New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo Fulfill Villanova Dream

Originally posted on FanNation All Knicks
By Jonah Morgan | Last updated 11/20/23

The New York Knicks have their fair share of former Villanova University alumni on their roster. That was most apparent before Friday night's game against the Washington Wizards, which saw three former Wildcats (Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart) introduced in the starting five. Another, Ryan Arcidiacono, got in during the final stages of a 120-99 victory.

“It’s super weird. Super weird,” Brunson, the leading scorer with 45, said of the starting five's introduction, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “They’re announcing the starters and it’s like, ‘From Villanova. … From Villanova. … From Villanova. It was like Villanova going up against the Wizards.”

Though Hart returned to a reserve's role on Saturday night in Charlotte with RJ Barrett back from a migraine, former Wildcats nonetheless played a major impact: Brunson followed up the Washington win with 32 points while DiVincenzo, in the starting five in place of Quentin Grimes for the second consecutive game, finished with a career-high 25 points on 9-of-12 from the field. The Knicks once again prevailed, beating the Hornets 122-108 to secure a winning record on a five-game road trip.

The signing of DiVincenzo was the Knicks' biggest addition of the offseason and reunited him with Brunson, his fellow two-time national champion at Villanova. With DiVincenzo in the fold, it's helped fulfill a lasting dream among the Wildcat backcourt pair.

"We envisioned playing in the NBA," Brunson said. "We envisioned all of that stuff, but not this. Jokingly, maybe, but never really a serious thought."

Brunson is hardly surprised that DiVincenzo has risen to the occasion. In two starts in place of Grimes, DiVincenzo has scored a combined 39 points on over 66 percent from the field.

“I’m not surprised because I’ve seen it,” Brunson said, “But to be able to see it now as a teammate on this stage, it’s like surreal now.”

DiVincenzo, then a freshman, did not see the court in the first national championship game in 2016. But when the Wildcats returned to the title game two years later, he scored 31 points in the win over Michigan, a Final Four record for points scored off the bench.

Brunson and DiVincenzo will look to lead the Knicks to another win on Monday night against Anthony Edwards and the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves in the final part of a five-game road trip (8 p.m. ET, MSG).

This article first appeared on FanNation All Knicks and was syndicated with permission.

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