After missing the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, Villanova men’s basketball will play in the inaugural College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.
The Crown, a 16-team postseason tournament, begins on March 31 and ends on April 6. Teams from the Big East, Big 12 and Big 10 conferences will compete at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena.
On April 1, the Wildcats will take on the University of Colorado at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in their first game of the tournament (8:30 p.m., FOX/FS1).
With an overall record of 14-20, Colorado has had a difficult season. In the Buffaloes’ inaugural year in the Big 12, they went 3-17. Signature wins for the Buffaloes came against the University of Connecticut at the Maui Invitational and a 76-74 victory over Baylor in conference play.
Fox Sports and college basketball analyst John Fanta revealed the 16 teams participating in the Crown on Monday at 9:30 a.m. on the Breakfast Ball.
The past four days have been an intense period for Villanova. After blowing a double-digit lead in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament against the University of Connecticut, the Wildcats’ hopes of an NCAA tournament bid were erased on Friday, March 14.
Head coach Kyle Neptune’s tenure at Villanova ended the following day. On Saturday, the University announced that assistant coach Mike Nardi ‘07 VSB would be taking over as the interim head coach.
While Villanova carries out a national search for Neptune’s replacement, Nardi will coach the Wildcats in Las Vegas.
Despite having Quad I wins against No. 9 UConn, No. 9 St. John’s and No. 16 Marquette, costly losses to Columbia, Virginia and Saint Joseph’s ultimately prevented the Wildcats from making the NCAA Tournament.
As a Big East school regularly televised on Fox Sports, the Wildcats are contractually obligated to accept an invitation and play in the inaugural Crown Invitational Tournament. The Crown will be broadcasted on FOX and FS1.
Graduate forward Eric Dixon told The Inquier’s Jeff Neilburg he will play in any games left this season. With Dixon expected to play, it is possible the rest of the team will follow suit. This includes graduate senior forward Enoch Boakye, graduate guard Jhamir Brickus, senior guard Wooga Poplar and senior guard Jordan Longino.
Dixon will have a chance to become Villanova’s all-time leading scorer. With 2,235 career points, Dixon is currently eight points shy of former Wildcat Kerry Kittles ‘96 record of 2,243 points.
