Villanova Film Room: Spark Plug Buddy Simmons II

This is one in a series of stories reviewing film for each player on Villanova Men’s Basketball’s 2026-27 roster. 

Villanova senior transfer Buddy Simmons II will join a two-man rotation at point guard with the Wildcats, splitting time with Elijah Crawford. The two guards have different skillsets, with Crawford adopting a pass-first approach; Simmons is more of a volume scorer. With this size-oriented Villanova team needing a facilitator, Crawford is likely to get the starting nod, but head coach Kevin Willard said that he hasn’t ruled out playing both guards at the same time.

Less is more in constructing this season’s roster, with players like Simmons, Cornell wing Jake Fiegen and returning Wildcat Matt Hodge able to stick to their proscribed roles instead of having to play out of position. Having other experienced guards like Crawford and Tyler Perkins involved should help Simmons play his own game.

In reviewing film of Simmons’ A-10 Tournament games against Dayton and La Salle, he looked more like an off guard. While he nominally ran the point — tied for St. Bonaventure’s lead in assists — Simmons averaged just 2.8 dishes to 1.4 turnovers per game last season. He has exceptional handles, more than capable with both hands, but at 5-foot-11 he prefers to step back and create space for himself rather than really challenging the paint.

Finding Ways to Win

Many of Simmons’ passes came off the bounce, helping him negate his size disadvantage and maneuver in tight spaces. He’s a capable shooter pulling up from midrange and from beyond the arc, nailing shots off the dribble and sinking catch-and-shoot opportunities. One of his only layups was lightly contested and came in transition.

Simmons made 42.5 percent of his three-point shots during the 2025-26 season, taking 48.8 percent of his shots from range. He fared slightly better from inside the arc, making 45.7 percent of two-point shots. Despite a smooth shooting motion and an 89.9 percent success rate, Simmons only took 69 free throws on the season, a testament to his shot selections.

He’s a nimble, persistent defender who can dart around the court but won’t ever be a star on that end, doing his best to break even with the effort he puts forward. The A-10 isn’t a slouch, but transitioning to the size and speed of the Big East could prove a problem. To this point in his career, however, Simmons hasn’t let his height stop him.