When does villanova play again

What you should know

• Villanova lost to Kansas in the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament, 81-65, ending the Wildcats’ season.

• Kansas will face the victor of the Duke-North Carolina game later Saturday.

• The Jayhawks jumped to an early lead that they never relinquished, pulling away every time Villanova started to close in.

• The Wildcats played without guard Justin Moore, who was out after tearing his Achilles tendon against Houston in the South Regional final.

LATESTApril 2, 2022

Recap: Kansas races out to big lead, ends Villanova’s Final Four run, 81-65

NEW ORLEANS — Jermaine Samuels slung an arm around Collin Gillespie’s shoulder, their era of extended Villanova hoops over, careers stretched to five seasons, a last season extended to the Final Four.

It ended Saturday evening inside the Superdome when the Kansas Jayhawks were too much early, and too tough late. The only top seed in this Final Four advanced to Monday’s final with a 81-65 victory, moving on to face the Duke-North Carolina winner. Big man David McCormack led all scorers with 25 points on 10 of 12 shooting, while Ochai Agbaji hit for 21 points after missing only the last of his seven three-point tries.

The high hurdles the Wildcats put in front of themselves shortly after the Final Four gates opened … those opening minutes will linger for Villanova, Agbaji, a first-team all-American, turning this packed football palace into a playground.

“It was our game plan not to let him get going,” Jay Wright said later. “And we made some mistakes. But not being in contact with him, letting him catch and shoot, it was [not] our game plan going in … You go down 10-0 against a team that good, you’re in trouble.”

Read more of today’s coverage:

April 2, 2022

Collin Gillespie gave his all, but it wasn’t enough

NEW ORLEANS — Away from the basketball court, Collin Gillespie tends to carry himself with all the openness and naked emotion of a special agent with a secret to guard and a mission to complete. His father is a Philadelphia police detective, internal affairs, and it’s easy to see that Jim Gillespie passed down the discretion and discipline that his job demands. Get Collin one-on-one – not for a game to 11, just for a conversation – and there’s always the sense that he’s sizing you up, and you’ll get nothing but name, rank, and serial number from him until he’s comfortable enough, until he trusts you enough, to give you more.

To know that about Gillespie was to understand that Saturday night promised to test the strength of his implacable exterior in a way that nothing in his Villanova career had before. Yes, he had torn the medial collateral ligament in his left knee 13 months ago, an injury that prevented him playing at all in last year’s NCAA Tournament. But this national-semifinal matchup against Kansas, his 156th game for the Wildcats, threatened to be his last game for the Wildcats.

» READ MORE: Collin Gillespie ended his Villanova career by giving everything, as usual. Against Kansas, it wasn’t enough. | Mike Sielski

—Mike Sielski

April 2, 2022

This is the end

The Wildcats did a good job of keeping it interesting for most of the night, but ultimately the Kansas Jayhawks proved to be too much for Jay Wright’s Villanova squad, whose season came to an end in New Orleans with a 81-65 loss in the Final Four.

Senior and Bob Cousy Award winner Collin Gillespie finished with a team-high 17 points in his final game for the Wildcats. But it was big man David McCormack (25 points) and sharp-shooter Ochai Agjabi (21 points) leading the way for Kansas.

» READ MORE: ‘If you’re coming back, I’m coming back’: Inside the night that put Villanova on track for another Final Four

Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels, fifth-year seniors who decided together last April to return to campus, checked out of the game with less than a minute left. They received hugs from every player and coach on the bench and stood together with their arms around each other as the final seconds expired on their college careers.

» READ MORE: Kansas races out to big lead, ends Villanova’s Final Four run, 81-65

—Matt Mullin, Matt Breen

April 2, 2022

The final countdown

It’s now or never for the Wildcats, who find themselves down nine points at the under-8 TV timeout. They’ve been down by as many 16 in the second half — and as few as seven — but they’re running out of time if they want to pull off the upset. It seems like every time Villanova gets close, Kansas has the answer and starts to pull away again, whether it’s McCormack inside or Agbaji outside.

With just a six-man rotation, fatigue could certainly become a factor for Jay Wright’s team, as could fouls. They’re shooting much better in the second half but still trail the Jayhawks by nearly the same deficit they did at the break. That’s not exactly encouraging, but they’ve kept it close enough that a late comeback certainly isn’t out of the question.

—Matt Mullin

April 2, 2022

Wright asks a lot of Gillespie

Jay Wright is asking an awful lot of Collin Gillespie. Wright just removed Brandon Slater and replaced him with Bryan Antoine, it appeared, so that he could have Gillespie guard Ochai Agbaji. That means Gillespie, who leads the Wildcats with 14 points, has to score or run the offense on one end and guard Kansas’ best player on the other.

—Mike Sielski

April 2, 2022

‘Nova needs to build off that first half run, but can they?

If Villanova wanted to have a chance of a second-half comeback against Kansas, they were going to have to come out of the locker room like they were shot out of a cannon. And although they got an early three from Collin Gillespie, it was Kansas building their lead rather than the Wildcats cutting into it.

And, of course, it was the same two seniors leading the way for the Jayhawks, with Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack again leading the way for Bill Self’s team. Unfortunately for ‘Nova, things seem to be trending in the wrong direction early in the second half as they find themselves back down 16, 50-34, with just over 16 minutes to play.

—Matt Mullin

April 2, 2022

Gillespie remains a standout for Villanova

Kansas defense is as good as advertised in the first half as Villanova shot 10-for-30, and 5-for-15 from three. Take point guard Collin Gillespie’s 3-for-5 outside shooting away — there’s not much else past Caleb Daniels working for 8 points in his hometown.

No other Villanova player had more than one field goal.

Before picking up his second foul, Kansas center David McCormack was a full handful inside, scoring 13 points in 12 minutes on 5-of-6 shooting.

—Mike Jensen

April 2, 2022

Vibes remain good in Radnor

Despite the Jayhawks’ early and steady lead, spirits remain high at the Pavilion with fans erupting in cheers with every Villanova basket like it’s a game winning shot.

Ashley Peterson, a junior chemistry major, was still excited for the rest of the game, sure the team would catch up.

”We’re a second half team,” she said.

Her friend Siobhan Dillon was just sure to trash talk Kansas during a quiet moment.

”Kansas suck my toes,” she said.

That type of energy is already creating future fans.

Sophia Nersesov, 11, and her five year old sister joined their father Sergey, a mechanical engineering professor at Villanova. The youngsters don’t follow basketball and have never been to a college game but they approve of the energy.

”I like Villanova,” said Sophia. “It’s crazy and fun.”

It’s all part of her father’s recruitment campaign.

”I just wanted to introduce my kids to to the whole spirit of Villanova, potentially for them with them joining the ranks of Villanova students in the future,” he said.

—Ximena Conde, Rodrigo Torrejón

April 2, 2022

Jayhawks out-hustle Wildcats

Turnovers, missed shots, and the inability to get a stop. That’s a recipe for disaster for any team, and that’s certainly been the case for the Wildcats in this one.

Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack are a combined 8-for-9 from the field for Kansas. Villanova is shooting 33% and has committed six turnovers and just got outhustled to a rebound that led to a KU bucket.

Kansas is shooting 60%, with just two turnovers. And while Villanova is making some threes — they’re 3-7 — so is Kansas, who is an even better 5-8.

—Mike Sielski, Matt Mullin

April 2, 2022

‘Nova has to stop Agbaji

It’s going to be hard for Villanova to pull off the upset if Ochai Agbaji doesn’t miss from three. The Kansas senior, who shot nearly 40% from three and averaged 18.9 points per game this season, is four-for-four from deep to start the game has 12 of the Jayhawks 19 points at the under-12 TV timeout. He and fellow senior David McCormack have combined for all the Jayhawks’ 19 points so far.

That is one quick release by Agbaji, showing why he’s a first-team all-American, hitting his first four three-point tries as Kansas pulls ahead by 19-8 on the fourth one.

—Matt Mullin, Mike Jensen

April 2, 2022

A less-than-stellar start

Things got off to a less-than-stellar start for Villanova, with Kansas picking up right where they left off in their Elite Eight win over Miami. After a three on their first possession, the Jayhawks worked it inside for easy back-to-back buckets from David McCormack to give them a 7-0 lead, following back-to-back turnovers by Jay Wright’s team.

Another turnover from Villanova led to another three from Ochai Agbaji, his second of the game, good for an early 10-0 lead for Kansas

Hard for Villanova to start any worse – with four turnovers before the Wildcats got their second basket, while Kansas jumped to a 10-0 lead, establishing itself inside and out.

—Matt Mullin, Mike Jensen

April 2, 2022

Jay Wright speaks before game

Speaking to CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson prior to Villanova’s Final Four matchup against Kansas, head coach Jay Wright was asked about replacing starter Justin Moore, who tore his Achilles’ in the Wildcats’ win over Houston.

”Obviously Chris Arcidiacono and Bryan Antoine will get more minutes but really it’s on guys like Eric Dixon and Caleb Daniels — he’ll take his starting spot — and just everybody giving a little more,” Wright said. “Like, we don’t have that one guy to replace Justin, everyone just has to give a little more.”

Without Moore, Villanova will be left without much depth, which can be an issue against a bigger, more athletic team like Kansas that likes to run the floor. So, how will they try to slow the Jayhawks?

”We’ve got to be smart,” Wright said. “We’ve got to be smart with our shot selection. We’ve got to be smart getting back defensively. And try to slow them down some. That’s easier said than done. They are fast. They’re fast and they’ve got great depth. So that makes this a great challenge.”

» READ MORE: Villanova’s Justin Moore said his advice from Kevin Durant “was a great feeling” after tearing his Achilles

—Matt Mullin

April 2, 2022

Finneran Pavilion shows out

Some 4,500 Villanova students and parents are expected to watch the NCAA game against Kansas at the William B. Finneran Pavilion Saturday. Decked out in Villanova jerseys and temporary tattoos, fans hope the Wildcats beat Kansas in New Orleans, advance to the finals, and have a repeat of 2016 and 2018.

As the crowd waited for the game to start, they sang along and danced excitedly to music blaring from the stadium’s speakers.

For students like junior Amanda Ashton, 20, this year marked her first real March Madness experience, one that swayed her decision to come to Villanova when she toured the school in 2018.

Ashton went to all of the Villanova basketball games her freshman year.

”We were looking forward to having maybe a championship then but with COVID we didn’t get to see any of that and no game sophomore year,” she said. “Coming back junior year, we were really excited to get this far in the championship and get to actually see Villanova for the good basketball school everyone talks about.”

—Ximena Conde, Rodrigo Torrejón

April 2, 2022

Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma face each other in a national championship game for the first time

On Sunday night at the Target Center, North Philly’s Dawn Staley and Norristown’s Geno Auriemma will lead their South Carolina and Connecticut women’s basketball teams against each other in the national championship game.

Staley and Auriemma have faced off plenty of times since she took charge of the Gamecocks in 2008. And they’ve known each other for far longer, between USA Basketball and their mutual ties to former Virginia coach Debbie Ryan, a Mercer County native. Auriemma was one of Ryan’s assistants from 1981-1985, and started a recruitment of Staley that culminated with her arrival in Charlottesville in 1988.

But they’ve never met in the biggest game of all. In fact, they’ve only met once before in the NCAA Tournament, a regional final in 2018.

» READ MORE: Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma face each other in a national championship game for the first time

—Jonathan Tannenwald

April 2, 2022

Villanova’s basketball fortunes aren’t the only thing on the rise

It’s getting harder and harder to get into Villanova University, and the Wildcats’ success on the basketball court is at least part of the reason, university leaders say.

In 2016, when Villanova won the NCAA men’s basketball championship, the university admitted just over 43% of its applicants.

With applications soaring since then — something that typically happens after NCAA championships, and the Wildcats have won two in the last six years — the school’s selectivity has changed dramatically.

» READ MORE: Villanova’s basketball fortunes aren’t the only thing on the rise. The university is more selective than ever.

—Susan Snyder

April 2, 2022

Chris Arcidiacono, younger brother of a Villanova legend, could play a key role tonight

Chris Arcidiacono was in the stands six years ago, riding the emotional wave as a fan in Houston when his older brother Ryan led Villanova to a dramatic national title.

Arcidiacono will get his own Final Four experience this weekend and could be asked to play a key role for the Wildcats, but it wasn’t always guaranteed that the youngest Arcidiacono brother would get the chance to taste this experience for himself.

He was recruited by smaller schools while playing at Neshaminy High, pushing him to enroll at the Perkiomen School for a postgraduate year in hopes that he could force his way into Villanova’s plans. His parents met at ‘Nova as students in the 1980s — his father, Joe, was an offensive lineman and his mother, Patti, was a nursing student — and his brother is a campus legend.

“It was always a dream of mine growing up and going to Ryan’s games that I wanted to go to Villanova,” Arcidiacono said. “But I didn’t always know if that was going to happen. The prep year was tough, but I did a lot of good work. Luckily, I was able to get better during that time. Once I got the offer, I knew I was coming right away.”

» READ MORE: Villanova’s Chris Arcidiacono should play a key role as he gets his own Final Four experience

— Matt Breen

April 2, 2022

Cops are preparing for celebratory mayhem in Villanova

Anticipating Wildcat celebrations Saturday night, Radnor Township police, who have been through this drill before, say they are loaded for bear, with help from the state police and the FBI.

“We’re preparing in the event of a win,” said police spokesperson Brady McHale. And, yes, even though it’s not the final, celebratory behavior is possible (see 1985).

“We’re planning as if Monday is going to happen,” he added. That would be the night of the national champtionship game if Villanova defeats Kansas in the Final Four Saturday.

“If they win it could be a late night, and likewise for Monday.”

» READ MORE: Cops are preparing for celebratory mayhem in Villanova. It’s certainly happened before.

— Anthony R. Wood

April 2, 2022

Everyone misses Jay Wright’s suits. Even his boss.

GQ Jay has been replaced by Casual Jay.

Villanova’s men’s basketball coach knows a lot of people miss him wearing the finest double-breasted suits, maybe silk woven into the inside of the jacket. Jay Wright hears about the switch to casual, including from his boss.

“Our president doesn’t like it,” Wright said Monday about the switch to wearing high-end workout gear during games. “He always is telling me he likes the suits.”

Father Peter Donohue, Villanova’s president, is just offering a fashion opinion, not trying to force the issue.

“That’s why I have a great job, right?” Wright said. “He always jokes with me about it, like ‘Hey, for the Big East Tournament, how about a suit? For the NCAA Tournament, how about a suit?’ He hasn’t hit me yet with ‘Final Four, how about a suit?’ But he jokes about it.”

» READ MORE: Casual Jay Wright gets mixed reviews, but he loves it

— Mike Jensen

April 2, 2022

Villanova-Kansas: Start time, channel, how to watch and stream

Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream Saturday’s Final Four matchup between Villanova and Kansas:

• Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans

• TV: TBS (Jim Nantz, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery, Tracy Wolfson)

• Streaming: TBS app, NCAA March Madness Live app (both require cable subscription), Hulu With Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, YouTube TV (all require a subscription)

• Radio: 94.1 WIP via Westwood one (Kevin Kugler, PJ Carlesimo, and Clark Kellogg)

Here’s the remaining NCAA Tournament schedule:

* Tipoff is 40 minutes after the first game ends

» READ MORE: Villanova-Kansas: Start time, how to watch and stream Final Four

— Rob Tornoe