By AARON BRACY
October 28, 2024
VILLANOVA 2024-25 Big5Hoops.com Preview Package Links
-Villanova Season Preview Story
-Villanova Player Spotlight: Eric Dixon
-Villanova Season Preview Podcast
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2024-25 Capsule Preview
–Head coach/season: Kyle Neptune/3rd season
–2023–24 record: 18-16, 10-10 Big East (Big5Hoops.com 2023-24 Villanova Season Review Story)
–Key returnees: 6-8 GR F Eric Dixon (16.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-5 SR G Jordan Longino (6.6 ppg)
–Key losses: 6-2 G Mark Armstrong (8.4 ppg; declared for NBA draft), 6-5 G TJ Bamba (10.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg; transferred to Oregon), 6-5 G Justin Moore (9.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg; out of eligibility)
–Key additions: 6-11 SR F Enoch Boakye (Fresno State), Jhamir Brickus (La Salle), 6-9 FR G Kris Parker (Alabama), 6-4 SO G Tyler Perkins (Penn), 6-5 SR G Wooga Poplar (Miami), 6-6 FR F Josiah Moseley, 6-8 FR F Malcolm Thomas, 6-8 FR F Matthew Hodge, 6-2 FR G Aleksandar Gavalyugov
–KenPom preseason ranking: 20 out of 364 Division I teams
–Big East Conference preseason ranking: 7th out of 11 teams
–Tip-ins: Dixon returned for a fifth season of eligibility at Villanova after withdrawing his name from the NBA draft in the spring. He was the Big 5 Player of the Year last season. As a result of his participation in the Portsmouth Invitational, Dixon will serve a one-game suspension in the Wildcats’ season opener against Lafayette on Nov. 4. He has accumulated 1,499 points and 724 rebounds in his four-year career. … Neither Parker (right toe fracture) nor Gavalyugov (right knee bone bruise) participated in the Wildcats’ intrasquad scrimmage earlier this month. But both should be ready to go healthwise by the season opener on November 4, Neptune told Big5Hoops.com on October 23. And Villanova got more good news when both Parker and Gavalyugov played in Sunday’s scrimmage against Robert Morris. … Dixon was named to the Big East’s Preseason First Team while Poplar was tabbed to the league’s Preseason Third Team. … The Wildcats were selected 7th in the Big East Preseason Poll, but at No. 20 they are the fourth-rated Big East team in KenPom, behind UConn (5), Creighton (12), and St. John’s (19). … Neptune is high on Longino, who is finally healthy and had a full offseason to get better after an injury-plagued career. He had 21 points and made 8 of 12 field goals, including 3 of 4 three-pointers in the Wildcats’ 87-73 win over Robert Morris in a scrimmage on Sunday. … Villanova last reached the NCAA tournament in 2022 when they made the fourth Final Four under Jay Wright before his surprise retirement after the season. Under Wright, the Wildcats won the national championship in 2016 and 2018 and also reached the Final Four in 2009. … Brickus, the all-time leading scorer in Coatesville High School history, netted 1,254 points in four seasons at La Salle. He is a career 37.4 three-point shooter and averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in 119 games for the Explorers. … Hodge did not play in Sunday’s scrimmage against Robert Morris due to an eligibility issue that has him sidelined.
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–Villanova Season Preview Podcast: Click below to listen to the Bracy Sports Media Podcast Season Preview of Villanova on YouTube. You can also search Bracy Sports Media on Apple, Spotify, RSS, etc. Please like and subscribe to the podcast.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.