Villanova Preview Capsule
Villanova Preview Capsule
Eds: With BKC--Villanova Preview
By The Associated Press=
Villanova
Last season: 32-4, lost in second round of NCAA Tournament.
Nickname: Wildcats
Coach Jay Wright
Conference: Big East
Who's gone: G Josh Hart, G Kris Jenkins, F Darryl Reynolds
Who's back: G Jalen Brunson, the sensational junior point guard, averaged 14.7 points, shot 54 percent from the field, had 148 assists and flirted with the idea of leaving for the NBA. G Phil Booth led the Wildcats in scoring in the national championship game in 2016. He missed most of last season with an injured left knee. F Omari Spellman, G Donte DiVincenzo and G Mikal Bridges round out a lineup for the Big East favorites.
Who's new: The Wildcats added Collin Gillespie, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Jermaine Samuels to the lineup.
The Skinny: The Wildcats were picked to win their fifth straight regular-season conference title, Brunson was chosen as the conference's preseason player of the year, and Spellman was selected freshman of the year. The 2016 national champions should again be among the small group of programs that can win it all on that first Monday in April.
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