- 1971
- 1985 - 2016 - 2018
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Took On UCLA – Howard Porter
Porter then played collegiately at Villanova University, where he was a three-time All-America selection. He took Villanova to the 1971 NCAA Championship Game, in which Villanova lost to UCLA 68-62. Porter was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring 25 points in the final game. However, he was later ruled ineligible for the honor because he had signed a ... -
Wildcats NCAA Basketball Champs 2018, 2016, 1985
2018 NCAA Champs Villanova, Michigan, Kansas, and Loyola-Chicago, the “Cinderella team” of the tournament, reached the Final Four. Villanova defeated Michigan in the championship game, 79–62. 2016 NCAA Champs In the Final Four, Villanova defeated Oklahoma, while North Carolina defeated Syracuse (the “Cinderella team” of the tournament). Villanova then defeated North Carolina to win the championship on a three-point buzzer-beater ...
History of the Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats are the athletic teams of Villanova University. They compete in the Big East (NCAA Division I) for every sport; except football and rowing where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association (Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA). On December 15, 2012, Villanova and the other six, non-FBS schools announced that they were departing the Big East for a new conference. This conference assumed the Big East name on July 1, 2013.
Villanova plays its arch-rival the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in the "Battle of the Blue". Villanova leads the all-time series which was first played in 1895 by the margin of 23-21-1. The Wildcats have a current series where they play the Temple Owls for the Philadelphia "Mayor's Cup". Villanova won the inaugural game in September 2009 but dropped the next three games to the FBS school. Villanova still leads the all-time series that started in 1928 by the margin of 16-15-2. In recent seasons the Wildcats also play the Penn Quakers with many of the games held at historic Franklin Field. Villanova has an 11–6 lead in the series first played in 1905 and most recently in 2015.
College Sports Established
1894
Location
Villanova, Pennsylvania
College Name
Villanova University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1980 - Present / Big East Conference
1976 – 1980 / Atlantic 10 Conference
1921 - 1976 / Independent
Nickname
Wildcats - In 1926, a contest was conducted involving the entire university, to adopt a mascot for Villanova. Edward Hunsinger, a former All-American defensive end at Notre Dame, hit upon the nickname "Wildcats". Hunsinger was nicknamed the "Little General" of the legendary "Four Horsemen" and he had recently been added to Villanova's football staff as the assistant coach.
The name Wildcats refers to a wide variety of feral felines such as the bobcat, caracal, and lynx. Villanova's Wildcat most closely resembles the bobcat, which is found in the Southwest part of the United States. The term Wildcats is meant to convey the image of an animal that is successful in its quest to survive using its ferocious attitude, speed, agility, and alertness. The spirit of the Wildcat is embodied in all of our athletic teams.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 3
2018, 2016, 1985
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.