Villanova Reaction: Wildcats Win, For Better Or Worse

Villanova Men’s Basketball managed to bring their season back from the brink for the umpteenth time, taking down No. 16 Marquette 81-66 in Philadelphia.

Coming with less than two weeks to play in the regular season — after the Wildcats (16-12, 9-8 Big East) fought their way back onto the bubble and promptly fell off it again — the dominant win provoked mixed feelings.

For the optimistic Villanova fans, the win provides another example of the team’s ceiling, a hint that they could go on a run in the Big East Tournament and sneak their way into the Big Dance.

With less than a two percent chance of securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, however, it might qualify as too little, too late rather than a bona fide résumé booster, a tantalizing taste of what could have been in a season already all but over.

For those fans ready for head coach Kyle Neptune’s tenure with the Wildcats to end, the win could prove just enough for him to save his job and run it back next season. Only time will tell the exact ramfications of Villanova’s dominant win.

Relive Friday night with a glimpse of what fans and media had to say about it, the good, the bad and the ugly.

NOBODY BEATS THE VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY MENS BASKETBALL WILDCATS NINE TIMES IN A ROW

— Ryan Duff (@ryanduff55) February 22, 2025

WE DID ITTTTT pic.twitter.com/f4SLXk5qbV

— Villanova Enthusiast 😿 (@NovaKnowsBall) February 22, 2025

Villanova's Jhamir Brickus:

Near the top of my list for "Wish he had another year" pic.twitter.com/3SIesbVYZx

— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) February 22, 2025

With wins like this you have to imagine Neptune isn’t long for villanova. Surely high majors and nba teams will be calling him come March.

— Trevor (@krwr17) February 22, 2025

Me when Villanova decides to shoot 14/20 from deep and crawl themselves back into the bubble conversation vs. #16 Marquette. @John_Fanta pic.twitter.com/lWHgpkSEgm

— Patrick Scanlon (@patrickscanlon_) February 22, 2025

DUMONT IS THE ANSWER.

— Villanova Enthusiast 😿 (@NovaKnowsBall) February 22, 2025

Villanova alum and Sixers guard Kyle Lowry is court side, tonight. pic.twitter.com/WG3GqRk7i5

— Dylan Johnson (@bydylanjohnson) February 22, 2025

Villanova is the same as all the St. John’s teams I watched over the years…

Good enough to get you some big wins over some ranked teams… once it’s too late and no longer matters

“Look out for them in the Big East Tournament” is what they will say next lol

— Top Ten St. John’s (@yelbeeez) February 22, 2025

It’s kinda sweet how everyone in the Big East is pitching in a little to make sure Kyle Neptune gets extended at Villanova.

— Boneyardigans (@UConnFanDotCom) February 22, 2025

This Villanova team is maddening

— Big East Bar Room 🎙 (@BigEastBarroom) February 22, 2025

Eric Dixon played 4 years at Center for Villanova

Here he is making a one-handed jump pass to Jordann Dumont for a 3. Not normal. pic.twitter.com/KDL1RaCMIA

— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) February 22, 2025

Villanova owns wins this season over Marquette, UConn, St. John's, and Xavier, but is only 16-12 overall. Wildcats are the most mercurial team in the Big East. A dominant performance tonight in Philadelphia.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 22, 2025

VILLANOVA TAKES DOWN MARQUETTE

2-0 IN THE BANANA ATTENDANCE ERA pic.twitter.com/cx6pvCEfXq

— Nova Starting 5 (@NovaStarting5) February 22, 2025

If you are part of the Villanova Fanbase you have every right to be upset at tonight’s Win.

Vent to me……

— 🅰️RAY (@ARayfor3) February 22, 2025