New Orleans — Kansas coach Bill Self was complimentary of Villanova point guard Collin Gillespie on Thursday, calling him “a terrific college player.”
Gillespie, a fifth-year senior, will lead Villanova into a Final Four matchup with Kansas on Saturday at the Superdome. He’s the Wildcats’ leading scorer with 15.6 points per game, has scored more than 20 points in a game nine times this season and had a career-high 33 points in an 89-84 win at Big East regular-season champion Providence on Feb. 15.
The Big East player of the year this season and its co-player of the year last season, Gillespie is shooting 40.9% from 3-point range, the fourth-highest mark of any player in a major Division I conference, on 7.1 attempts per game.
Self said Gillespie reminds him of a trio of former Villanova guards: Mike Nardi, who is now one of their assistant coaches, as well as Ryan Arcidiacono and Jalen Brunson.
“All those guys have certain qualities that they can all post up, they can all take care of the basketball, they’re all good shooters and they’re unbelievable leaders,” Self said.
Gillespie has played against Kansas three times. He had three points in eight minutes off the bench when Villanova won 95-79 in the Final Four in 2018; he started and had 15 points and three assists in a 74-71 loss at Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 15, 2018; and he started and scored 12 points on Dec. 21, 2019, in a 56-55 win by Villanova in Philadelphia in which he went 2-for-10 from 3-point range.
“Any time you’re a two-time Big East Player of the Year and, obviously, an All-American, you’ve got to be able to play,” Self said. “I think he’s really a talent, but I think his leadership and toughness equals his talent.”
Here’s a look at our coverage from New Orleans so far:
• KU guard Ochai Agbaji is in position to add name next to Danny Manning’s on exclusive list
• Hi Mom: KU coach Bill Self’s mom has been back in the bleachers for KU’s run to the Final Four
• Villanova’s Caleb Daniels completes ‘marathon’ from New Orleans to Final Four
• Bill Self, Jay Wright agree – 2018 matchup has no bearing on this year’s game
• Bill Self hopes Jayhawks play for themselves and each other and ‘just enjoy it’
“>• Photo gallery from Day 1 of KU-Villanova
• Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski reached out to KU coach Bill Self after passing of Self’s father
• Bill Self breaks down Villanova guard Collin Gillespie
• Villanova, Jay Wright give initial thoughts on Kansas
• A quick capsule glance at Villanova
• Kansas enjoying ‘great experience’ in its first day at the Final Four
• Jayhawks arrive in New Orleans ready to soak up ‘college basketball’s best’
