The first text I got from a Villanova fan Thursday night was full of exhilaration. Mikal Bridges to the Sixers. The stars had aligned.
Until they fell out of the sky. Bridges to Phoenix for Suns first round pick Zhaire Smith out of Texas Tech and a 2021 first-rounder. The next text I got was from another Villanova alum: W-T-[add your own initial]!!!
It wasn’t just Villanova fans who were hot. Bridges seemed to fill a hole. Smith? Villanova fans had seen him, too. The last time he had played a meaningful game, his team was getting waxed by Villanova in the NCAA tournament.