Villanova and Providence tipoff at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
February 4, 2024
Big5Hoops.com
PHILADELPHIA – With 7 minutes, 4 seconds remaining, Villanova fans headed to the exits.
It looked oh-too-familiar. Another game. Another early exit by Nova Nation.
The feeling, though, could not have been any more different.
They were thrusting the “V’s” high in the air, the student section was rocking deliriously, the Villanova student radio broadcasters behind me were yelling excitedly and the Wells Fargo Center felt like old times for a Villanova basketball game.
Yeah, some home fans were leaving early again. Unlike during the five-game losing streak out of displeasure, this time it was to beat the traffic during a Wildcats blowout.
All was good again for Nova Nation after a dazzling defensive performance by the Wildcats in a convincing 68-50 victory over Providence on Sunday evening.
The skid-halting win moved the Wildcats to 12-10 overall and 5-6 in the Big East, just one game back of fifth place and a coveted first-round bye in the Big East tournament.
Villanova is back in the NCAA picture. Probably on the bubble, but back in the Big Dance conversation, nonetheless.
And they can thank their defense for this one.
“We were really locked in,” Wildcats coach Kyle Neptune said.
You think? Consider that Providence had just 16 points in 24 minutes, 35 seconds of game action.
Villanova forced the Friars into more than double as many turnovers (9) as they had field goals (4) in as good of a defensive first half as you’ll see. The Wildcats weren’t shooting great either, going 10-for-32, so their 26-16 lead at the break didn’t feel safe.
But that first-half defense was just amazing. Wow. Just wow.
“We were really excited where we were,” Neptune said. “That’s what we talk about every day. There wasn’t a lot of space for them to operate. I thought they did an unbelievable job.”
The Wildcats fed off their defense in the second half and started feeling freed up offensively. They led by as many as 26 points after the break.
Jordan Longino hit a pair of 3-pointers, finding his stroke, Brendan Hausen threw a full-court dime to Mark Armstrong and Lance Ware found a cutting Hakim Hart for an easy bucket with a deft assist.
But the story on Sunday was all about defense. Villanova kept doing that until the final whistle, no matter the lead. There was Ware flying high to reject Jayden Pierre, Tyler Burton flying into the first row despite a 23-point lead and everyone in white jerseys defending like nothing else mattered.
Six Wildcats finished with steals, led by Armstrong’s three, that totaled to 10. The Friars ended up shooting 29 percent (15 of 51) from the field, including 21 percent (7 of 33) from the arc, while finishing with a season low in points.
“Our offense was not good at all, but they absolutely deserve credit,” Friars coach Kim English said. “They were right tonight. They were really good, their deflections, diving for loose balls, that’s what Villanova basketball has been for the last 20 years.”
What makes this defensive performance, which was the best I’ve seen from Neptune’s bunch this season among some very strong defensive outings, was it would’ve been easy to come out frustrated, lackadaisical or with low energy based on recent results. But the Wildcats showed their mettle, for sure.
“We have great guys, unbelievable guys in this program who are really committed,” Neptune said. “(In the Big East) the margin for error is not that great. We keep talk about getting better. Our focus in practice has been keep getting better no matter the results.”
It was a breathtaking result, at least the way it came down, with a defensive performance for the ages. It doesn’t mean all is fixed, doesn’t mean the NCAA tournament is a lock.
But it sure did feel good for the Wildcats.
“It feels great,” Bamba said. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
All thanks to defense.
“That’s what sets the tone,” Bamba said. “That’s what’s going to carry us further and further as a team. The more and more we lock in there, you’ll start seeing performances like this.”
Well, if this continues, Nova Nation will see some of it, at least. They might just leave early again. Like Sunday, with “V’s” up and a smile.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Big5Hoops.com is his second website dedicated to Philadelphia college basketball. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages.