Villanova’s Tournament Hopes End With Loss to UConn

Villanova Men’s Basketball saw their chances at an NCAA Tournament bid come to an end in the early hours of Friday, March 14, falling 73-56 to UConn in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.

While the Huskies outshot the Wildcats 58 to 32 percent, Villanova (19-14, 12-10 Big East) held the lead for 24 minutes and 29 seconds of game time, winning the turnover margin 10-7 and draining 19 of 25 free throws. Connecticut eventually closed them out on a 22-5 run, however, as the Wildcats didn’t score a single basket in the final 5:52.

Although he entered the game needing only 17 points to pass Kerry Kittles for No. 1 on the Wildcats’ all-time scoring leaderboard, Eric Dixon had his worst game of the season at the worst possible time, scoring just eight points on 2 of 15 shooting.

Wooga Poplar stepped up in his absence, dropping 25 points, but even his shot fell silent during the Wildcats’ final spiral.

Villanova stormed ahead early in the first half with a 10-0 run that made it 17-8. They then went three minutes without making a field goal — although they sank three free throws, including after a technical foul charged to Huskies’ head coach Dan Hurley — as UConn closed the deficit to three.

Dan Hurley’s been T’d up 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/kJIH6nb9aX

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 14, 2025

Wooga Poplar Steps Up

Huskies’ freshman Liam McNeeley nailed a three-pointer to tie the game 31-31 with 2:05 to play in the first half, then Eric Dixon reestablished the lead with a triple of his own. A Wooga Poplar bucket put the Wildcats ahead 36-31 at the half, giving him 15 on the day.

Poplar continued to dominate out of the break, taking over the Wildcats’ scoring with eight points in a row. Villanova then went more than five and a half minutes without making a shot, allowing Connecticut to pull in front 51-48. Dixon drew a goaltending call to snap the spell, then pulled the Wildcats even on the ensuing and-1.

The Huskies reeled off an immediate 14-3 run, taking command of the game as Dixon went 0-for-3 with a turnover, unable to play hero ball as he had for much of the season.

Barring an appearance in the NIT or another postseason invitational, Villanova’s season comes to an end and with it, the college careers of each of their five starters: Dixon, Poplar, Longino, Jhamir Brickus and Enoch Boakye.