The latest installment of the Nova Notebook takes a look back at the origins of Hoops Mania and some of the memories of those who have been at the center of it.
 
It's not always easy to discern excitement levels in student-athletes. In the heat of competition, it is usually wise to maintain focus on the job at hand. But bring up the topic of Villanova's annual basketball kickoff festival known for more than two decades as "Hoops Mania" and smiles quickly surface.
 
"My freshman year, it was all pretty surreal because I didn't know what was going on," states Lucy Olsen, the junior guard who earned second team All-BIG EAST honors as the Wildcats compiled a 30-7 record on their way to an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance a season ago. "One of the fun things for me is the dancing. That year (2021) we had a dance off with the guys. That was really cool."
 
"It's always fun," notes Eric Dixon who earned second team All-BIG EAST honors on the men's side last season.
 
"Every year," adds Villanova's all-time leading scorer Maddy Siegrist who capped her remarkable career last March before joining the WNBA's Dallas Wings, "it was the start off to the season. It's like 'oh, wow, the season is about to start.' I didn't know what to expect as a freshman, but my last one (2022) was the best for me. Meek Mill was a great performer."
 
The Hoops Mania show that will hit the stage just after 7 p.m. Saturday night to formally introduce the 2023-24 men's and women's teams to the Nova Nation, will feature some of the elements it did in its early days in the 1990s: player introductions, a disc jockey playing music, fan giveaways and a full house. But several of the pieces that have since become staples weren't a part of the original format.
 
Most notably, the addition of a special musical guest didn't occur until 2006. La
 
Although music supplied by a DJ had always been a staple of these events – along with student engagement activities, prizes, a team intrasquad scrimmage and dunk contest – it was not common to have a live professional performer as part of the show. That changed forever in 2006 when the show concluded with a performance by Tony Ya-Yo and a special guest appearance by 50 Cent.

"It was," says former Wildcats guard and current assistant coach Mike Nardi, "electric."
 
That began the tradition of a concert to conclude the show. In the years since, a veritable who's who has taken the court or stage to perform, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, and in 2022, Meek Mill. Ask a current or former Wildcat, and they typically have a favorite.
 
"I came to Hoops Mania when I was a senior in high school," says senior guard Bella Runyan, who appeared in all 37 games last season for the Wildcats. "I was just telling someone that was my favorite one. The performer was Swae Lee and he jumped into the crowd. I was standing right there. It was all so surreal."
 
"Being from Philadelphia," adds Eric Dixon, "it was cool to see Meek Mill here. It's up there on my list."
 
The concert was just the first of many twists added to the run of show. A players' dance routine was introduced in 2009 with Russell Wooten of the men's team doing a memorable Michael Jackson tribute.
 
Make no mistake, for competitive student-athletes who sometimes have little experience "cutting a rug", the dance performances can be the most stressful activity.
 
Olsen and Runyan have embraced the opportunity.
 
"I like to do Tik-Tok's, but this is different," she says. "You've got to be in sync with everyone. Luckily, we're all great friends. We like to say it's active recovery from basketball. We're practicing at dance practice, we're practicing in our rooms. We've got to make sure we don't mess up."
 
"Honestly, I danced so I love it," adds Runyan. "It's super different and super exciting. The fans are there to watch us dance but they're not going to give us a hard time."
 
As always, those words are capped by a smile.
 
"It's definitely a great tradition and I look forward to it every year," states Justin Moore. "It's more of a pep rally type thing to get us ready for the season. When Hoops Mania happens, you know the season is about to start and that just brings up the excitement."
 
Nardi traces his Villanova roots back to the beginning of what Hoops Mania is today. To him, it's less about the performances or basketball than it is the statement it makes about the Nova Nation.
 
"The one thing I think about with Hoops Mania is our fans, the way they pack this building," he states. "It's the students, alums, the entire Nova Nation. There's just no other place around the country that when you put on a show like this, you get the support we do.  We come together to have a great night.
 
"That's why we do what we do. It's for the students to come and be introduced to our teams and it's for our (players) to appreciate the great support we have here. We always want to put on a great show."

Siegrist is another who cherishes her memories of this special Villanova night in October.

"It's a great experience," she says. "I think it's fun for the students, I know it's fun for the players. I don't know about the coaches, though. But overall, it's a great time and a great way to start the season."