  4 – 2 Tied  Jake Nevin Field House (2,200)
    Villanova, PA
    December 2, 2017*
    5:30 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 4 at Saint Joseph's
    Big 5/Holy War    		 W 94–73  8–0
    		  18 – Bridges  11 – Spellman  6 – Tied  Hagan Arena (4,200)
    Philadelphia, PA
    December 5, 2017*
    7:00 pm, ESPN    		 No. 3 vs. No. 10 Gonzaga
    Jimmy V Classic    		 L 77–82  8–1
    		  28 – Bridges  8 – Spellman  3 – Tied  Madison Square Garden (17,532)
    New York, NY
    December 10, 2017*
    1:00 pm, FS1    		 No. 9 La Salle
    Big 5    		 W 87–69  9–1
    		  18 – Tied  8 – Bridges  7 – Brunson  Wells Fargo Center (10,611)
    Philadelphia, PA
    December 13, 2017*
    7:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 9 at Temple
    Big 5    		 W 88–76  10–1
    		  31 – Brunson  8 – Spellman  5 – Brunson  Liacouras Center (10,206)
    Philadelphia, PA
    December 22, 2017*
    8:30 pm, FS1    		 No. 7 vs. Hofstra
    Long Island Showcase    		 W 85–70  11–1
    		  20 – Bridges  10 – Spellman  7 – Brunson  Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (7,892)
    Uniondale, NY
    December 27, 2017
    7:30 pm, CBSSN    		 No. 7 at DePaul L 73–78  11–2
    (0–1)    		  20 – Bridges  12 – Spellman  6 – Booth  Wintrust Arena (8,323)
    Chicago, IL
    December 30, 2017
    4:00 pm, CBS    		 No. 11 at Butler W 91–81  12–2
    (1–1)    		  31 – Brunson  9 – Spellman  5 – Brunson  Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,244)
    Indianapolis, IN
    January 6, 2018
    8:00 pm, FS1    		 No. 10 Marquette W 88–80  13–2
    (2–1)    		  27 – Brunson  7 – Bridges  8 – Brunson  Wells Fargo Center (14,210)
    Philadelphia, PA
    January 10, 2018
    8:00 pm, FS1    		 No. 10 No. 11 Xavier W 89–69  14–2
    (3–1)    		  21 – Booth  9 – Bridges  5 – Brunson  Wells Fargo Center (12,765)
    Philadelphia, PA
    January 13, 2018
    8:00 pm, FBN    		 No. 9 at St. John's W 88–71  15–2
    (4–1)    		  25 – DiVincenzo  11 – Bridges  5 – Brunson  Madison Square Garden (17,123)
    New York, NY
    January 17, 2018
    6:30 pm, FS1    		 No. 7 at Georgetown W 82–56  16–2
    (5–1)    		  18 – Brunson  7 – DiVincenzo  7 – Brunson  Capital One Arena (11,905)
    Washington, DC
    January 20, 2018*
    12:00 pm, CBS    		 No. 7 at UConn W 84–67  17–2
    		  23 – Brunson  12 – Spellman  6 – Booth  XL Center (15,564)
    Hartford, CT
    January 23, 2018
    6:30 pm, FS1    		 No. 6 Providence W 89–75  18–2
    (6–1)    		  17 – Paschall  9 – Bridges  5 – Paschall  Wells Fargo Center (8,595)
    Philadelphia, PA
    January 28, 2018
    1:00 pm, FOX    		 No. 6 at Marquette L 76–80  18–3
    (6–2)    		  31 – Brunson  9 – Paschall  2 – Tied  BMO Harris Bradley Center (17,120)
    Milwaukee, WI
    February 1, 2018
    12:00 pm, FS1    		 No. 13 Creighton W 88–78  19–3
    (7–2)    		  21 – Bridges  8 – Paschall  5 – Tied  Wells Fargo Center (10,225)
    Philadelphia, PA
    February 4, 2018
    12:00 pm, FOX    		 No. 12 Seton Hall W 84–76  20–3
    (8–2)    		  26 – Spellman  11 – Spellman  7 – DiVincenzo  Wells Fargo Center (16,115)
    Philadelphia, PA
    February 7, 2018
    7:00 pm, CBSSN    		 No. 12 St. John's W 85–69  21–3
    (9–2)    		  28 – Brunson  12 – Spellman  3 – Tied  Wells Fargo Center (10,900)
    Philadelphia, PA
    February 10, 2018
    12:00 pm, FOX    		 No. 10 Butler W 86–75  22–3
    (10–2)    		  30 – DiVincenzo  11 – Spellman  5 – Bridges  Wells Fargo Center (20,603)
    Philadelphia, PA
    February 14, 2018
    7:00 pm, FS1    		 No. 10 at Providence L 73–78  22–4
    (10–3)    		  19 – Bridges  9 – Spellman  5 – Brunson  Dunkin' Donuts Center (12,887)
    Providence, RI
    February 17, 2018
    4:30 pm, FOX    		 No. 11 at No. 5 Xavier W 87–79  23–4
    (11–3)    		  25 – Bridges  9 – DiVincenzo  9 – DiVincenzo  Cintas Center (10,777)
    Cincinnati, OH
    February 21, 2018
    8:30 pm, FS1    		 No. 8 DePaul W 83–62  24–4
    (12–3)    		  27 – Bridges  7 – Spellman  7 – Brunson  Wells Fargo Center (10,007)
    Philadelphia, PA
    February 24, 2018
    2:30 pm, FOX    		 No. 8 at Creighton W 88–84 OT 25–4
    (13–3)    		  22 – Brunson  10 – Spellman  5 – Brunson  CenturyLink Center (18,321)
    Omaha, NE
    February 28, 2018
    8:30 pm, FS1    		 No. 8 at Seton Hall W 79–74 OT 26–4
    (14–3)    		  23 – Bridges  14 – Spellman  5 – DiVincenzo  Prudential Center (13,711)
    Newark, NJ
    March 3, 2018
    5:00 pm, FOX    		 No. 7 Georgetown W 87–73  27–4
    (15–3)    		  24 – Bridges  6 – Tied  7 – Brunson  Wells Fargo Center (18,523)
    Philadelphia, PA
    Big East Tournament
    March 8, 2018
    7:00 pm, FS1    		 (2) No. 7 vs. (7) Marquette
    Quarterfinals    		 W 84–70  28–4
    		  25 – Bridges  8 – Bridges  4 – Bridges  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
    New York, NY
    March 9, 2018
    10:00 pm, FS1    		 (2) No. 7 vs. (6) Butler
    Semifinals    		 W 87–68  29–4
    		  18 – Bridges  12 – Spellman  6 – DiVincenzo  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
    New York, NY
    March 10, 2018
    6:30 pm, FOX    		 (2) No. 7 vs. (5) Providence
    Championship    		 W 76–71 OT 30–4
    		  31 – Brunson  13 – Paschall  4 – Brunson  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
    New York, NY
    NCAA Tournament
    March 15, 2018*
    6:50 pm, TNT    		 (1 E) No. 7 vs. (16 E) Radford
    First Round    		 W 87–61  31–4
    		  16 – Brunson  7 – Spellman  8 – DiVincenzo  PPG Paints Arena (18,715)
    Pittsburgh, PA
    March 17, 2018*
    12:10 pm, CBS    		 (1 E) No. 7 vs. (9 E) Alabama
    Second Round    		 W 81–58  32–4
    		  23 – Bridges  8 – Spellman  5 – DiVincenzo  PPG Paints Arena (19,015)
    Pittsburgh, PA
    March 23, 2018*
    7:27 pm, TBS    		 (1 E) No. 7 vs. (5 E) No. 15 West Virginia
    Sweet Sixteen    		 W 90–78  33–4
    		  27 – Brunson  8 – Spellman  4 – Tied  TD Garden (19,055)
    Boston, MA
    March 25, 2018*
    2:20 pm, CBS    		 (1 E) No. 7 vs. (3 E) No. 14 Texas Tech
    Elite Eight    		 W 71–59  34–4
    		  15 – Brunson  14 – Paschall  4 – Brunson  TD Garden (19,169)
    Boston, MA
    March 31, 2018*
    7:49 pm, TBS    		 (1 E) No. 7 vs. (1 MW) No. 4 Kansas
    Final Four    		 W 95–79  35–4
    		  24 – Paschall  13 – Spellman  6 – Tied  Alamodome (68,257)
    San Antonio, TX
    April 2, 2018*
    9:20 pm, TBS    		 (1 E) No. 7 vs. (3 W) No. 8 Michigan
    National Championship    		 W 79–62  36–4
    		  31 – DiVincenzo  11 – Spellman  3 – DiVincenzo  Alamodome (67,831)
    San Antonio, TX
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East MW=Midwest.
    All times are in Eastern Time.

    Rankings
    See also: 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final 
    AP 6 5 5 4 4 1 (41) 1 (45) 1 (43) 3 (1) 1 (25) 1 (63) 1 (63) 1 (47) 1 (48) 3 (9) 3 (4) 4 2 2 Not released 
    Coaches 6 6^ 3 (1) 4 4 1 (22) 1 (26) 1 (27) 3 (1) 1 (27) 1 (31) 1 (31) 1 (22) 1 (22) 2 (8) 3 (4) 5 3 2 1 (32)

    ^Coaches Poll did not release a Week 2 poll at the same time AP did.
    *AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings

    See additional Media related to 2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team at Wikimedia Commons.

    References
    1. "Marquette falls to Villanova 94-70 in Big East Tournament". FOX Sports. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    2. "Insider: Butler powerless against Villanova in Big East semifinal". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    3. "Villanova tops Providence for 2nd straight Big East title". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    4. "March Madness: Villanova earns No. 1 seed in East region in NCAA tournament, will play LIU-Brooklyn or Radford - Philly". Philly.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    5. "Top-seeded Villanova dominates Radford". Newsday. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    6. "Alabama vs. Villanova - Game Recap - March 17, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    7. Schonbrun, Zach (2018-03-23). "Villanova Breaks Free of West Virginia in the Second Half to Win". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    8. Stubbs, Roman; Boren, Cindy (2018-03-25). "Known as pretty, Villanova is gritty in knocking out Texas Tech to reach Final Four". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    9. Schonbrun, Zach (2018-03-31). "Villanova Rolls Over Kansas to Reach Its Second N.C.A.A. Final in Three Seasons". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    10. "Villanova overpowers Kansas from three in Final Four rout". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    11. "Michigan vs. Villanova - Game Recap - April 2, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    12. "Michigan basketball can't solve Villanova, special season terminated". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    13. Paine, Neil (2018-04-03). "The Only Opponent Villanova Has Left Is History". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
    14. "Villanova Plans $60 Million Makeover of Pavilion". Philadelphia Magazine. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
    15. "Board of Trustees Approves Pavilion Renovation" (Press release). Villanova Wildcats. February 14, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
    16. "Villanova Basketball Pavilion Renovation Approved". VU Hoops. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
    17. "Board of Trustees Approves Pavilion Renovation". Retrieved 2017-07-14.
    18. "Wildcats to Host Penn in Jake Nevin Field House" (Press release). Villanova Wildcats. September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
    19. "Big East tournament 2017 scores, bracket: Villanova makes statement with dominant title win". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
    20. Greene, Dan. "Down goes Villanova: No. 8 seed Wisconsin stuns the reigning national champs". SI.com. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
    21. "March finally gives us some madness as Wisconsin ousts Villanova: 3 takeaways". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
    22. "Arizona Tops Blue Ribbon's 37th Annual Preseason Rankings". Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
    23. "Big East Conference – Villanova Sits Atop Coaches' Preseason Poll Again". www.bigeast.com. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
    24. "Big East Conference – Villanova's Jalen Brunson Selected Preseason Player of the Year". www.bigeast.com. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
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