It's time to review Villanova

[GumbyDamnit!]

I’m shocked… But I knew a guy who knows a guy and that other guy on twatter was sure that he knew a guy…and was absolutely certain that Moore was going to Maryland, G’town, KU, St John’s, UK, Ohio St, everyone else leaving and Nova just giving up on men’s BB. Hmmmm….

Anyway maybe there is smoke to the Dickenson and Moore reunion too. That would be interesting. Who the hell knows? But I do know this is not a program that will be folding up its tent any time soon. Welcome back JM!!!

Are you implying that Dickinson might transfer to Villanova? That would be great! I sure hope so.

I have ZERO idea of anything other than rumors. And they are just that…rumors. But while we’re at it…Hunter D is in fact leaving Michigan…maybe Hunter wants to be on a team with someone he knows well (he and JM played AAU ball together). And maybe Hunter wants to be closer to home (MD, G’town and Nova, UVA are the closest power programs near home. And maybe Hunter raised an eyebrow when he watched the entire B1G flame out in the tourney and watched as the BE flourished. So why would Hunter go to another B1G school? MD out. And is anything set at G’town yet? Not yet. UVA beaten by another double digit seed? Nope. Musical chairs…who’s left?

Come to the Main Line HD… play with your bud Justin and make a run. Get those two in the fold and grab a quality wing. Reload and LFG!!! Lol.

[Jasper67]

You have a laughing emoji at the end of your post, but I think that your line of reasoning makes sense. With Dixon, Moore, & Armstrong back at Villanova, there’s a core to build around. Add Dickinson to those 3 and there are some real possibilities.

I don’t know how Dickinson views the situation, but Cooley has a massive rebuilding job to do at Georgetown. There are those who think he’ll have them instantly competitive, but I think that’s pie in the sky. It’s not like the other coaches in this league are just sitting back and letting Cooley pass them by. Dickinson will want to go somewhere where he can win right away. Villanova offers that possibility and Dickinson’s past relationship with Moore is a nice bonus.

By the way, I think the notion that Pitino is going to have St. John’s instantly competitive is equally starry eyed. By cleaning house there, he’s acknowledging that there’s nothing to work with except Soriano. That program is another project which is going to take 2-3 years - especially in this league.

[DudeAnon]

You have a laughing emoji at the end of your post, but I think that your line of reasoning makes sense. With Dixon, Moore, & Armstrong back at Villanova, there’s a core to build around. Add Dickinson to those 3 and there are some real possibilities.

I don’t know how Dickinson views the situation, but Cooley has a massive rebuilding job to do at Georgetown. There are those who think he’ll have them instantly competitive, but I think that’s pie in the sky. It’s not like the other coaches in this league are just sitting back and letting Cooley pass them by. Dickinson will want to go somewhere where he can win right away. Villanova offers that possibility and Dickinson’s past relationship with Moore is a nice bonus.

By the way, I think the notion that Pitino is going to have St. John’s instantly competitive is equally starry eyed. By cleaning house there, he’s acknowledging that there’s nothing to work with except Soriano. That program is another project which is going to take 2-3 years - especially in this league.

Agree to disagree. With NIL & The Transfer Portal, there is little reason that Pitino (with MSG and billionaire Repole's backing) shouldn't be able to put together a squad almost immediately.

[stever20]

You have a laughing emoji at the end of your post, but I think that your line of reasoning makes sense. With Dixon, Moore, & Armstrong back at Villanova, there’s a core to build around. Add Dickinson to those 3 and there are some real possibilities.

I don’t know how Dickinson views the situation, but Cooley has a massive rebuilding job to do at Georgetown. There are those who think he’ll have them instantly competitive, but I think that’s pie in the sky. It’s not like the other coaches in this league are just sitting back and letting Cooley pass them by. Dickinson will want to go somewhere where he can win right away. Villanova offers that possibility and Dickinson’s past relationship with Moore is a nice bonus.

By the way, I think the notion that Pitino is going to have St. John’s instantly competitive is equally starry eyed. By cleaning house there, he’s acknowledging that there’s nothing to work with except Soriano. That program is another project which is going to take 2-3 years - especially in this league.

Agree to disagree. With NIL & The Transfer Portal, there is little reason that Pitino (with MSG and billionaire Repole's backing) shouldn't be able to put together a squad almost immediately.

I agree. Long rebuilding situations are a thing of the past in general, let alone a situation like St John's.

[hoops22]

You have a laughing emoji at the end of your post, but I think that your line of reasoning makes sense. With Dixon, Moore, & Armstrong back at Villanova, there’s a core to build around. Add Dickinson to those 3 and there are some real possibilities.

I don’t know how Dickinson views the situation, but Cooley has a massive rebuilding job to do at Georgetown. There are those who think he’ll have them instantly competitive, but I think that’s pie in the sky. It’s not like the other coaches in this league are just sitting back and letting Cooley pass them by. Dickinson will want to go somewhere where he can win right away. Villanova offers that possibility and Dickinson’s past relationship with Moore is a nice bonus.

By the way, I think the notion that Pitino is going to have St. John’s instantly competitive is equally starry eyed. By cleaning house there, he’s acknowledging that there’s nothing to work with except Soriano. That program is another project which is going to take 2-3 years - especially in this league.

Totally disagree with this. St john's was a disaster, but there was enough talent that they beat UCONN by double digits at UCONN, and had back to back games with Marquette to end the season, where they lost one in OT, and the other had a chance to tie at the free throw line with one second left. There was talent to work with, and Pitino still cleaned house because he wants a team with a higher ceiling than this group had. Jasper, I wish i knew you in real life because I would love to bet you a good steak dinner that Pitino will have St. John's ranked in the top 15, at some point within the next two years. Also Cooley will likely have Georgetown back in the NCAA tournament conversation, pretty soon as well. You're underestimating the impact not just of Pitino, but billionaire Repole being back, and motivated to seeing St john's become a major player again. The deepest pockets and the best coach is gonna equal one helluva basketball team.

Regarding Nova, the transfer portal and NIL are issues all schools have to deal with now on a yearly basis, but Villanova was in a more precarious position than most this year. This is not Jay Wright looking to reload in a hurry, but rather Kyle Neptune, who hasn't proven anything yet. I hope Neptune turns out to be the Second Coming of Jay Wright, but the jury's still out on that. What we know for certain is he has a below average recruiting class coming in, and if there was a mass exodus with Moore, Dixon. Armstrong etc... leaving, Villanova would have been in deep doo doo. I don't think this point was lost on Nova's donors who stepped up big to keep Moore. He had schools in his ear all season long, with a couple in the ACC ready to throw big bucks at him. Nova needed to show everyone, that even without Jay Wright they can still compete with the big dogs, and they did just that. However, things don't happen in a vacuum, and a rejuvenated Georgetown along with a rejuvenated St. John's has definitely made recruiting more difficult for Nova. Players they might automatically get before, they will now have competition for. I think this will be good for the BE. In the past Nova was the BE team doing all the heavy lifting. Now you'll have some bruising heavyweight battles with possibly UCONN, Georgetwon, Nova, St John's, Marquette, Creighton and Xavier, all being legitimate contenders for the top 20.

[Jasper67]

I have no need to argue with you guys. The exchange of opinions is all in fun anyway.

This isn’t a hypothetical question. It will be decided one way or another in the real world next year. I don’t disagree with the idea that there will be improvement in both programs or that they could be competitive within the next 2 years. I’m specifically saying that neither team will finish in the top 5 in the BE next year. So we’ll see when next season rolls around.

Hoops, I’ll b happy to bet that Pitino will not have St. John’s in the top 15 at the end of the season next year. We can hook up at the Big East Tournament to settle the score. I’m on a roll right now. I’m collecting a steak dinner in Trump’s indictment. How about Wollensky’s Grill?

[Hall2012]

The announced restructuring of the Big 5 schedule opens up a game in Nova's OOC schedule. This year, Nova will play Saint Joe's and Penn on campus sights before facing one of Temple, La Salle or Drexel in a triple header event at the Wells Fargo Center.

[kayako]

Baker returns to Nova as the "GM" of both Men's and Women's basketball teams. Is this a glorified NIL fundraising gig? Or is Villanova serious in dividing traditionally HC's responsibilities as the title of the position implies? Is Jay Wright more willing to come back if Baker's taking care of off-the-court business?

[Jasper67]

Baker returns to Nova as the "GM" of both Men's and Women's basketball teams. Is this a glorified NIL fundraising gig? Or is Villanova serious in dividing traditionally HC's responsibilities as the title of the position implies? Is Jay Wright more willing to come back if Baker's taking care of off-the-court business?

I for one am doubting that Jay would consider coming back. He strikes me as being like Al McGuire, someone who saw more in life than basketball. I think that both retired when they were young enough to enjoy other things in life besides basketball. Jay has the opportunity to follow in Al’s shies with a second career in broadcasting.

[kayako]

I for one am doubting that Jay would consider coming back. He strikes me as being like Al McGuire, someone who saw more in life than basketball. I think that both retired when they were young enough to enjoy other things in life besides basketball. Jay has the opportunity to follow in Al’s shies with a second career in broadcasting.

It'd take a change of heart for sure. But hey, if Fran Dunphy can coaxed into coming back at age 73...