Villanova Wildcats 2024-25 Preview & Big East Basketball Predictions

It’s no secret that head coach Kyle Neptune is under plenty of pressure to return Villanova to national relevance. The program has taken a step back since Jay Wright‘s retirement, and his successor has yet to win over fans in his first three seasons at the helm. Despite this, he remains firm that he doesn’t feel pressure.

“Honestly, pressure is something that I really don’t think about," said Neptune. “It’s something that I understand is a buzzword in sports that people talk about all the time, but for me, I just look at attacking each day and being the best we can."

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Villanova Wildcats Odds

Betting Market	FanDuel	DraftKings
Big East Winner	+3000	+2500
Final Four	+4500	+3000
National Championship	+15000	+11000

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If he can stay fully healthy, Eric Dixon is in line to set the Villanova record for most games played in a career. Currently, at 127 games, he is one of the most experienced players in the country and is one of just three remaining players to be on this year’s roster from the Jay Wright era. He is a versatile big man with a silky smooth shooting stroke and a knack for scoring. Don’t be surprised if he leads the conference in scoring as the focal point of this offense, as he’s surrounded by four new teammates in the starting five.

“They’re all into trying to get done what we’re trying to get done," said Dixon. “We all understand that we need each other. We all have great talents, and we’re all good at certain things, but we need each other to be successful."

Villanova Wildcats Top Additions

Wooga Poplar (Miami)	Jhamir Brickus (La Salle)	Tyler Perkins (Penn)

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Wooga Poplar and Jhamir Brickus are the key pieces that will be part of that new starting lineup for the Wildcats. Poplar was a breakout stud for Miami last year, while Brickus is a well-known star in the Philadelphia area as a product of the area and La Salle transfer. Both will provide some pop to the backcourt and further veteran leadership as they combine for seven seasons of collegiate experience. Penn transfer Tyler Perkins could be an X-factor for this team, but the poor track record of Ivy League newcomers in the Big East recently may be some cause for concern about his development.

Villanova Wildcats Prediction

It’s time for Kyle Neptune to prove that his appointment was not a mistake. The floor for the Wildcats in various performances last season was inexplicable, and they were lucky to avoid a program-altering defeat to DePaul in last season’s Big East Tournament. There are more questions than answers on his ability as a head coach right now, and it’s now or never for him to shut up the critics.

Prediction: 9th Place Big East Finish