Villanova Archives | Page 45 of 45

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Ryan Arcidiacono strode into the Pavilion with a national championship trophy raised high over his head and a bold decree for the Villanova fans stuffing the gym.

“We’re going to go back-to-back,” Arch told the roaring students. “I’m putting the pressure on right now.”

Pressure?

The Wildcats are addicted to pressure and ready for a repeat – but first it was time to party and celebrate the 2016 national championship.

“Let’s get ready to rock this house,” coach Jay Wright bellowed to the crowd.

Villanova

Big East Coaches Believe Villanova Can Repeat as NCAA Champion

October 14, 2016

author: Adam Zagoria

NEW YORK — Villanova faces 10/1 odds of repeating as the NCAA champion, according to Bovada.lv.

Duke and Kentucky — both of which are loaded with freshmen, talented freshmen but freshmen nonetheless — are the only teams with better odds. (Kansas is also at 10/1.)

If you ask Jay Wright’s Big East coaching brethren, they think Villanova has a good shot to get to the Final Four in Glendale, Az., and cut down the nets again.

“I do,” Butler’s Chris Holtmann told me Tuesday at Big East Media Day. “I think they’re probably one of a handful of teams that you would look at right now on paper and say that if things go right for them, if they catch their breaks” they could repeat.

Breaking News, Villanova

Villanova Unanimous Pick to Win Big East, Josh Hart Preseason Player of the Year

October 11, 2016

author: Adam Zagoria

For the third straight year, Villanova has been selected unanimously to capture the Big East regular-season crown in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The reigning NCAA champion Wildcats received all nine possible first-place votes from the league’s head coaches and a total of 81 points in the poll. Coaches do not place their own teams on their ballots.

Meantime, junior guard Josh Hart was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year.

Hart and the Wildcats have been the outright regular-season champion in each of the past three seasons, compiling a 16-2 record each year. For 2016-17, coach Jay Wright’s club will be aiming for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title. Last year, the team was the Big East Tournament runner-up before marching on to win the NCAA Tournament title and capturing the eighth national championship in Big East men’s basketball history. For the second straight season, Villanova set a school record for victories, finishing with a 35-5 record.