“Rising from the Shadows: Villanova’s Quest for Glory in 2025”

INDIANAPOLIS – Villanova is making progress.

You recall Villanova. The slow starters that succumbed to Columbia by double digits at home, yielding 90 points to the Ivy League, and were 3-4 following the first seven games. The fallen powerhouse that barely stayed afloat at 18-16 last year and 17-17 the year prior, ultimately ending both seasons absent from the rankings or the NCAA Tournament bracket. The overlooked blueblood anticipated to secure the seventh spot in the Big East this season, while failing to garner even a single vote in the Associated Press rankings.

Yep, that Villanova.

The Wildcats faced defeats against Drexel, Saint Joseph’s, and Penn last season, and Saint Joseph’s again in November. Can they carry the nation as they once did during the glorious days of Jay Wright? Recently, they can’t even dominate Philadelphia. However, take note of their recent performance. They currently stand at 9-5, having clinched six victories in the last seven games, and on Wednesday evening, they showcased a level of resilience that could guide a team through a harsh, chilly Big East winter. Trailing by 13 points against Butler with five minutes remaining, Villanova intensified their defensive effort, launched a relentless attack, and executed a 22-1 closing surge that overwhelmed the Bulldogs 73-65. The Wildcats dominated Butler in rebounding 43-30, committing only six turnovers.

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That sounds all too familiar to . . . well, how Villanova used to operate.

“I didn’t even glance at the scoreboard until about a minute was left. We were just immersed in the game, scrapping, battling, trying to claw our way back,” Eric Dixon remarked, after scoring 28 points to maintain his position as the nation’s leading scorer. “I’ve mentioned it before, this team is youthful. Every day that passes, we improve slightly.”

Not that youthful. Villanova deployed a starting lineup on Wednesday comprising two graduate students, two seniors, and a junior. Perhaps young for Villanova since three are transfers. Some members of the supporting crew are on the younger side. Clearly, it has taken some time for the combination to be effective, but perhaps it is now on an upward trajectory. “For us, it’s just about taking it one game at a time,” coach Kyle Neptune stated. “We have some experienced veterans, but we also have numerous young players finding their footing in significant moments. This was promising; now we must focus on the next game. Unfortunately, the Big East is an incredibly tough league.”

Some might argue that Neptune’s position is getting a bit warm. Succeeding Wright – a man with two national championships and four appearances in the Final Four – was going to be a formidable task. But the Wildcats’ 38-37 record during Neptune’s first 75 games certainly dampens the spirits quickly. It must be quite the challenge upholding the Villanova reputation when circumstances aren’t favorable.

“I believe having the Villanova name on your jersey offers reassurance because you understand you wear it for a purpose,” stated Dixon, who has participated in 140 games for the Wildcats. “For me, I’m here for a reason, and I’m here to perform to the best of my abilities.”

However, as a program, Villanova has not been executing to the standard expected from Villanova. The fans have been becoming impatient.

“I think our coaching staff has done well to tune out all the external distractions,” Dixon commented.

“We’re simply improving,” Neptune affirmed. “Throughout the course of the season, our objective remains to become the best team we can be by the end. We may not have started as we intended, but we kept our spirits high and continued to fight.”

And Dixon has consistently been scoring, regardless of the outcome. He recorded 33 against Columbia, 38 against Maryland, and 31 against Cincinnati. His shooting range is impressive, but we’re not talking about wild, desperate shots, as his 26-point average comes with a 53.5 percent shooting efficiency, including a solid 50 from beyond the arc. “My teammates believe in me and offer their trust,” he mentioned. “I’ve dedicated a lot of effort, and if I look at the basket and it feels right, I’ll likely take the shot,” even if occasionally from way outside.

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Dixon is currently leading the nation in scoring, and if he concludes the season with a 25.0-point average or higher, it would mark the first instance in 52 years that a Villanova player accomplishes this feat. “Many people tend to emphasize scoring,” he remarked. “But ultimately, I’m just focused on winning games.”

That hasn’t been simple lately for Villanova, including Wednesday’s game. If you exclude Dixon’s 28 points and the 18 from Miami transfer Wooga Poplar, the remainder of the squad shot only 8-for-26. Nonetheless, they showcased solid defense, rebounded well, and did not falter on the road. And, of course, they converted their free throws, making 14 of 16 attempts. The Wildcats have become the Jedi masters of free throw shooting. They were the first Division I program in NCAA history last season to lead the nation in free throw percentage for three consecutive years, and they currently rank eighth in this category this season.

That element of the Villanova legacy has not diminished. However, their overall record has, and they are striving to amend that before their coach runs out of time. So far, so promising in 2025.