The State of the Nova Nation podcast

Apologies! Some technical issues caused by the recording device affected the final audio, so as a way to protect your ears from static and blown out audio, the best compromise was to make it sound like AM radio...which you'll see what we mean. This episode focuses on the Villanova Wildcats' season-opening early-season tournament win at the 2K Empire Classic, followed by a disappointing loss to Vir...

For the first time in eight months, college basketball is back! Wednesday marks opening day for the 2020-21 season. The Villanova Wildcats open up things with the Boston College Eagles, a rematch of the 2006 Sweet 16. Afterwards, the Wildcats will take on the Arizona State Sun Devils or the Rhode Island Rams. The Baylor Bears had to drop out of the tournament due to their head coach testing positi...

Saddiq Bey is headed for Detroit, after the Pistons picked him up with the 19th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. We take a moment to congratulate the Villanova Wildcats standout. With Villanova players taken in four straight years, is it time for the world to stop sleeping on Jay Wright's ability to send players to the NBA? (Yes.) We also wrap up our look around the Big East with the second hal...

Normally we'd have an episode devoted to non-conference and then another for Big East play, but with the shortened season, we decided to preview all of Villanova's non-conference games and a couple of Big East teams. We'll hit the rest of the Big East teams on Thursday. Before we dive into the 2020-21 schedule, the NCAA announced that it will be bubbling up for the NCAA Tournament, with all rounds...

Chris Lane joins the State of the Nova Nation's Season 6 Premiere, where we discuss the team's high ceiling, preseason buzz, take a look at some Villanova Wildcats coming off of redshirt years. We also attempt to begin to piece together what the potential rotation looks like. It's a close to impossible task to truly project the rotation with the abundance of talented returners. Seems like a good p...

The college basketball season has come to an abrupt end. There's a different kind of March Madness, and it's not the NCAA Tournament. Live from self-quarantine zones, we discuss the end of the season and the shutdown of sports across the country. We recap the end of the Big East Tournament, the final AP poll, what could have been for the Villanova Wildcats, and what's in store for the future. Is e...

The regular season has come to a close. The Villanova Wildcats gutted out a close one against the Georgetown Hoyas, With the win over their rivals, the 'Cats have clinched the No. 2 seed at the Big East Tournament, as well as a share of the regular season title. We take a quick look back at the Georgetown game, as well as the bracket, before welcoming back former National Champion and coach, Darry...

The Villanova Wildcats earned a huge road win on Wednesday, spoiling the Seton Hall Pirates' Senior Night and leaving Seton Hall to look elsewhere for the Big East regular season title. 'Nova led for a majority of the way, before hanging on for a two-point win. With one game left for the regular season, what are the possible scenarios for Villanova to finish in the top three? The Wildcats have one...

With a loss to the Providence Friars, the Villanova Wildcats have to win out (and get some help from other teams) in order to have a chance at winning the Big East regular season. Unfortunately, their next opponent, the Seton Hall Pirates, are in the driver's seat and can potentially lock up the regular season crowd on Wednesday night, when the Wildcats come to town. We look back at a cold-shootin...

The Villanova Wildcats celebrated their lone senior, Tim Saunders, as well as their managers, with a win over the St. John's Red Storm. It was a night that was also dedicated to Kyle Lowry, who had his jersey retired. Now that the 'Cats have played their final Pavilion home game, they'll prepare for their final Wells Fargo Center game of the year. The Providence Friars are coming to town. We previ...

A nice weekend for the Villanova Wildcats. The men's basketball team expanded its winning streak, while we were away, with a red-hot shooting performance against the DePaul Blue Demons, and then a solid road win against the Xavier Musketeers. Now, the 'Cats are prepping for their game with St. John's. Meanwhile, the women's basketball team gave Harry Perretta and its seniors a wonderful send off o...

The Villanova Wildcats are back on track, after breaking their losing streak with close win over Marquette Golden Eagles and a dominant second-half showing against the Temple Owls. With the win, 'Nova has moved up to No. 12 on the latest AP poll, seated higher than any other Big East team at the moment. Before we get to that, we have to address the New York Knicks' desire for Jay Wright. Also, no...

The Seton Hall Pirates handed the Villanova Wildcats their third-straight loss. What went wrong? Also, we take a look at a well-represented showing by the Big East in this week's polls, with five different teams now in the Top 25, and share our reactions to the NCAA's top four seeds. Now, the Wildcats will try to break the losing stretch with a rubber match with the Marquette Golden Eagles. Can Vi...

Welp, that just happened. Leaky roofs, Butler Blue IV's debut, and a little Hinkle Fieldhouse magic to top it all off, as the Butler Bulldogs pull off an upset victory with a three-point buzzer beater by Kamar Baldwin to defeat the Villanova Wildcats. Villanova, who has now dropped back-to-back games, will try to recover, regroup, and return to the right path against the pesky Seton Hall Pirates....

We're a football podcast until further notice! Villanova Wildcats football alum Tanoh Kpassagnon wins a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. The former defensive end standout logged a couple of tackles in the win, giving 'Nova another pro champion. On the basketball court, the news wasn't as good, as Villanova fell behind the Creighton Bluejays once again, but there would be no comeback this ti...

The Villanova Wildcats just seem to love playing at Madison Square Garden, and Tuesday was no different. Villanova enjoyed its largest margin of victory in Big East play this season, with a 20-point win over the St. John's Red Storm. All five 'Cats were in double figures, with Collin Gillespie and Saddiq Bey leading the charge. Next up for the 'Cats is a showdown with the Creighton Bluejays. Learn...

The Villanova Wildcats escaped the Dunkin Donuts Center with a win over the Providence Friars. Now, they'll prepare for a game against the St. John's Red Storm on Tuesday night. After we recap and preview, instead of a mailbag, we share a few words on Kobe Bryant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NCAA.com named its list of the 11 best Villanova players from the past decade. Back in the present-day, the Villanova Wildcats pulled away in the second half in a strong all-around performance against the Butler Bulldogs, prevailing over their foes in a top-15 showdown. After a four-game home stand, the Wildcats will head on the road to take on the Providence Friars on Saturday. We take a look ahe...

Big Game Jermaine came through once again, as the Villanova Wildcats held off the UConn Huskies on Saturday. Jermaine Samuels topped off a strong second half performance with the dagger to preserve the win. Now, the 'Cats return back to the Big East slate with a top 15 matchup against the Butler Bulldogs, who are trying to shake off a two-game losing streak. Then, before we hit another crowded mai...

Ryan Arcidiacono and Kyle Lowry will officially be G.O.A.T.ed when they have their jerseys retired in February. Huge shoutout to the iconic Wright era point guards. There are plenty of opinions regarding the next pair to receive the honor, and we weigh in. Afterwards, we look at the DePaul Blue Demons game and the overtime escape act. Then, we gear up for a final showdown with the American Confere...

Being the Georgetown Hoyas just never gets old. Saddiq Bey exploded for a highly efficient 33-point performance against the Hoyas, leading the way in the Villanova Wildcats' victory. It was another solid defensive performance against opposing key players, and it looks like the 'Cats aren't sleeping in the streets anymore with a solid team-wide shooting performance. Next up for the 'Cats is a showd...

The Villanova Wildcats pulled off their first road victory in Big East play this season, doing it in come-from-behind fashion. After a real slow start, Villanova turned it on in the second half, raising the intensity defensively. It also helped having a 24-point performance from Collin Gillespie, some crucial plays in the closing minutes, and a clutch offensive rebound by Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. I...

Happy New Year! The State of the Nova Nation is back after a holiday hiatus, and there a couple of games to look back upon, with showdowns against the Xavier Musketeers and Marquette Golden Eagles. It's early in conference play, but across the conference it's looking like road wins are going to be even harder to come by than usual. Can AP Coach of the Decade Jay Wright get his Villanova Wildcats t...

The Villanova Wildcats got an early Christmas present, as they were able to hang on for a one-point upset victory over the visiting Kansas Jayhawks. It was a back-and-forth game, and while 'Nova was able to hit the big shots in crucial moments, its defensive effort is what stole the show. The 'Cats had their best showing on that end of the court so far this season. Is this a sign that things are g...

The Villanova Wildcats might have dodged a bullet. After the game against the Delaware Blue Hens, Dylan Painter made his official debut with his new squad on Tuesday night and killed it off the bench, supplying a team-high 19 points in 18 minutes in a win over in-state rival Delaware State. After starting up the Dylan Painter CAA Player of the Year campaign, we dive into the upcoming clash with No...