Villanova in the Pros
Villanova in the Pros: Brunson Clears 30 for Third Straight Game

Former Villanova Wildcat Jalen Brunson continued his recent scoring surge for the Knicks, dropping 38 points on the Philadelphia 76ers in an overtime victory for New York on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
This marks the third game in a row that Brunson, who currently ranks ninth in the NBA with 26 points scored per game, managed to clear the 30 point barrier. He put up 44 on the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Jan. 12 — the day after he and former Villanova head coach Jay Wright were in the building at Madison Square Garden to see the Wildcats take on St. John’s — then dropped 31 in a tough loss to a resurgent Detroit Pistons team in the second half of a back-to-back the following day.
Also one of the league’s leading passers, Brunson notched 11 assists during the game against Detroit, and his average of 7.5 dishes per game ranks eighth in the NBA. His Knicks currently sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 27-15 record.
After a rough scoring spell during the second week of January, fellow Knicks player and Wildcats alumnus Mikal Bridges dropped 27 points against the Pistons and 23 against Philly, while Josh Hart, who was on Villanova’s 2016 NCAA title team along with Brunson and Bridges, put up a 10 point, 17 rebound, 12 assist triple-double against the Sixers, as well as double-doubles against Detroit and Milwaukee.
Villanova Around the NBA
Elsewhere in the NBA, 2018 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (and, of course, former Villanova Wildcat) Donte DiVincenzo has put up more than 25 points off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves in two of his last three games, dropping 27 points against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Jan. 11 and 28 against Golden State on Wednesday, Jan. 15… unfortunately for the Timberwolves, they lost those two games by a combined three points as their struggles continue.
After venting frustration regarding his role with the Houston Rockets at the start of January, forward Cam Whitmore, who went one-and-done with Villanova during the 2022-23 season, is averaging 21.7 minutes and 13.6 points per night off the bench this month, both of which would set season-bests by a considerable margin.