When my mom first sent me the Instagram post that Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart would be coming to campus to do a live podcast, my initial thought was that it’s cool, but I probably will not attend. Like many Villanovans, my Wednesday nights are typically busy, and a live podcast recording did not seem to be at the top of my list. A few days later, when my friends texted me that Jason Kelce would be joining the Villanova alumni, I decided to enter the lottery for a ticket anyway. As an avid Swiftie, Kelce more so piqued my interest.
Then I found out the reason for the podcast and I knew I had to go. The “Roommate’s Show” would replace the beloved Hoops Mania. As a senior, I felt stripped of a tradition I had loved for the past three years, and had to see for myself what was so great about this podcast that it could replace Hoops Mania – formerly the annual introduction into the basketball season, which has been run through “the Nation,” Villanova’s official student fan group on campus.
“In full transparency, we were told that [the change from Hoops Mania to the Roommates’ Show] was happening,” Nation President Julia Stencel said. “That was a decision strictly from athletics and marketing…with the 10th anniversary coming around it was perfect timing.”
Reluctant to support the very event that was replacing Hoops Mania, I gathered a few of my friends and we headed to the bleachers of the Finneran Pavilion to see the livestreaming of the podcast for ourselves. It didn’t take long to reach a conclusion: Hoops Mania is a far superior way to get the student body excited for basketball season.
James Jackson, the emcee for the night, introduced Brunson, Hart and Matt Hillman, who was Hart’s high school roommate and the third host of the show. As the hosts were introduced, the crowd erupted in cheers and in banter with the hosts, including Brunson and Hart joking around with a student wearing a Boston Celtics jersey.
Once the crowd settled down, the host gave University President Rev. Father Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. a shoutout in the crowd and joked that they would be attending Kelly’s Taproom that night and paying the tab. It didn’t take long for all of Villanova to catch wind of that statement. The seniors in attendance didn’t even care to stay for the rest of the show. They heard “free drinks” and ran. At Hoops, the main performance always came at the end when the University brought out a surprise performer. In the past, Villanovans would never dare to leave early.
“I watched most of the seniors [in attendance] leave half-way through,” senior Emily Daiuto said. “[The Kelly’s announcement] did put a rush on everyone who was going to go to Kelly’s.”
In recent years, Hoops Mania has welcomed performers such as Meek Mill, Rick Ross and Gunna to campus to perform surprise short musical sets after a student pep rally to introduce the basketball seasons. The identities of the performers are kept a surprise until they begin their sets on stage during the event.
Already disappointed, I decided to wait it out and see what the rest of the podcast had in store. I quickly discovered that due to my lack of interest in basketball, this show might not be for me. Brunson, Hart and Hillman introduced special guests, such as Maddy Siegrist (Villanova all-time leading scorer for men and women, as well as current player on the Dallas Wings), Jay Wright (former head coach of the Villanova men’s basketball team and Hall of Fame coach with two national championships under his belt) and lastly, Jason Kelce (former football player for the Philadelphia Eagles and future Hall of Fame player). The hosts and different guests chatted about basketball and favorite restaurants in the area, but neglected to do the very thing that Hoops did: engage the audience.
“Hoops Mania brought more Villanova students together,” senior Jansen Loscig said. “[It] gives [students] an amazing opportunity to be excited about the basketball season and to be surprised with a special guest musical performance.”
But the surprise guest performance doesn’t come without its setbacks. And unlike Hoops Mania, I didn’t find myself waiting in a line down all of Ithan Ave. to get into the Finn.
“No one knows who [the performers are beforehand],” Nation Vice President Amelia Tawadros said. “That is a big reason a lot of people, especially upperclassmen, won’t go to Hoops is because you have to wait in this long line, there is a big pep rally before, just for a performer that you don’t even know.”
Knowing that Brunson and Hart, along with Kelce, were going to be the entertainment for the night encouraged many students to attend. Not knowing the performer for Hoops Mania doesn’t offer the same excitement before the event and therefore the enthusiasm levels are not always as high as they were before the Roommates’ Show.
“I did think it was a cool event,” Daiuto said. “However, I don’t know if it was the correct event to replace Hoops Mania. I think it should have been something additional.”
Hoops Mania is an event students look forward to throughout the year and is what makes Villanova stand out among other schools, bringing together the entire Villanova community, not just basketball fans. Without Hoops Mania this year, the University lost an opportunity for hype and togetherness, at a time when the student body, and basketball programs, need it most.
