City of Basketball Love

Rich Flanagan (@richflanagan33)

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VILLANOVA — It was a sequence that has become synonymous with Villanova basketball during Jay Wright’s tenure and links that era with the current one under Kyle Neptune. 

Lockdown defense in the backcourt that doesn’t allow the opposition to set up its offense. A tipped pass and a multitude of players diving on the ground to retrieve the ball. A raucous crowd cheering them on as each player displays just one of the many actions that have catapulted Villanova to the prestigious program it is today.

What made things different Monday night was the flurry of new players who are contributing to this almost everlasting hustle that has defined the Wildcats program and now feeds the hunger of each new prospect. TJ Bamba, a Washington State transfer, was on the floor. As was Richmond transfer Tyler Burton. Nnanna Njoku, who has had his difficulties staying healthy, was also throwing his body around as the Finneran Pavilion faithful exalted in the tremendous effort of their team.

Burton may be new, but he was the first to elaborate that the act of diving on the floor is more than simply wanting it more than the opponent.

“That’s just Villanova basketball,” Burton said. “We go over it every day and watch it on film. We talk about sacrificing yourself for the team and earning your honor through helping your teammates. I see that as Villanova basketball.”

Five Wildcats scored in double figures as No. 22 Villanova cruised past American University 90-63 in its season opener. Villanova received 31 points from its bench, and eight players played at least 20 minutes in a show of versatility and depth the Wildcats haven’t had in a few seasons. Eric Dixon scored 12 of his 15 points in the opening half, including a left-handed slam on a rebound off his own miss from 3-point territory. Later, he found Bamba for a baseline jumper to give Villanova (1-0) a 24-20 advantage.

Dixon, who added six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes, started alongside Burton and felt a major difference in how players were exhausting themselves knowing a host of new options was prepared to take the reins from the previous unit.

“I think each guy is different,” Dixon said. “We’re lucky to have a group of guys come in from Day 1, learn our way and want to be a part of this.”

Burton is one of those guys, and that string of diving players gave way to one of his biggest moments. While the ball ultimately went out of bounds after the three Wildcats made their attempt to secure the ball, American (0-1) came down the other end but Dixon recorded a block and Burton found a spot at the top of the key in transition for one of his two 3-pointers on the night. It nearly blew the lid off the Finn as that trey extended Villanova’s lead to 27 midway through the second half. He finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes.

Colin Smalls kept the Eagles in the game early by drilling two of their six first-half 3-pointers. One of those shots from deep cut the deficit to one with 6:35 left in the opening half. He was the only American player in double figures with 16 points on 5-for-8 from the floor. Furthermore, the Eagles remained within striking distance in the first half as Villanova shot 2-for-10 from behind the arc with only Jordan Longino (nine points, four rebounds in 20 minutes) and Bamba (13 points, five rebounds in 22 minutes) converting.

Bamba imposed his will by drawing a foul and hitting two free throws, then on the ensuing possession he hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Wildcats a 35-23 lead at the 3:07 mark of the first half. Even with the new faces, Dixon held things down in the middle and Justin Moore, who posted 10 points and played a team-high 28 minutes, controlled things at the point. He is back healthy and showcased what has made him such a reliable option in the backcourt by hitting a corner trey off an inbound play to push the Wildcats’ lead to 12 in the first 37 seconds of the second half.

Options abound for Neptune, and seeing it come together in Game 1 is something to build on.

“We’ve been together for a couple months now and have seen what these guys can do,” Neptune said. “We also know what we need to get better at throughout the course of the year. We want to keep our guys fresh and play as hard as we possibly can.”

Bamba and Burton hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, then a few minutes later Brendan Hausen sank one of his two jumpers from the outside and the lead grew to 56-35 with 15 minutes to play. Former Roman Catholic standout Hakim Hart, who transferred in from Maryland and played 22 minutes, scored nine of his 11 points after halftime and hit his first trey at the 8:09 mark to give the Wildcats a commanding 26-point cushion.