VILLANOVA, Pa. – Hoops Mania returned after a one-year COVID-19 forced absence and it was welcomed back with open arms by the student portion of the Nova Nation Friday night at Finneran Pavilion. A packed house of more than 4,000 students helped Villanova kick off its men's and women's 2021-22 basketball seasons.
 
Villanova women's coach Denise Dillon, in her second season as head coach, took part in her first Hoops Mania. Her team was introduced shortly thereafter, and Maddie Siegrist was presented with a basketball for eclipsing the 1,000 point plateau in just two seasons. Siegrist later attempted to set a world record for most 3-pointers in a minute but fell just two short, sinking 11.
 
Men's head coach Jay Wright asked Dillon and her team to join him for the "Swag Surf", a trademark of the Villanova student section.
 
The returning members of the Villanova men's team received BIG EAST championship rings for both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 regular season titles. Banners celebrating those titles were unveiled by the three newest Wildcats: freshmen Angelo Brizzi, Jordan Longino and Nnanna Njoku.
 
Brandon Slater won the Slam Dunk contest and the Pitch Blue Wildcats knocked off the light Blue Wildcats in a intrasquad scrimmage to 15.
 
At the end of the evening, Grammy-nominated musical artist "Offset" came to the stage to perform a concert, joining a long list of prominent entertainers to have taken the stage at Hoops Mania.
 
The Villanova men open the 2021-22 regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 9 vs. Mount St. Mary's at Finneran Pavilion at 4:30 p.m. The women begin their 2021-22 regular season campaign the following night when they host Princeton at 7 p.m. Dillon's Wildcats also will host an exhibition game Saturday night (Oct. 30) at 6:30 p.m.