Brutal Villanova loss a bad sign for Wildcats 2024-25 outlook

Columbia entered Wednesday ranked 217th in KenPom rankings, while Villanova was 31st.

The Lions shot 53.7 percent from the court (29-of-54), had a 21-9 advantage in points off turnovers and outscored Villanova 27-9 on fast break points and 36-24 in points in the paint. 

Villanova has struggled since former head coach Jay Wright's retirement following the 2021-22 season.

It's gone 36-34 in the two-plus seasons since under head coach Kyle Neptune, and the early-season loss to Columbia suggests the Wildcats haven't gotten out of their cycle of mediocrity.

CBS Sports college basketball analyst Gary Parrish illustrated Villanova's sharp drop since Wright retired with a sobering stat.

Per Parrish, Wright "lost two games to sub-100 KenPom teams in his final nine seasons at Villanova," while Neptune "has lost seven games to sub-100 KenPom teams."

The Wildcats haven't appeared in the NCAA Tournament since Wright led them to the Final Four in 2021-22, where they lost to Kansas, which won that year's championship.

Villanova was a perennial contender under Wright, who won two national titles (2016, 2018) with the program.

It's become a perennial disappointment under Neptune. He's failed to keep Villanova among the college basketball elite, and Wednesday's upset loss was another reminder of its steep decline.