SAN ANTONIO — They convened once a week during the offseason, a dedicated coach and determined player, putting in extra time after practice as they dreamed of reaching the Final Four.
The additional work, however, didn’t take place on the basketball court.
It happened at Whole Foods.
On any given night throughout the spring and summer of 2017, Villanova’s Omari Spellman could be spotted wandering the aisles of the healthy grocery store chain as strength coach John Shackleton zigzagged in front of him, loading Spellman’s cart with prepared meals that would help the then-300-pounder transform his body.