Yes, Villanova began the year where it always has, at least since the start of the newly-configured BIG EAST. That would be at the top of the coaches’ preseason poll.
But this time around, it felt like it might be different on the Main Line. How could it not? The Wildcats saw four key cogs - Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Omari Spellman and Donte DiVincenzo - all leave Philly for NBA riches and leave behind a team full of youngsters and transfers to go along with senior holdovers Phil Booth and Eric Paschall.
Heck, even Booth, the stellar veteran of those two Villanova National Championship teams, was not too sure what the Wildcats would look like this season.