In their latest game on November 6, 2024, Villanova lost 90-80 to Columbia, dropping their record to 1-1 and raising concerns about the team's performance.

Villanova's third-year coach Kyle Neptune is navigating a challenging start to the season, having inherited a tough situation after Jay Wright's successful tenure, which included national championships in 2016 and 2018.

The Wildcats are coming off a tumultuous previous season, finishing with a record of 18-16 and missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, marking a first since the 2003-2004 season.

This defeat is particularly significant as it marks Villanova's first loss to Columbia, a team predicted to finish fifth in the Ivy League, and it ended a nine-year winless streak against Big East opponents for Columbia.

Fifth-year senior Eric Dixon was a standout performer for Villanova, scoring an impressive 33 points, but the team's defensive struggles were evident, allowing the most points since a 2017-18 loss to Butler.

Only Dixon and senior guard Jordan Longino returned from last season's rotation, while Neptune has brought in transfers like Wooga Poplar from Miami, who contributed 16 points in the loss.

Dixon's return for his final season after exploring the NBA Draft is a positive development for Villanova, but overall team depth remains a concern.

Other new players, such as Tyler Perkins and Jhamir Brickus, struggled in the game, combining for just nine points, while big man Enoch Boakye had a limited impact.

With the pressure mounting, Neptune must focus on building team chemistry quickly, as further poor performances could jeopardize his coaching position.