Villanova Forward Matt Hodge Undergoes Surgery

Villanova forward Matt Hodge underwent surgery for the ACL tear he suffered at St. John’s on Saturday, Feb. 28, per a March 6 post to Hodge’s Instagram and Twitter (X) accounts.

ACL tears typically require around nine months of recovery from the time of surgery, putting Hodge’s availability for the start of next season in doubt. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and a team-high 0.6 blocks per game for the Wildcats this season, his first on a Division I court.

The NCAA ruled Hodge ineligible to play during the 2024-25 campaign because of a transcript issue that arose when he enrolled at New Jersey’s St. Rose High School, transferring in from his native Belgium. A 6-foot-8 wing with a knack for taking three-point shots, Hodge created an intriguing mismatch on the perimeter for Villanova but was also capable of rotating down to play the four if necessary.

His absence places a spotlight on the Wildcats’ forward depth, with sophomore wing Malachi Palmer and reserve center Braden Pierce both taking on a larger role.

Locked into the No. 3 seed in the Big East, Villanova will conclude their regular season at home against Xavier at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.