Villanova Is Absolutely Stacking the Transfer Portal and Kevin Willard Is Building Something Different
Forget the sky falling when Malachi Palmer left. That's not how Villanova operates anymore. Kevin Willard just completed one of the most aggressive offseason overhauls in college hoops, and the Wildcats are way ahead of where they were last year. This is the new era of transfer portal basketball, and Villanova is thriving in it.
The Complete Roster Rebuild Is Intentional
Yeah, Villanova saw massive turnover on the roster again. But here's the thing: that's not a knock on Willard. That's the blueprint now. When young players like Palmer and Chris Jeffrey looked at the roster and realized their opportunities were limited, they went searching. And that freed up Willard to get aggressive. As for Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay, the writing was on the wall. They had one foot out the door anyway.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiWillard filled the gaps fast. He locked in two major commits: Kwame Evans Jr. (6-foot-10) and Devin Royal (6-foot-6). The Wildcats got bigger this offseason, and Willard made it clear he's hunting for a center too. Maybe even one from inside the Big East.
Three-Point Shooting and Size Completely Changes the Rotation
Willard brought in bench scorers who can actually shoot it. Jake Fiegen drained 41.4% from three last season while Buddy Simmons was a 42.5% shooter from deep. Elijah Crawford, who averaged 14.1 points per game at UIC, will likely slide into the starting role and handle the backcourt alongside Simmons. Both can run the point.
Evans Jr. wants to be a stretch four for the Wildcats. With a true center in the mix, Villanova suddenly has size they didn't have before. Evans can also play the five, which opens up lineup combinations with Hodge and Royal on the floor together. Tyler Perkins showed he can handle the ball, and Fiegen gives Willard another scoring option off the bench.
Only two returners with real minutes logged this season: Perkins and Hodge. It's basically a brand new team. And the additions aren't done yet. With the way this offseason is shaping up, Villanova is already ahead of last year's roster, and the roster reconstruction continues.
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