The Official Newsletter of Villanova Athletics
Good Morning, Nova Nation. Tomorrow night, the ‘Cats hit the floor for one final tune-up before the regular season begins!
What all do we have in today’s edition? Check it out below!
🏀 One Final Tune-Up
👟 Movin’ On Up
🏑 Three’s Company
🔷 And much more!
Tommy’s Tavern + Tap is proud to be an Official Partner of Villanova Athletics!
🔼 One Final Tune-Up. Villanova men's basketball will wrap up its preseason exhibition slate tomorrow night when the Wildcats welcome No. 9 Virginia to Finneran Pavilion for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
The matchup provides another challenging early test for head coach Kevin Willard's squad as it prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.
Now entering his second season at the helm, Willard is looking to build on a 24-9 campaign that saw the Wildcats return to the NCAA Tournament.
Tip-off for the regular season is now just 11 days away.
How many ‘Cats have found the scoring column through the first two exhibition games for Villanova men’s hoops?
Got a guess?
Scroll to the bottom to see if you know your stuff!
🔼 League ‘Em. As another NBA season got underway yesterday, Villanova has its mark all across the league entering the 2026-27 campaign.
Last night, the Nova Knicks were celebrated and honored with a banner in Madison Square Garden as Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are back with the Knicks for another run at a title this season.
Beyond New York, Villanova's NBA presence extends across the league, with Collin Gillespie (Phoenix Suns), Saddiq Bey (New Orleans Pelicans), Donte DiVincenzo (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Cam Whitmore (Denver Nuggets) looking to make noise this season.
🔼 Movin’ On Up. After a statement showing at the UnderArmour Pre-National Invitational in Indiana this past weekend, the Villanova men’s cross country jumped up the national rankings.
Earning a second-place finish among some of the best teams in the country, the ‘Cats moved up to No. 12 in the latest Top-25 poll from the USTFCCCA.
🔼 Going Low. With its fall season winding down, the Villanova men’s golf squad made the short trip southwest to compete at this week’s Blue Hen Invitational in Oxford, Pa.
Behind a top-15 finish from Vibhav Alokam, the Wildcats earned a fourth-place finish with four different athletes posting career lows at the event. Alokam fired the best round of the week and his career in the opening 18 with a 5-under, 67.
🔼 Three’s Company. For the third straight week, Villanova field hockey standout Colleen Finnan was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
The honor marks the fifth Weekly Honor Roll selection of Finnan's career and third this season. With the nomination, she makes history as the first Wildcat in program history to make the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll in three consecutive weeks.
Finnan continues to climb the rankings across the BIG EAST and now sits in the top 10 in several categories. She currently sits sixth in shots with 38, seventh in shots on goal with 21, and is tied for sixth most points across all players in the BIG EAST with 20.
What’s Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Visit Delco, the #1 source for information on all there is to see and do in Delaware County, PA. Find fantastic places to stay, incredible food and drink, and music and art—and you may even find a few surprises
*All times listed in ET
Wednesday, October 21st
🐦⬛ Tyler Arboretum: Weekday Bird Walk
⚽️ Women’s Soccer at Seton Hall @ 6 pm
Thursday, October 22nd
✨ Tyler Arboretum Presents: STEVE TOBIN: IN THE LIGHT
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Virginia @ 7 pm l Tickets
Friday, October 23rd
🎶 Live Music at 118 North
🏑 Field Hockey at Providence @ 2 pm
🏐 Volleyball vs. St. John’s @ 7 pm l Tickets
👟 Cross Country at Haverford Invitational (Haverford, Pa.)
Saturday, October 24th
🏚️ Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride
🏊 Swimming vs. Georgetown @ 11 am
⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. Georgetown @ 12 pm
🏈 Football vs. #12 Lehigh @ 3:30 pm l Tickets
⚽️ Women’s Soccer at Butler @ 7 pm
🏐 Volleyball vs. Seton Hall @ 7 pm l Tickets
🚣 Rowing at Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Sunday, October 25th
🖼️ Main Line Art Center: 23rd Annual Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition
🏑 Field Hockey at Wagner @ 12 pm
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Have a great one, Nova Nation!
