New-look No. 9 Villanova opens hosting Morgan State

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Defending national champion Villanova will open the 2018-19 season against nonconference foe Morgan State Tuesday night at the refurbished Finneran Pavilion.

The new-look Wildcats begin the season ranked No. 9, but they'll be a different team with the loss of four key players -- guards Donte DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson and forwards Mikal Bridges and Omari Spellman. DiVincenzo, Bridges and Spellman were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft while Brunson went in the second round.

Villanova, which has won two national titles in the last three years, will rely heavily on senior forward Eric Paschall and senior guard Phil Booth. Paschall was named to the First Team…