Jermaine Samuels
Villanova's Saddiq Bey (41) drives against Seton Hall's Shavar Reynolds, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
No. 14 Villanova edges No. 8 Hall; Big East up for grabs

By Tom Canavan Mar. 04, 2020 11:14 PM EST

Seton Hall's Sandro Mamukelashvili, center, looks to pass against Villanova's Jermaine Samuels, right, and Collin Gillespie, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova Wildcats at Seton Hall Pirates 3/4/2020

Mar. 04, 2020 10:01 PM EST

Villanova forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) is pressured by Xavier forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
No. 12 Villanova beats Xavier 64-55 for 4th straight win

By Joe Kay Feb. 22, 2020 04:41 PM EST

Villanova's Justin Moore (5) goes up to shoot against Temple's Quinton Rose during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Gillespie leads No. 15 Villanova past Temple

By Aaron Bracy Feb. 16, 2020 03:01 PM EST

Marquette's Markus Howard (0) goes up for a 3-pointer past Villanova's Saddiq Bey (41) during the final seconds of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Gillespie leads No. 15 Villanova past No. 18 Marquette

By Aaron Bracy Feb. 12, 2020 11:08 PM EST

Seton Hall's Myles Powell, left, goes up for a shot past Villanova's Justin Moore during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Powell leads No. 12 Seton Hall past No. 10 Villanova 70-64

By Aaron Bracy Feb. 08, 2020 06:08 PM EST

Villanova's Collin Gillespie, left, goes up for a shot over Creighton's Marcus Zegarowski during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Mahoney, Ballock lead Creighton past No. 8 Villanova

By Aaron Bracy Feb. 01, 2020 02:10 PM EST

Villanova head coach Jay Wright, right, talks to Bryan Antoine during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against St. John's Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in New York. Villanova won 79-59. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
No. 8 Villanova, minus Samuels, blows out St. John's 79-59

By Mike Fitzpatrick Jan. 28, 2020 08:45 PM EST

Villanova guard Collin Gillespie (2) takes a shot past Butler forward Jordan Tucker (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
No. 9 Villanova rolls to 76-61 victory against no. 13 Butler

By Dan Gelston Jan. 21, 2020 09:16 PM EST

Villanova's Jermaine Samuels reacts to his basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Philadelphia. Villanova won 61-55. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
No. 14 Villanova rallies behind Samuels to beat UConn 61-55

By Dan Gelston Jan. 18, 2020 02:25 PM EST

Georgetown's Terrell Allen, left, goes up for a shot against Villanova's Jermaine Samuels during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Bey scores 33, leads No. 16 Villanova past Georgetown 80-66

By Dan Gelston Jan. 11, 2020 02:15 PM EST

Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) goes to the basket past Creighton's Marcus Zegarowski, left, and Christian Bishop (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Omaha, Neb., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Gillespie scores 24, leads No. 16 'Nova past Creighton 64-59

By Eric Olson Jan. 07, 2020 11:35 PM EST

Xavier guard Paul Scruggs (1) tries to save the ball before falling out of bounds during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Gillespie leads No. 10 Nova past Xavier in Big East opener

By Aaron Bracy Dec. 30, 2019 08:48 PM EST

Villanova's Collin Gillespie, center, goes up for a shot between Kansas's Udoka Azubuike, left, and Marcus Garrett during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
No. 1 KU falls to No. 18 Villanova on Samuels' 3-pointer

By Dan Gelston Dec. 21, 2019 02:28 PM EST

Villanova head coach Jay Wright confers with guard Justin Moore (5) during the second half of the Never Forget Tribute Classic NCAA college basketball game against Delaware, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Samuels, No. 20 Villanova hold off Delaware 78-70

By Tom Canavan Dec. 14, 2019 04:39 PM EST

Saint Joseph's guard Cameron Brown (3) grabs a rebound away from Villanova forward Saddiq Bey and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Philadelphia. Villanova won 78-66. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
No. 23 Villanova holds off Saint Joseph's surge, wins 78-66

Dec. 07, 2019 05:42 PM EST

Pennsylvania's Jordan Dingle, left, grabs a loose ball next to Villanova's Saddiq Bey during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Behind Bey, No. 23 Villanova holds off pesky Penn 80-69

By Dan Gelston Dec. 04, 2019 08:39 PM EST

Mississippi State guard Robert Woodard II (12) dunks against Villanova forward Cole Swider (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Myrtle Beach Invitational in Conway, S.C., Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Robinson-Earl leads No. 17 Villanova past Bulldogs, 83-76

Nov. 22, 2019 04:54 PM EST

Villanova's Saddiq Bey (41) looks for an open shot against Ohio State's D.J. Carton during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Hot start helps No. 18 Ohio State rout No. 10 Villanova

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 13, 2019 09:14 PM EST

Purdue's head coach Matt Painter smiles during a news conference at the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, Friday, March 22, 2019, in Hartford, Conn. Purdue will play Villanova on Saturday. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
South Region: In 'rebuilding' years, Purdue, 'Nova excel

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 22, 2019 08:49 PM EDT