Villanova Didn't Fall Apart When Palmer Left, and That's the Whole Point
Malachi Palmer bounced. Chris Jeffrey followed. And Villanova? The Wildcats kept it moving.
This is the new college basketball. Kevin Willard knew exactly what was coming when his roster started heading for the exits. Two young players wanted bigger opportunities. Palmer and Jeffrey looked at the depth chart, realized they weren't getting the minutes they wanted, and went looking elsewhere. That's not a coaching failure. That's just how it works now. Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay had one foot out the door already. The turnover was massive, yeah, but Willard was ready.
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When Kwame Evans Jr. and Devin Royal committed to come in for their final year, the rebuild took shape fast. Evans Jr. is 6-foot-10. Royal is 6-foot-6. Villanova added real size this offseason, something the team didn't have last year. The Wildcats aren't done either. Willard is still hunting for a true center, possibly from inside the Big East.
Here's where it gets interesting: Evans Jr. wants to be a stretch four. He can also play the five. That flexibility lets Hodge and Royal get on the floor together, which opens up rotation options Willard never had before. A true center changes everything about how they space the floor.
The Backcourt Got a Complete Makeover
Villanova brought in shooters. Jake Fiegen shot 41.4% from three last season. Buddy Simmons was a 42.5% shooter. Elijah Crawford averaged 14.1 points per game at UIC and is stepping into the starting role. Tyler Perkins can handle the ball. Crawford and Simmons both can run the point.
The depth chart looks completely different. Perkins was the only holdover from the previous year. This season, just Perkins and Hodge (who's returning from injury) are the only guys who logged minutes last year. Everyone else is new.
The additions aren't finished. But with the way this offseason is shaping up, Villanova is already ahead of where it was last year. Willard took the transfer portal and turned it into a feature, not a bug.
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