With the season only a couple of months away and rosters mostly solidified, preseason projections are starting to become more relevant.
Bart Torvik, one of the more reputable sources, currently has Villanova at 26th overall. The Wildcats rank 17th in adjusted offensive efficiency, but on the defensive end are only coming in at 44th.
The offensive ranking is impressive, and with the talent that Kevin Willard has accrued, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see them in the top-20. Defensively, I’m not sure how the roster is coming in that low. Villanova has incredibly height and length across the front line, coupled with above-average guard defense in Elijah Crawford and Tyler Perkins.
Given that the roster last season, which lacked both size and length, was 37th in adjusted defensive efficiency, I don’t see a world where this ranking comes to fruition.
Alas, these are only projections. Things can and will change. But the good news is that I think this is likely a floor for the upcoming season, as opposed to a ceiling.
