# 2021–22 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team

The 2021–22 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jay Wright in his 21st and final year of coaching, the Wildcats played their home games at the Finneran Pavilion on the school's campus in the Philadelphia suburb of Villanova, Pennsylvania and Wells Fargo Center as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 30–8, 16–4 in Big East play to finish in second place. They defeated St. John's, UConn, and Creighton to win the Big East tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South region. They defeated Delaware, Ohio State, Michigan, and Houston to advance to the Final Four. There they lost to eventual national champion Kansas.
On April 20, 2022, head coach Jay Wright announced he was retiring effective immediately. Former Wright assistant and Fordham head coach Kyle Neptune was named the new head coach.

## Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Wildcats finished the 2020–21 season 18–7 overall and 11–4 in Big East play to finish first place in the conference. As the No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals 72–71 to eventual conference tournament champions Georgetown. In the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats received the 5 seed in the South Regional. They defeated Winthrop and North Texas to reach the Sweet 16, where they fell to eventual tournament champions Baylor 62–51. Villanova finished #11 in the final Coaches Poll.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 24 | F | 6'9" | 230 | Sophomore | Kansas City, KS | Declared for the 2021 NBA draft; selected 32nd overall by the Knicks, then traded to the Thunder. |
| Cole Swider | 10 | F | 6'9" | 225 | Junior | Portsmouth, RI | Transferred to Syracuse |
| Kevin Hoehn | 20 | G | 6'0" | 175 | Senior | Morristown, NJ | Graduated |

### 2021 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Jordan Longino SG | Fort Washington, PA | Germantown Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jul 23, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Nnanna Njoku C | Hockessin, Delaware | Sanford School | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | Apr 19, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Angelo Brizzi PG | Warrenton, VA | Highland School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jul 27, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2021 Villanova Commits". Rivals.com. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. ||||||

### Coaching changes

Following the 2020–21 season, longtime assistant coach Kyle Neptune left the Wildcats to become the head coach at Fordham. Wright subsequently promoted George Halcovage to Associate Head Coach and Dwayne Anderson from Director of Basketball Operations to Assistant Coach. Mike Nardi remained in his Assistant Coach position.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 9, 2021* 4:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | Mount St. Mary's | W 91–51 | 1–0 | 27 – Moore | 6 – Samuels | 7 – Moore | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| November 12, 2021* 11:30 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 4 | at No. 2 UCLA | L 77–86 $^{OT}$ | 1–1 | 20 – Samuels | 9 – Dixon | 3 – Tied | Pauley Pavilion (13,659) Los Angeles, CA |
| November 16, 2021* 6:30 p.m., FS2 | No. 5 | Howard | W 100–81 | 2–1 | 23 – Slater | 7 – Dixon | 4 – Tied | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| November 20, 2021* 1:00 p.m., ESPNews | No. 5 | vs. No. 17 Tennessee Hall of Fame Tip Off semifinals | W 71–53 | 3–1 | 14 – Tied | 11 – Samuels | 6 – Moore | Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT |
| November 21, 2021* 1:00 p.m., ABC | No. 5 | vs. No. 6 Purdue Hall of Fame Tip Off Championship | L 74–80 | 3–2 | 19 – Moore | 5 – Samuels | 5 – Gillespie | Mohegan Sun Arena (9,100) Uncasville, CT |
| November 28, 2021* 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 7 | vs. La Salle Philadelphia Big 5 | W 72–46 | 4–2 | 13 – Gillespie | 8 – Dixon | 5 – Gillespie | The Palestra (5,841) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 1, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | No. 6 | at Penn Philadelphia Big 5 | W 71–56 | 5–2 | 26 – Gillespie | 11 – Moore | 3 – Daniels | The Palestra (6,255) Philadelphia, PA |
| December 4, 2021* 12:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 6 | Saint Joseph's Holy War/Philadelphia Big 5 | W 81–52 | 6–2 | 23 – Gillespie | 7 – Moore | 4 – Moore | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| December 7, 2021* 10:01 p.m., ESPN | No. 6 | vs. Syracuse Jimmy V Classic | W 67–53 | 7–2 | 18 – Moore | 9 – Samuels | 5 – Gillespie | Madison Square Garden (14,344) New York, NY |
| December 12, 2021* 3:00 p.m., ABC | No. 6 | at No. 2 Baylor Big East–Big 12 Battle | L 36–57 | 7–3 | 15 – Moore | 8 – Samuels | 1 – Tied | Ferrell Center (10,264) Waco, TX |
| December 17, 2021 8:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 9 | at Creighton | L 59–79 | 7–4 (0–1) | 16 – Gillespie | 9 – Dixon | 2 – Gillespie | CHI Health Center Omaha (17,208) Omaha, NE |
| December 21, 2021 7:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 23 | No. 18 Xavier | W 71–58 | 8–4 (1–1) | 17 – Moore | 8 – Dixon | 4 – Tied | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| December 29, 2021* 9:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 22 | Temple Philadelphia Big 5 | Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols on Temple's team | Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols on Temple's team | Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols on Temple's team | Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols on Temple's team | Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols on Temple's team | Finneran Pavilion Villanova, PA |
| January 1, 2022 2:00 p.m., CBS | No. 22 | at No. 15 Seton Hall | W 73–67 | 9–4 (2–1) | 21 – Gillespie | 11 – Samuels | 3 – Samuels | Prudential Center (13,625) Newark, NJ |
| January 5, 2022 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 19 | Creighton | W 75–41 | 10–4 (3–1) | 22 – Moore | 7 – Samuels | 5 – Gillespie | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| January 8, 2022 5:00 p.m., FOX | No. 19 | at DePaul | W 79–64 | 11–4 (4–1) | 29 – Gillespie | 7 – Moore | 4 – Gillespie | Wintrust Arena (3,839) Chicago, IL |
| January 12, 2022 6:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 14 | at No. 17 Xavier | W 64–60 | 12–4 (5–1) | 21 – Gillespie | 10 – Dixon | 2 – Tied | Cintas Center (10,224) Cincinnati, OH |
| January 16, 2022 12:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 14 | Butler | W 82–42 | 13–4 (6–1) | 17 – Gillespie | 7 – Moore | 5 – Moore | Wells Fargo Center (17,009) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 19, 2022 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 11 | Marquette | L 54–57 | 13–5 (6–2) | 15 – Dixon | 10 – Samuels | 4 – Gillespie | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| January 22, 2022 12:05 p.m., FOX | No. 11 | at Georgetown | W 85–74 | 14–5 (7–2) | 28 – Gillespie | 8 – Dixon | 2 – Tied | Capital One Arena (11,872) Washington, D.C. |
| January 25, 2022 5:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 14 | DePaul | W 67–43 | 15–5 (8–2) | 16 – Moore | 10 – Dixon | 2 – 3 Tied | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| January 29, 2022 4:30 p.m., FOX | No. 14 | St. John's | W 73–62 | 16–5 (9–2) | 17 – Gillespie | 7 – Tied | 4 – Moore | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| February 2, 2022 10:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 12 | at No. 24 Marquette | L 73–83 | 16–6 (9–3) | 18 – Slater | 6 – Tied | 5 – Moore | Fiserv Forum (12,782) Milwaukee, WI |
| February 5, 2022 12:00 p.m., FOX | No. 12 | No. 17 UConn | W 85–74 | 17–6 (10–3) | 24 – Dixon | 12 – Dixon | 5 – Samuels | Wells Fargo Center (19,786) Philadelphia, PA |
| February 8, 2022 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 15 | at St. John's | W 75–69 | 18–6 (11–3) | 16 – Tied | 10 – Gillespie | 3 – Tied | Madison Square Garden (9,712) New York, NY |
| February 12, 2022 1:00 p.m., FOX | No. 15 | Seton Hall | W 73–67 | 19–6 (12–3) | 16 – Tied | 7 – Moore | 4 – Gillespie | Wells Fargo Center (17,803) Philadelphia, PA |
| February 15, 2022 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 10 | at No. 8 Providence | W 89–84 | 20–6 (13–3) | 33 – Gillespie | 10 – Moore | 3 – Tied | Dunkin' Donuts Center (12,636) Providence, RI |
| February 19, 2022 5:00 p.m., FOX | No. 10 | Georgetown | W 74–66 | 21–6 (14–3) | 19 – Moore | 10 – Gillespie | 8 – Samuels | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| February 22, 2022 8:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 8 | at No. 21 UConn | L 69–71 | 21–7 (14–4) | 17 – Gillespie | 6 – Dixon | 4 – Gillespie | XL Center (15,564) Hartford, CT |
| March 1, 2022 6:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 11 | No. 9 Providence | W 76–74 | 22–7 (15–4) | 20 – Daniels | 6 – Moore | 5 – Gillespie | Finneran Pavilion (6,501) Villanova, PA |
| March 5, 2022 12:00 p.m., FOX | No. 11 | at Butler | W 78–59 | 23–7 (16–4) | 16 – Moore | 7 – Longino | 4 – Gillespie | Hinkle Fieldhouse (8,163) Indianapolis, IN |
| Big East tournament |||||||||
| March 10, 2022 7:00 p.m., FS1 | (2) No. 8 | vs. (7) St. John's Quarterfinals | W 66–65 | 24–7 | 19 – Daniels | 9 – Dixon | 3 – Gillespie | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| March 11, 2022 9:00 p.m., FS1 | (2) No. 8 | vs. (3) No. 20 UConn Semifinals | W 63–60 | 25–7 | 21 – Samuels | 12 – Samuels | 10 – Gillespie | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| March 12, 2022 6:30 p.m., FOX | (2) No. 8 | vs. (4) Creighton Championship | W 54–48 | 26–7 | 17 – Gillespie | 8 – Samuels | 5 – Gillespie | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| March 18, 2022 2:45 p.m., CBS | (2 S) No. 6 | vs. (15 S) Delaware First Round | W 80–60 | 27–7 | 21 – Moore | 9 – Samuels | 6 – Moore | PPG Paints Arena (18,738) Pittsburgh, PA |
| March 20, 2022 2:40 p.m., CBS | (2 S) No. 6 | vs. (7 S) Ohio State Second Round | W 71–61 | 28–7 | 20 – Gillespie | 8 – Tied | 4 – Gillespie | PPG Paints Arena (18,506) Pittsburgh, PA |
| March 24, 2022 7:29 p.m., TBS | (2 S) No. 6 | vs. (11 S) Michigan Sweet Sixteen | W 63–55 | 29–7 | 22 – Samuels | 9 – Daniels | 4 – Moore | AT&T Center (17,357) San Antonio, TX |
| March 26, 2022 6:09 p.m., TBS | (2 S) No. 6 | vs. (5 S) No. 15 Houston Elite Eight | W 50–44 | 30–7 | 16 – Samuels | 10 – Samuels | 2 – Tied | AT&T Center (17,186) San Antonio, TX |
| April 2, 2022 6:09 p.m., TBS | (2 S) No. 6 | vs. (1 MW) No. 3 Kansas Final Four | L 65–81 | 30–8 | 17 – Gillespie | 8 – Slater | 3 – Tied | Caesars Superdome (70,602) New Orleans, LA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Final |
| AP | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 6 | Not released |
| Coaches | 4 | 5* | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
*Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.

## Awards and honors
### Big East Conference honors
#### All-Big East Awards

* Player of the Year: Collin Gillespie
* Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Collin Gillespie

#### All-Big East First Team

* Collin Gillespie

#### All-Big East Second Team

* Justin Moore

### National awards

* Bob Cousy Award: Collin Gillespie
* Third Team All-American: Collin Gillespie (AP, NABC, Sporting News, USBWA)