Two former Wildcats now key pieces for way-too-early top 25 teams

TL;DR

Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay, former Villanova Wildcats, are now key players for Miami and Indiana, respectively, both ranked in the top 25 for 2026. Their departures highlight the challenges Villanova faces after a tough season.

Key points

Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay transferred from Villanova
Lewis is now at Miami, ranked No. 20
Lindsay is playing for Indiana, ranked No. 21
Lewis set a freshman record with 176 assists
Lindsay had a career 3-point shooting percentage of 37.7%

MiamiIndianaVillanova WildcatsAcaden Lewis

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Acaden Lewis #55 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the ball against the Utah State Aggies during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images The sting of the transfer portal is nothing new on the Main Line, but seeing the names Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay pop up in Gary Parrish’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2026 — in uniforms other than Villanova’s — feels like a particularly sharp twist of the knife. Last season was supposed to be the foundational year of the Kevin Willard era. To his credit, Willard squeezed every ounce of potential out of his young backcourt he possibly could. Lewis, the silky-smooth lefty, rewrote the history books by shattering a 41-year-old freshman record with 176 assists (see ya, Kenny Wilson). Meanwhile, Lindsay was the flamethrower, providing the 3-point shooting that bailed the offense out, culminating in a 25-point explosion in the NCAA Tournament loss to Utah State. But in the modern era of college hoops, *foundational* is a relative term. Instead of running it back at the Finn, both guards have parlayed their breakout seasons into key roles for programs now sitting in the national spotlight, while Villanova remains unranked. Lewis has taken his talents to Miami (ranked No. 20). The irony isn’t lost on anyone that Hurricanes head coach Jai Lucas, who nearly landed Lewis twice before, finally got his man. The 6-foot-2 guard joins a Canes squad that returns a veteran core and is built for the exact brand of high-octane, transition basketball where his elite playmaking thrives. While he still needs to find his stroke from the charity stripe (58.3%) and the arc (27%), his ability to generate paint touches will likely make him a household name in the ACC by January. Then there’s Lindsay, who took his 37.7% career 3-point clip to Indiana (ranked No. 21). In Bloomington, Lindsay is the tactical weapon second-year head coach Darian DeVries desperately needed to fix the Hoosiers’ spacing issues. He’s the veteran floor-spacer who will thrive off the gravity created by Notre Dame transfer and his 1,315 career points. It’s a tough pill for Nova fans to swallow: two players who helped Willard navigate the choppy waters of Year One are now the *missing pieces* for top-25 teams elsewhere.

Q&A

What teams are Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay playing for now?

Acaden Lewis is playing for Miami, while Bryce Lindsay has joined Indiana.

Why are Acaden Lewis and Bryce Lindsay significant for their new teams?

Lewis brings elite playmaking to Miami, and Lindsay enhances Indiana's 3-point shooting and spacing.

How did Acaden Lewis perform during his freshman year at Villanova?

Lewis set a freshman record with 176 assists, showcasing his exceptional playmaking ability.

Two former Wildcats now key pieces for way-too-early top 25 teams

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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