Jeff Goodman’s Big East Predictions: Fair or Foul for Villanova?

Villanova Men’s Basketball finished third in the Big East during the 2025-26 regular season and, after attacking the transfer portal with the intention of adding size and shooting, aim to improve on their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022. Last season marked a down year for the conference, however, with just three teams making it to the big dance. Providence and Butler both went through coaching changes, while longtime Creighton head man Greg McDermott passed the reins to his handpicked successor, Alan Huss.

Seton Hall appears to be on the upswing, as does DePaul, while Xavier will try to make a leap in their second year under Richard Pitino. With plenty of shakeup in the conference, college basketball pundit Jeff Goodman predicts Villanova to finish fifth in the Big East behind mainstays like Danny Hurley’s UConn and Rick Pitino’s St. John’s, alongside a resurgent Marquette and Xavier: the rest of his projected field is located below.

Golden Eagles’ head coach Shaka Smart has an excellent reputation despite a down year last season, and sophomore point guard Nigel James Jr. should contend for the mantle of Big East Player of the Year; the Musketeers could benefit from an Ohio court injunction granting a series of seniors another year of eligibility as the NCAA implements their five-in-five rule, but the situation remains in flux.

Even if the Wildcats do slide down the conference standings, the NCAA Tournament’s expansion to 76 teams should put them in excellent position for a postseason spot… but Villanova fans may have higher expectations in year two of the Kevin Willard era.