Villanova (21-15, 11-9 Big East)

The Wildcats were a team to watch in the national championship mix as recently as 2022. Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright's unexpected retirement opened the door for longtime assistant Kyle Neptune to take over. The Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament in all three of Neptune's seasons before he was fired and the school hired Maryland coach Kevin Willard. The 50-year-old Willard led Maryland to a 65-39 overall record in three seasons, with two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Players to watch

The most NBA-ready prospect is point guard Acaden Lewis. He originally committed to Kentucky before re-opening his recruitment on April 10. Lewis said he chose Villanova in May 2025 after considering Georgia, St. John’s and Miami because of his relationship to Willard and th

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