Musketeer Madness

When: Tuesday, Feb 17, 6:30 p.m.

Where Cintas

TV: FS1 with play-by-play from Jack Kizer and analysis from Nick Bahe.
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW

Villanova Wildcats, 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the BIG EAST

Coaching & Program Context
Head Coach: Kevin Willard
Willard enters the season after a major roster overhaul, retaining only three players from the previous year: Tyler Perkins, Matt Hodge, and Wade Chiddick. Perkins was the only one who logged minutes last season.

Key Player Production
From ESPN’s verified per‑game leaders:

Tyler Perkins: 13.6 PPG (leading scorer)

Duke Brennan: 10.6 RPG (dominant rebounder)

Acaden Lewis: 5.3 APG (primary playmaker)

Acaden Lewis: 2.0 SPG (top defender)

Team Statistical Profile
From Villanova’s official cumulative stats:

Points per game: 77.7

Points allowed per game: 69.1

Scoring margin: +8.5

Field goal percentage: 46.0%

Three‑point percentage: 36.5%

Rebounds per game: 35.4

Turnovers per game: 10.3

Sports‑Reference advanced metrics:

Offensive Rating: 117.1 (Top 60 nationally)

Defensive Rating: 104.2

Strength of Schedule: 41st

Summary
Villanova is having a very strong 2025–26 season, consistently ranked near the top of the Big East. They combine efficient scoring, solid defense, and balanced contributions across the roster. Their record places them firmly in the conference’s upper tier, and their statistical profile suggests a well‑rounded, competitive team.

When Villanova decided to play defense and get physical we didn't respond. Milicevic is playing very well.

Carroll and Milicevic with good first half's. The guards especially Moore were very lax on defense. Moore runs under every pick. Nice couple of minutes right before the half lead by Carroll We need to play a lot harder on defense if we want the upset.

Would be nice to make contested Lay-ups... 6 TOs lead to nine Nova points

When you play as we do you give up too many possessions to other team and with lousy d that is a no win formula

ref make atrocious call on Roddie. Not even close to a blocking call

could have, should have

Well I have no problem with the effort level especially in the second half. The 16 turnovers were the difference. Carroll who had 6 turnovers and the last one was unreal. Carroll had 28 points on 14 shots. We would have lost by 20 points without him. I feel for him. Milicevic played very well again. Off the bench Anderson and Walker also played very well. The refs did blow the Anderson foul but you have to overcome that. Overcoming the kind of soft defense we play there is not a lot of room for errors. I thought we were going to pull this one out tonight.

Well,

just came back from another Tre Carroll open gym display. I love his effort and spirit, but he makes Marshall look like a team player. I watched: every time he got in 8 feet or out in the post, an off defender would come and help, knowing he would spin and throw up a shot, or errant pass His gaudy offensive stats are neutralized by his forced shots and turnovers.

Defense was horrendous by everyone. They all lost Nova' 3 point shooters consistently. Nova made a living making threes with high ball screens leading to open threes in the 1st half. Willard took Pitino to coaching school.

Even the usually very reliable defenders in Moore and Filip lost their men on D.

Next year, if I had a magic wand, of the guys leaving, I would take back:

1st: Moore
2nd: Filip - close 2nd
Carrroll 3rd (with the restriction of not being able to dribble more than three times before passing or shooting)
Walker 4th (very pleasant surprise this year).

RP doesn't have the horses for the team to play good D outside of Moore, Filip, and Anderson. Also, lately, Robinson, but for the fourth straight game, the guys got beat off of the dribble, and he didn't change up on D. I'm still a believer in RP, but the last four or five games has given me some pause.

I agree with AH except that we have been losing our men and getting caught on screens for way often. Nova had too many open threes. Tre can get buckets but as my friend said has a self destruct button at game end. I like the Pitino hire but for someone that stressed defense our effort has been awful. New Mexico has a new team with three freshmen starters and is doing better than last year. Not getting the call for Roddie at home is ridiculous but so is our choking down the stretch at home. You would think with these veterans would could pull out a win.