Villanova (18-16, 10-10 Big East)
This season could be make-or-break for third-year coach Kyle Neptune. Neptune succeeded Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and is just 35-33 with the program dropping from perennial national championship contender to one that has been knocked out of the NIT in the first round the last two seasons. Athletic director Mark Jackson gave Neptune a vote of confidence at the end of last season but that was before he left for Northwestern and no replacement has been hired yet. Neptune could get a new boss who has noticed the Wildcats are looking up at UConn in the Big East.
Players to watch
Eric Dixon (senior, F, 6-8). Dixon will serve a one-game NCAA suspension for impermissible participation in the Portsmouth Invitational in April. He turns 24 in January and led the Wildcats with 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. He was named a second-team All-Big East selection each of the last two seasons.
Wooga Poplar (senior, G, 6-5). Poplar is expected to make a big impact after he transferred from Miami. Poplar averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season and shot 39% from 3-point range.
Jordan Longino (senior, G, 6-5) Longino averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds last season and started the first five Big East games before injuries derailed his season. Served as a valuable member of the rotation, averaging 21.7 minutes in 29 games.
Departures and arrivals
The Wildcats are almost unrecognizable from last season after losing Justin Moore, Tyler Burton, Hakim Hart, Mark Armstrong, Brendan Hausen and TJ Bamba (10.1 ppg). Lance Ware left for UT Arlington.
Poplar anchors a solid transfer class that includes former Penn standout Tyler Perkins, Fresno State’s Enoch Boakye and La Salle’s Jhamir Brickus.
Top games
The Wildcats open the season Nov. 4 against Lafayette and play Virginia and new coach Ron Sanchez on Nov. 15. The Wildcats participate with Philadelphia’s five other D-I programs in the Big 5 Classic on Dec. 7 at the Wells Fargo Center. Villanova opens Big East play Dec. 17 against Seton Hall.
Facts and figures
The Wildcats opened last season in the Top 25 and showed some early signs of promise with consecutive wins over Texas Tech and North Carolina — two NCAA Tournament teams — and Memphis to win the Battle 4 Atlantis crown. Losses to Big 5 rivals Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Drexel were inexcusable to fans and former players alike. Neptune, just Villanova’s sixth coach since 1936, went 17-17 last season and 18-16 last season.
