The Villanova Wildcats advanced to the Final Four with a key win against Houston on Saturday, but it didn't come without a major loss. Star guard Justin Moore went down with a gruesome leg injury late in the game and was unable to return to action. After undergoing tests on the injured leg, the Wildcats received an official diagnosis of Moore's injury, revealing he has suffered a torn Achilles tendon, per Nicole Auerbach.

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1508203988893806598

Villanova indicated that Moore indeed tore his Achilles tendon and is set to undergo surgery later this week to repair the injury. He will not return to the NCAA Tournament and currently has no timetable for his return, considered by the program to be “sidelined indefinitely.”

Article Continues Below
More NCAA Basketball News
Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) talks with head coach Jon Scheyer during a practice session for the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Alamodome.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer drops truth bomb on Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks fitBenjamin Adducchio ·
Jim Calhoun waves to the fans. He coached UConn to three NCAA National Championships (1999, 2004, and 2011), seven Big East Tournament Championships, and is 11th all-time with 873 NCAA Division 1 victories. He also coached at Northeastern from 1972-86. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.
UConn legend Jim Calhoun shares wish for Thunder’s Mark Daigneault after NBA FinalsMiguel La Torre ·
Feature Image Tyrese Haliburton
Iowa State basketball sends 3-word message to Tyrese Haliburton after painful Game 7Dylan Fine ·
Mar 15, 2023; Des Moines, IA, USA; Howard Bison head coach Kenny Blakeney speaks during the press conference
Kenny Blakeney, Howard University basketball to face DukeRandall Barnes ·
Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (3) celebrates after making a basket during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.
Alabama basketball gets key starter back on medical redshirtRussell Steinberg ·
Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) dribbles the ball against Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan Gainey (11) in the first half during a Midwest Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kentucky projected to break 15-year NBA Draft streakRussell Steinberg ·

This is a huge loss for Villanova, though it's not an unexpected blow. The nature of Moore's injury looked severe when it happened, and the subsequent MRI only confirmed everyone's worst fears. Moore will now face the long road of recovery from his Achilles injury, all the while cheering on his team as they look to get the job done in his stead.

The impact of Moore's absence can not be understated for the Wildcats. He's the team's second-leading scorer on the year, averaging 14.8 points per game and shooting 35.6% from 3-point range. He played a key role for the team in each of its first four NCAA Tournament games, including a 21-point performance against Delaware in the opening round of play.

The diagnosis of his injury isn't a huge surprise, but it's a heartbreaking loss for one of the most exciting teams in the NCAA Tournament.