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Villanova Men's Basketball

Villanova Transfers: How Former Wildcats are Faring

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Villanova Basketball

Villanova Men’s Basketball lost four players to the transfer portal following the 2023-24 season, with guards TJ Bamba and Brendan Hausen, as well as forwards Lance Ware and Trey Patterson searching for better fits across the college basketball landscape.

Now that we’re well into conference play, let’s take a look at how these former Wildcats are fitting into their new homes.

Bamba transferred to the University of Oregon and is averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, all similar to the rates he put up with the Wildcats last season. The Ducks currently sit as the No. 15 team in the nation, and Bamba ranks as their third-leading scorer. He also picks up the most steals per game despite playing just 25.9 minutes per game on the Ducks’ well-rounded roster.

Transfer Ups and Downs

Hausen transferred to Kansas State, which made the tournament last season but fell off a cliff since: the Wildcats occupy 15th place in the 16 team Big 12. His 11.9 points per game rank second on the team and he’s draining a respectable 39.9 percent of shots from three, but the Sunflower State’s Wildcats haven’t been able to buy a win since conference play began. Luckily for Hausen, he’s a junior — the only player with eligibility remaining on this list — so he’ll get another chance to run it back next season.

Ware and Patterson, the other two Villanova transfers from last season, both chose smaller schools in a bid for more playing time. Patterson missed all of last season while recovering from shoulder and hip surgeries and didn’t start any games for the Wildcats in three previous seasons. He’s missed time with the Rice Owls this season for as-yet undisclosed reasons, starting six of ten games when able and dropping 3.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Ware averaged just 10.5 minutes per game in his lone season at Villanova, but now he’s a starter at UT Arlington, putting up 14.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, leading the Mavericks in both categories as well as blocks and steals.

Also worth mentioning is VCU guard Max Shulga, who entered the portal last season and committed to Villanova before electing to return to the Rams. He’s putting up 15.3 points, 6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals — the latter two team highs — per game for a VCU team with an excellent shot of winning the A-10.

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