Duke Brennan has become the engine of Villanova’s resurgence, and the 6-foot-10 senior is running at a historic clip. His 11 double-doubles this season tie Omari Spellman for second-most in a single season in program history, leaving him just three shy of Michael Bradley’s school record.
For a program that missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, Brennan’s dominance on the glass has been the difference between mediocrity and a 20-win team fighting for a protected seed.
Brennan’s Double-Double Pace Fuels Villanova’s Revival
The Wildcats are 9-2 when Brennan records a double-double. That’s not a coincidence. His 21-point, 12-rebound performance in Saturday’s 80-69 revenge win at Creighton exemplified exactly what Kevin Willard brought him to Philadelphia to do: impose his will on the interior while freeing up the perimeter pieces to operate.
Villanova (20-5, 11-3 Big East) has now won five straight and sits comfortably in the tournament field. This is the first time the program has reached 20 wins before the Big East Tournament since Jay Wright’s final season. Willard, in his first year on the Main Line after leaving Maryland, has the Wildcats operating with an identity they lacked under Kyle Neptune. That identity starts with Brennan’s physicality and motor.
Tyler Perkins added 17 points and 11 rebounds against the Bluejays, giving Villanova two double-doubles in the same game. Devin Askew contributed 13 points off the bench. The depth is there. The supporting cast is producing. But Brennan remains the anchor, and his pursuit of Bradley’s record gives this team a tangible goal beyond the standings.
The Wildcats are receiving AP Poll votes (29 this week) but remain unranked. Their NET ranking sits in the low 30s, which projects them to a No. 7 or No. 8 seed in most bracketology updates. That’s a fair assessment for a team that has taken care of business against everyone it should beat.
The Quad 1 Problem Villanova Must Solve
The concern is obvious: Villanova is 2-4 against Quad 1 opponents. The wins came at Butler and Seton Hall, both road victories that showed toughness. The losses include a 75-67 overtime defeat at UConn on Jan. 24, a game where Brennan and Perkins both posted double-doubles, but the Wildcats couldn’t finish against an elite opponent.
That UConn game is instructive. Villanova led for stretches and had chances to close it out. Solo Ball’s 24 points and a late Huskies run proved the difference. The Wildcats can hang with top teams. Beating them is another matter.
Tonight’s game at Xavier (6:30 p.m., FS1) should be a Quad 2 win the Wildcats handle. The Musketeers (13-12, 5-9) are struggling through Richard Pitino’s first season and have won just two of their last eight games. Tre Carroll leads Xavier in scoring at around 18 points per game, but Xavier lacks the depth and defensive structure to threaten a team playing with Villanova’s current confidence.
The real tests are ahead. The Wildcats still have UConn coming to Finneran Pavilion, plus remaining Big East games that could shift their seed line in either direction. Brennan can keep chasing Bradley’s record. The question is whether he can deliver the signature win this resume needs when March arrives.