The Villanova Wildcats, a perennial college basketball powerhouse, suffered a stunning upset loss in their home opener on Wednesday night. The Columbia Lions, who have struggled mightily in Ivy League play over the past three seasons, marched into Finneran Pavilion and dealt the Wildcats a shocking 90-80 defeat.
For Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune, now in his third year at the helm after taking over for legendary coach Jay Wright, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. “We’re just not where we need to be right now,” Neptune admitted in his postgame press conference. “We’ve got to go back, watch this film, learn from it and move onto the next game and get better.”
Columbia’s Surprising Offensive Explosion
The Lions, who were 17.5-point underdogs entering the game, put on an offensive clinic against the usually stout Villanova defense. Led by guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa’s game-high 22 points, Columbia shot a blistering 53.7% from the field and connected on 24 of their 26 free throw attempts.
“I thought we just couldn’t get stops,” Neptune lamented. “And I think we turned the ball over. And we just have to get better defensively. They scored 90 points. It’s going to be tough when teams score 90 points against you.”
Coach Kyle Neptune’s postgame comments
Wildcats’ Offensive Woes
Despite a valiant 33-point effort from star forward Eric Dixon, the Wildcats struggled to find consistent offense against Columbia’s energetic defense. Villanova shot just 45% from the field as a team, a far cry from the efficient attacking style that has become their hallmark over the past decade.
Pressure Mounting on Neptune
The loss puts early pressure on Neptune, who is now just 35-34 overall since taking the reins at Villanova. After failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in his first two seasons, expectations were high for the Wildcats entering the 2024-25 campaign. With a roster featuring a healthy Dixon and a host of talented role players, Villanova was projected to finish in the top half of the always-rugged Big East Conference.
However, Wednesday’s setback raises fresh doubts about whether Neptune is the right man to lead the program in the post-Wright era. While it’s far too early to make any definitive judgments, the loss to Columbia is the type of head-scratching result that can linger over a team’s entire season.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will look to bounce back quickly, as they host NJIT on Friday night. Neptune knows his team must use the Columbia loss as a learning experience and take rapid strides forward.
“It is what it is. We’re human beings. You don’t want to come in and lose,” Neptune said. “Everybody wants to win, so we’ve got a little bit to think about that and accept the fact that it happened and now we’ve got to move on from it. We’ve got to go and get ready for the next game. We’ve got to get better.”
Neptune on moving forward from the loss
For a program with Villanova’s pedigree, moral victories simply don’t cut it. If the Wildcats hope to return to the top of the college basketball world, they’ll need to put this shocking loss behind them and prove that they’re still a force to be reckoned with in the Big East and beyond. The road ahead won’t be easy, but Neptune and his players have no choice but to embrace the challenge.
