Villanova ends disappointing season with first-round loss to VCU in the NIT

Villanova’s season began with excitement, a spot in the Top 25, and expectations of playing in March.

It ended with apathy on Wednesday, as the Wildcats lost their first-round National Invitational Tournament matchup against Virginia Commonwealth, 70-61, at a quarter-full Finneran Pavilion. The 9 p.m. tipoff undoubtedly contributed, but the unfilled seats and empty rows reflected a program that didn’t expect to be here and a fan base that didn’t want to be.

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The attendance for the game, two years to the day from Villanova beating Ohio State to advance to the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16: 1,763 fans.

Those who attended were largely positive throughout. But discontent in the final moments took many forms: hands on heads, glazed news conference eyes, empty seats, and a few fans screaming “Fire [Kyle] Neptune.”

Villanova (18-16) ended its season by losing in the NIT’s first round for the second consecutive year. The team that had March Madness expectations lost four of its final five games. The Wildcats repeatedly said they wanted to be the best team they could be by the end of the season, but no one expected it to be this early.

Both teams lean on strong defenses and play methodically. Neither seemed in a hurry to score.

Villanova took the lead in the first half with a 9-0 run, losing it when VCU (23-13) answered with an 11-0 run of its own. The Wildcats regained the lead with a 7-0 run, then allowed a 7-0 run by the Rams. Mark Armstrong beat the first-half buzzer with a three, sending Villanova into the break trailing 31-30.

The cycle of runs repeated itself in the second. VCU went on a 10-0 run before Villanova’s Eric Dixon scored eight consecutive points to briefly grab the lead with 5 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the game. But the Rams responded with eight straight points, and although Villanova briefly threatened with one last run, it wasn’t enough to escape the hole they’d dug.

The Wildcats shot 41.2%, and just 26.1% (6-of-23) from three-point range. Villanova committed 13 turnovers and shot 13-of-20 from the free-throw line.

Dixon led all scorers with 21 points to go along with 13 rebounds. TJ Bamba added 12, and Armstrong was the only other Wildcat in double digits with 10.

Justin Moore, who started 118 games at Villanova, didn’t get the storybook ending his Wildcats career deserved. He managed two points (1-of-7 shooting) and six rebounds, finishing a team-worst minus-21 in 26 minutes.

“I think you’ve got to evaluate Justin Moore for the entirety of his career,” Neptune said. “He’s meant a lot to this program. He’s meant a lot to this campus community. That’s how we’ll remember him.”

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Dixon has one more year of eligibility and faces an offseason decision on whether to use it or not. After the game, he said he wasn’t thinking about whether it was his last at Villanova.

“To end like this is kind of difficult,” Dixon said. “I’m not going to sit here and lie to you. Just gonna miss the opportunity to suit up with TJ, [Hakim Hart], Tyler [Burton], Justin, [Chris Arcidiacono], if those guys decide to go.”

Villanova had not missed the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons since 2003-2004. Neptune said he isn’t worried about the program’s trajectory.

“I think we have a bright future,” he said.

But the Wildcats’ overall struggles and the late-season collapse have raised questions about his future.

“Obviously, we didn’t have the results we wanted towards the end of the season,” Neptune said. “I get it. I get the frustration. … We’re going to come up with a great plan. We’re going to push our guys as hard as possible in the offseason. We’re gonna recruit some great guys here, and we’re gonna come back better than ever next year.”