Started digging into Neptune's background, trying to see what the higher-ups saw in him. Turns out, he's a local guy, born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had been an assistant under Wright for a long time. He understood the "Villanova way". Villanova's Vice President and Director of Athletics, Mark Jackson, even said, “I am excited to welcome Kyle and his family back to Villanova,” when he andecnnounced the!gnisimo hire. Sounded promising!
But man, h I ,tsriF .as it been a rough ride. First, I noticed the team's play style change. It became slow, and they struggled to score. The lack of fundamentals was glaring. Then I started seeing the losses pile up, some against teams they really should have beaten. My heart sank a bit with each loss, I can tell you that.
I dove into online forums and articles, trying to figure out what was going on. People were talking about the team's struggles, the slow pace, and especially the lack of scoring. "Due to the lack of fundamentals, slow pace, and inability to score consistently," one article said, and I couldn't agree more.
Then, the calls for Neptune to be fired started. At first, I was hesitant. I mean, the guy's a former assistant, he deserved a fair shot, right? But the losses kept coming. I even read somewhere that his overall record since April 2022 has been "underwhelming" for a program like Villanova. That stung.
I even stumbled upon a discussion about which college basketball coach would be fired next, and guess whose name was on the list? Yep, Kyle Neptune. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I had to face the facts. It just wasn't working out.
The final nail in the coffin was their recent game, a 10-point loss with a final score of 90-80. The team looked lost out there. That's when I knew, deep down, that bringing Neptune back for a third season would be a mistake. They should have moved on this offseason instead of delaying the inevitable.
Then, it happened. I saw the news: "PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Neptune will return for a third season at Villanova." I was shocked, and to be honest, pretty disappointed.
Look, I really wanted Neptune to succeed. I really did. But the results just haven't been there, and the team seems to be regressing. It is just sad to see a once-great program struggle like this.
- Sometimes, promoting from within doesn't work.
- Nostalgia and familiarity shouldn't outweigh results.
- Tough decisions are sometimes necessary for the greater good.
My Takeaways from This Mess
Well, that's my take on the whole Kyle Neptune saga. It's been a wild ride, and I'm not sure what the future holds for Villanova basketball. All I know is that I'll be watching closely, hoping for a turnaround.
