Villanova's (l-r) Duke Brennan, coach Kevin Willard, and Bryce Lindsay speak at a press conference following Saturday's 79-61 win over Pitt. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
December 13, 2025
Big5Hoops.com
VILLANOVA, Pa. — Bryce Lindsay and Duke Brennan are giving Villanova an inside-outside combination that is giving opponents fits this season.
The duo did it again on Saturday against Pitt, with each going for 24 points in an important 79-61 bounceback victory at Finneran Pavilion that came on the heels of Tuesday’s 89-61 blowout loss at No. 2 Michigan.
Both Lindsay and Brennan have been incredibly impressive this season and are largely responsible, along with some help from the strong play of rookie Acaden Lewis, with the Wildcats being 8-2 and in the thick of the NCAA tournament conversation as nonconference play winds down.
Lindsay, a 6-foot-3 guard, dropped four more three-pointers on Pitt, giving him 33 for the season on an impressive 45.8 percent clip. Brennan, a 6-10 forward, made all eight of his field goals, all from close range with a silky soft touch, and added nine rebounds to up his season average to 12.1 points and 11.7 boards.
Obviously, having such an effective inside-outside presence with Lindsay and Brennan has been huge for the Wildcats.
“I think it’s really important,” coach Kevin Willard said. “When we can get (Brennan) some points down low, I think it rewards him for how hard he plays throughout the game. It also keeps him involved and keeps him happy.”
Brennan, who was voted the Jack Scheuer VGH (Very Good Hoops) Award winner last Saturday at the Big 5 Classic for his performance in Villanova’s Big 5 title win over Penn, credited his teammates for getting him the ball in such good spots down on the low block.
Lindsay lobbed praise right back at Brennan for causing defenders to sag down on Villanova’s big man, opening up some shooting lanes.
“It definitely frees me up,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay has had no dropoff from the jump in level from the Sun Belt conference, where he was named Sixth Man of the Year last season after coming off the bench to connect on 87 three-pointers for the season. From the opening game against BYU when he hit five three-pointers, Lindsay has showed that his game translates here.
“I would just say my preparation,” he said. “I put the work in.”
Villanova also put the work in this week, going hard at practice on Thursday and Friday to knock off any lethargy from the rout in Ann Arbor. Willard likes how the Wildcats bounced back.
“They responded great,” he said.
They’ll need another strong week of preparation for the final nonconference game, a stout test against Wisconsin on Friday night on a “neutral” court in Milwaukee.
One thing is certain: Villanova will not be the only team that needs a strong week of preparation. The Badgers will need to figure out how to contest the the Wildcats’ strong inside-outside duo of Brennan and Lindsay.
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Aaron Bracy has covered sports in Philadelphia for nearly three decades for various publications and as a freelancer for the Associated Press. His first book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), can be ordered HERE. He is working on his second book, which will chronicle the memorable 2000–01 season of Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be published in April 2027. Follow Bracy on social media HERE. Contact him at bracymedia@gmail.com.