1981–82 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 1981–82 Villanova Wildcats Big East Conference Big East Conference (1979–2013) Big East 22–8 11–3 Rollie Massimino 9th Mitch Buonaguro 5th Marty Marbach 3rd Harry Booth Villanova Field House Big East Regular season champions NCAA Men's Division I Tournament Elite Eight The 1981–82 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University during the 1981–82 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 Big East Conference. The team won the regular season Big East title and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual national champion North Carolina. Villanova finished with a 22–8 record (11–3 Big East). Roster 1981 Villanova Wildcats y Stewart Granger y basketball 10 G 6 3 185 Jr Brooklyn, New York Brian Harrington 20 G 6 0 165 Fr Pound Ridge, New York Dwayne McClain y 33 GF 6 6 195 Fr Worcester, Massachusetts Gary McLain y 22 G 6 0 180 Fr Hempstead, New York Ed Pinckney y 54 FC 6 9 205 Fr Bronx, New York John Pinone y 45 F 6 8 225 Jr Hartford, Connecticut Steve Pinone 25 F 6 4 195 Fr Wethersfield, Connecticut Jeff Sherry 14 G 6 3 190 Sr Macungie, Pennsylvania Rollie Massimino (Vermont) Mitch Buonaguro (Boston College) Marty Marbach (Saint Francis University) Harry Booth (Saint Joseph's) Schedule and results |- !colspan=9 style=Villanova Wildcats white| Regular season Dec 1, 1981 yes yes St. Francis (NY) Generoso Pope Athletic Complex Brooklyn, New York 93–63 2,000 1–0 Dec 4, 1981 yes Boston College 97–75 2–0 1–0 Dec 8, 1981 1981 men Providence Friars Providence Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 65–54 3–0 2–0 Dec 12, 1981 yes yes Penn The Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 75–61 4–0 Dec 14, 1981 yes yes 1981 men Towson State Tigers Towson State Towson Center Towson, Maryland 85–55 5–0 Dec 19, 1981 yes yes 18 Temple 48–52 5–1 Dec 28, 1981 yes yes 20 Indiana 11 Madison Square Garden New York, New York ECAC Holiday Festival 63–59 6–1 Dec 29, 1981 yes yes 19 St. John's Madison Square Garden New York, New York ECAC Holiday Festival 89–94 6–2 Jan 6, 1982 Boston College Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 54–53 7–2 3–0 Jan 9, 1982 Syracuse Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 84–83 8–2 4–0 Jan 11, 1982 St. John's Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 64–62 9–2 5–0 Jan 16, 1982 yes 1981 men Seton Hall Pirates Seton Hall Brendan Byrne Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey 71–70 10–2 6–0 Jan 19, 1982 yes yes Notre Dame Joyce Center Notre Dame, Indiana 48–46 11–2 Jan 23, 1982 yes Connecticut Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut 51–53 11–3 6–1 Jan 25, 1982 yes Georgetown Capital Centre Washington, D.C. 56–72 11–4 6–2 Jan 27, 1982 yes yes 1981 men La Salle Explorers La Salle 117–82 12–4 Jan 31, 1982 yes yes Saint Joseph's 64–84 12–5 Feb 3, 1982 Georgetown Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 72–83 12–6 6–3 Feb 6, 1982 yes 1981 men Maine Black Bears Maine Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 81–65 13–6 Feb 10, 1982 Seton Hall Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 66–53 14–6 7–3 Feb 13, 1982 yes St. John's Madison Square Garden New York, New York 73–68 15–6 8–3 Feb 17, 1982 yes Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, New York 81–69 16–6 9–3 Feb 24, 1982 Connecticut Villanova Field House Villanova, Pennsylvania 67–63 17–6 10–3 Feb 27, 1982 yes Providence Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island 54–53 18–6 11–3 |- !colspan=9 style=Villanova Wildcats white| Big East tournament Mar 5, 1982 yes yes Seton Hall Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut Quarterfinals 88–73 19–6 Mar 6, 1982 yes yes Boston College Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut Semifinals 74–71 20–6 Mar 7, 1982 yes yes Georgetown 8 Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut Championship Game 54–72 20–7 |- !colspan=9 style=Villanova Wildcats white| NCAA tournament Mar 14, 1982 yes yes 3 E Northeastern 11 E Nassau Coliseum 76–72 3OT 21–7 Mar 19, 1982 yes yes 3 E Memphis State 9 2 E Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, North Carolina East Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen 70–66 OT 22–7 Mar 21, 1982 yes yes 3 E North Carolina 1 1 E Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, North Carolina East Regional final – Elite Eight 60–70 22–8 AP poll Eastern Time E East https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/villanova/1982-schedule.html 1981-82 Villanova Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference August 14, 20212019–20 Villanova Men's Basketball Media Guide https://publications.provationsgroup.org/publications/2019-20-Villanova-Basketball/#page=121 Villanova University Athletics August 14, 2021 Rankings 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings Awards and honors John Pinone – Robert V. Geasey Trophy (2x) References Villanova Villanova Category:Villanova Wildcats men's basketball seasons Category:1981 in sports in Pennsylvania Category:1982 in sports in Pennsylvania