1977–78 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1977–78 Villanova Wildcats Basketball Eastern Athletic Association EAA 23–9 7–3 Rollie Massimino 5th Mitch Buonaguro 1st Villanova Field House EAA Regular season championsEAA Tournament champions NCAA Men's Division I Tournament Elite Eight The 1977–78 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Rollie Massimino. The team played its home games at Villanova Field House in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Eastern Athletic Association (EAA). The team won the regular season EAA title and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament before falling to Duke.Duke Routs Villanova In Eastern Final, 90-72 https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/20/archives/duke-routs-villanova-in-eastern-final-9072-old-man-leads-duke-too.html The New York Times March 20, 1978 August 5, 2023 Villanova finished with a 23–9 record (7–3 Big East). Roster 1977 Villanova Wildcats y Rory Sparrow y 3 G 6 2 So Paterson, New Jersey Keith Herron y 33 F 6 6 Sr Washington, D.C. Alex Bradley y basketball 44 F 6 6 205 Fr Long Branch, New Jersey Rollie Massimino (Vermont) Mitch Buonaguro (Boston College) Schedule and results |- !colspan=9 style=Villanova Wildcats white| Regular season Nov 27, 1977 yes 1977 men Merrimack Warriors Merrimack Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 102–70 1–0 Nov 30, 1977 yes 1977 men Philadelphia Textile Rams Philadelphia Textile Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 61–57 2–0 Dec 3, 1977 yes 1977 men West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia WVU Coliseum Morgantown, West Virginia 72–62 3–0 1–0 Dec 6, 1977 yes 1977 men Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers Rutgers Athletic Center Piscataway, New Jersey 61–54 4–0 2–0 Dec 10, 1977 yes yes Penn The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 69–68 5–0 Dec 13, 1977 yes yes 1977 men Princeton Tigers Princeton Jadwin Gymnasium Princeton, New Jersey 58–56 6–0 Dec 22, 1977 1977 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 86–70 7–0 3–0 Dec 28, 1977 yes yes Washington Veterans Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Far West Classic 78–73 8–0 Dec 29, 1977 yes yes 1977 men Oregon State Beavers Oregon State Veterans Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Far West Classic 57–58 OT 8–1 Dec 30, 1977 yes yes Washington State Veterans Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Far West Classic 56–62 8–2 Jan 7, 1978 yes 1977 men Boston College Eagles Boston College The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 102–76 9–2 Jan 11, 1978 1977 none UMass Minutemen UMass The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 71–64 10–2 4–0 Jan 14, 1978 yes yes 1977 men Temple Owls Temple The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 73–81 10–3 Jan 17, 1978 yes 1977 men Rider Broncs Rider The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 76–60 11–3 Jan 19, 1978 yes yes Notre Dame 7 Joyce Center Notre Dame, Indiana 69–70 11–4 Jan 21, 1978 1977 men George Washington Colonials George Washington Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 90–83 12–4 5–0 Jan 25, 1978 Penn State Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 98–76 13–4 6–0 Jan 28, 1978 yes yes St. John's Alumni Hall Queens, New York 64–65 13–5 Jan 31, 1978 yes yes Providence 16 Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island 73–66 10,229 14–5 Feb 4, 1978 yes George Washington Charles E. Smith Center Washington, D.C. 59–58 15–5 7–0 Feb 8, 1978 yes St. Bonaventure The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 91–76 16–5 Feb 11, 1978 yes 1977 men Pittsburgh Panthers Pittsburgh Fitzgerald Field House Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 81–97 16–6 7–1 Feb 14, 1978 yes UMass Curry Hicks Cage Amherst, Massachusetts 72–87 16–7 7–2 Feb 18, 1978 yes yes La Salle The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 82–79 17–7 Feb 22, 1978 Rutgers Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 78–81 OT 17–8 7–3 Feb 25, 1978 yes yes 1977 men Saint Joseph's Hawks Saint Joseph's The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 72–64 18–8 |- !colspan=9 style=Villanova Wildcats white| EAA tournament Mar 2, 1978 yes yes 2 Penn State 7 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Quarterfinals 73–65 19–8 Mar 3, 1978 yes yes 2 Pittsburgh 3 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Semifinals 72–70 20–8 Mar 4, 1978 yes yes 2 West Virginia 8 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Championship game 63–59 21–8 |- !colspan=9 style=Villanova Wildcats white| NCAA tournament Mar 12, 1978 yes yes E 2Q La Salle E 4L The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania First round 103–97 22–8 Mar 17, 1978 yes yes E 2Q Indiana 13 E 1L Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island East Regional Semifinal Sweet Sixteen 61–60 23–8 Mar 19, 1978 yes yes E 2Q Duke 7 E 1Q Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island East Regional Final Elite Eight 72–90 23–9 AP poll Eastern Time E East https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/villanova/1978-schedule.html 1977-78 Villanova Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference August 5, 20232019–20 Villanova Men's Basketball Media Guide https://publications.provationsgroup.org/publications/2019-20-Villanova-Basketball/#page=121 Villanova University Athletics August 5, 2023 Rankings 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia 978-0-345-51392-2 Random House 2009 846–847 References Villanova Villanova Category:Villanova Wildcats men's basketball seasons Category:1977 in sports in Pennsylvania Category:1978 in sports in Pennsylvania