VU Hoops

Is this the right position for the Wildcats preseason? Head coach Kevin Willard worked hard this offseason to rebuild the roster in the transfer portal. Villanova lost player after player to the portal, with the exception of Tyler Perkins and Matt Hodge. Multiple additions were made including four starters while adding experience, depth, and size. The NCAAB AP Poll is still weeks and weeks away from being released but projections are in full swing.

Villanova has done a lot this offseason to rebuild its frontcourt in the transfer portal. Now, a familiar name has become available but is he no longer a fit for the Wildcats? Duke Brennan has received interest from many big-name programs for a fifth year of eligibility, according to his agent Earl Flaggs. Villanova is on the lengthy list for the big man, which is no surprise given the success that Brennan had with the Wildcats last year.

It has been quiet on the basketball front, but the offseason has been full of good news. The Wildcats received more good news over the weekend — this time on the gridiron. On Saturday, an Ohio judge granted Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide another year of elibigility, meaning he will return for the 2026 season. Villanova filed a waiver for McQuaide to be eligible to play in 2026-27. The NCAA denied this request. Cayuhoga County Common Pleas Court judge Timothy P.

As part of the Big East Conference network, Villanova’s Kevin Willard sat down with John Fanta for a 30-minute interview. Lots of good stuff in here, including what he’s learned at Villanova thus far and his thoughts on the roster changes. Full interview below.

Villanova put together an impressive offseason to rebuild the roster in hopes of building a winner this winter. Jon Rothstein has been putting together his “Rothstein 45” each day this offseason via FanDuel, beginning in June. If this was discussed already, we will touch on it one more time. Despite this being a list of 45 teams, Villanova was mentioned in the most important cutoff point at No. 25.

Villanova held its annual Summer Jam practice on Monday. This gave fans a chance to see clips of the team and receive updates on important topics. The only thing missing was Luigi Suigo. He had not made it to campus yet but that changed quickly. On Tuesday, assistant coach Ricky Harris shared a picture with Suigo after he arrived in Philadelphia. We have not seen Suigo take the floor yet but seeing him on campus should get you excited for what’s to come.

The early part of the schedule is slowly coming together In an official out-of-conference schedule announcement by Pittsburgh, it’s been confirmed that the Wildcats will travel to face the Panthers on Tuesday, Nov. 17. This is the return game of a home-and-home that was scheduled by Kevin Willard and co. a year ago. Villanova defeated Pittsburgh 79-61 on December 13th, which was the second-to-last game of the non-conference slate. This year, they will be facing them a bit earlier.

The whole team was present, minus Luigi Suigo. Which means that any chance of another backup center seems to be gone. Kwame Evans Jr. is in a walking boot, but Kevin Willard says it’s not a long-term issue. I interpreted it as more precautionary, which is common in these instances. Matt Hodge seems less likely to be ready for the start of the year.

Per Dushawn London of 247Sports, Duke Brennan could be on his way to becoming an Oregon Duck. Brennan is currently part of a group of players seeking a fifth year of eligibility, so this theoretical commitment would be contingent upon that. Brennan was a revelation for the Wildcats last season, averaging 12.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest in what appears to be his first and only season with Villanova. The 6’10” big man exceeded all expectations while starting all 32 games.

How do you think the 2026-27 roster matches up against Michigan? Matt - This is something that I will look more into in detail later, but I definitely think Villanova will match up well. The two concerns for me are: Front-court depth - off of the bench, Michigan has LSU transfer Jalen Reed, along with two top-50 recruits in Lincoln Cosby and Quinn Costello. Especially if Matt Hodge isn’t available, Villanova will need production from Nico Onyekwere in this one.