Villanova enters its November 25, 2025 home matchup against Old Dominion with both the optimism of a 4-1 start and the awareness that the program is still navigating a significant transitional period under first-year head coach Kevin Willard, who inherited an overhauled roster featuring multiple transfers, a talented freshman class and returning role players adjusting to new responsibilities, and this early portion of the season has revealed a team capable of impressive stretches of disciplined execution yet still vulnerable to scoring droughts, defensive lapses and the natural growing pains that accompany rebuilt rotations; the Wildcats’ identity is being reshaped around freshman point guard Acaden Lewis, whose poise, vision and developing command of the offense have become essential to orchestrating spacing, ball movement and half-court rhythm, while transfer guard Tyler Perkins brings scoring punch on the perimeter and senior forward Duke Brennan anchors the interior with rebounding presence, physicality and a reliable finishing touch around the rim, forming a core that reflects both the promise and volatility of a roster still learning how to sustain consistency over full games, especially against opponents who bring physicality and rebounding pressure; defensively Villanova remains rooted in principles that have long defined its program—gap discipline, strong closeouts, fundamental rebounding and controlled help defense.

But with so much roster turnover the execution of these principles fluctuates, as stretches of sharp defensive communication can give way to breakdowns that allow opponents open threes or uncontested drives, making this matchup against an Old Dominion squad that thrives on offensive rebounding and physical interior play a meaningful test of Villanova’s evolving toughness on the glass and ability to impose their structure; at home in Finneran Pavilion the Wildcats typically benefit from their crowd’s energy and their comfort within their own shooting backdrop, and they will aim to start fast to prevent Old Dominion from gaining early confidence, especially since some of Villanova’s early-season contests have featured sluggish opening quarters followed by strong mid-game adjustments, a pattern the coaching staff will want to eliminate by emphasizing poise, composure and efficient shot creation from the start; offensively Villanova must take care of the ball, avoid over-dribbling and ensure their perimeter shooters receive clean looks through purposeful screening and spacing, as Old Dominion’s defensive scheme will likely attempt to disrupt rhythm by crowding passing lanes, sending extra pressure into dribble handoffs and using physicality to challenge drives, so Villanova must respond with patience, decisiveness and commitment to playing through their system rather than devolving into isolation-heavy possessions; the rebounding battle will be especially pivotal, as Villanova cannot allow the Monarchs to build momentum from second-chance scoring or offensive rebounding surges that have aided Old Dominion in its strongest stretches this season, and disciplined box-outs from all five positions will determine whether Villanova maintains control or finds itself in a grind; from a broader perspective this game offers Villanova another opportunity to solidify its new identity, demonstrate growth in execution and prove it can handle fundamentally sound, physical opponents even while undergoing internal adjustments, and if the Wildcats bring sustained defensive focus, protect the ball, dictate pace through their half-court structure and leverage their home-court advantage, they remain well positioned to secure the win while continuing to build the cohesion their long-term success will depend upon.