Villanova Wildcats: Can Jalen Brunson fill the leadership void on the team?

With Josh Hart out of the picture, can Jalen Brunson take the reigns and lead the Villanova Wildcats to a dominant season?

It goes without saying that last season ended in disappointment for the Villanova Wildcats. After losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, many wondered if a reset needed to take place. Well, it looks like it won’t be a reset, but a reload. With guard Jalen Brunson returning for his junior year, the Villanova Wildcats could return to dominance this season.

Now, the next logical question would be: Can Jalen Brunson lead this young and stacked Villanova core? So, Brunson could very easily fill the void of senior guard Josh Hart. While they didn’t play the same position, Hart clearly led the Wildcats last season. It was his team. Going forward, Brunson will need to prove that he can lead this team.

Returning Pieces

Obviously, Josh Hart, Darryl Reynolds, and Kris Jenkins have all have all graduated. They each played a vital role in the past two seasons of Villanova Wildcats basketball. As a result, returning players will need to step up in their absence.

Now, ‘Nova always seems to have a nice revolving door of returning prospects. In a college game that promotes the “one and done” star athlete, Villanova is an outlier. This season, Villanova will have the likes of Donte DiVincenzo, Eric Paschall, and Mikal Bridges available for next season. These three played big roles for the Wildcats last season and will look to continue that momentum this year.

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As a result, Jalen Brunson will need to lead this returning core. As the point guard, Brunson will need to initiate the offense for his teammates. He can definitely do it, as he did last season. As the starting point guard last season, Brunson averaged 14.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He improved dramatically over last season, landing in the top ten in the Big East in a number of statistical categories. Some of these include win shares, box plus/ minus, and player efficiency rating. So, it goes without saying that Brunson can c

So, it goes without saying that Brunson can continue to grow with this experienced Villanova core. As he improves, the team around him will continue to improve. Because guys like DiVincenzo, Paschall, and Bridges played such vital roles for this team, the experience will only benefit them. Obviously, they need a leader. Jalen Brunson can be that leader, and then some.

Youthful Excellence

Interestingly enough, Jalen Brunson could have his work cut out for him. This year’s crop of talent for Villanova consists of a highly touted recruiting class. Four-star recruits Jermaine Samuels and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree could prove vital for the Wildcats’ bench.

Now, one area where Villanova lacked in last season was depth. In most games, the Wildcats would play seven guys in total. For a team looking to go deep into the NCAA Tournament, that simply won’t suffice. With the addition of the young bucks, new-found depth could be on the rise.

On top of that, players that couldn’t suit up last season will have their chance to shine. Guys like Omari Spellman, Phil Booth, and Dylan Painter have the opportunity to fill in this bench. Throwing them into the mix could make Brunson’s life much easier. The key here lies in how Brunson gets these players involved. With greater talent across the board, more opportunities should arise.

Next: Villanova Wildcats: Can Omari Spellman give the team a boost inside?

So, as Jalen Brunson looks to take the next step, the players around him will need to do their parts. With a lack of depth next season, the plethora of players looking to make an impact this season could prove vital. At the end of the day, Jalen Brunson’s play as the point guard could make or break this Villanova Wildcats team.

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