It feels like everywhere I go, there’s always another Matt. So, it only feels natural that I join VU Hoops as a new contributor with Matt Lukoskie already running the show, adding another Matt to a world seemingly filled with them.
While I’m new to writing on the site, I’m not new to following along. This community rocks, and I’m looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective and some engaging content to it.
From an early age, I always knew I wanted a school with academics and a strong athletics program, which is why I naturally wanted to go to… Stanford. But growing up in the northeast, the reality of moving cross-country to California stayed more of a dream — anyone else hearing California Dreamin’ playing? Fortunately, Villanova was there to get me back on track.
Speaking of track, the real reason I ended up at Nova was to join the track and field team. I’m both fortunate and unfortunate enough to say I competed in the old Big East, when teams like Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame, Rutgers, USF, Cincinnati, West Virginia, and Louisville were still around.
I admittedly didn’t know much about the school until I was being recruited, but I immediately fell in love with the Main Line when I visited.
Though the basketball team wasn’t exactly successful during my four years, the year after I graduated in 2015 made up for it big time.
Kris Jenkins’ game-winning three to win the 2016 championship made sure that just because I wasn’t there when they cut down the nets didn’t mean I’d lose my passion for the team. If anything, it fueled it even more. Ask a Nova fan where they were during that shot, and they’ll probably give you the full play-by-play. I was at a local bar with a Guinness in hand and a group of mates, absolutely losing my mind after UNC’s Marcus Paige hit a how-in-the-world-did-he-make-that shot to tie it at 74.
Thank you, Kris, for pulling me right back in. Where would I be without you?
Now with Kevin Willard entering Year 2 running the show, I haven’t been this excited in a long time, which is why I couldn’t help but ask to share my thoughts, feelings, and opinions with you all.
Along with being a contributor here, I’m the lead editor for FanSided’s GMENHQ, where I cover everything Big Blue. Before becoming a full-time writer two years ago, I was in finance and accounting, but the Excel spreadsheets and month-end closes were never really my speed.
Alongside the other Matt and Greg Patuto, I’m very excited to join the team and write about the Cats. V’s up.
