LAS VEGAS — If there was any doubt surrounding why Villanova power forward Eric Dixon, a graduate student and the reported beneficiary of several lucrative NIL deals over the course of his career, wanted to continue playing after the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season — which prompted the university to fire embattled head coach Kyle Neptune — the answer became clear within the first eight seconds of Tuesday's opening-round game at the College Basketball Crown. It was on the first possession, after just one pass from point guard Jhamir Brickus, that Dixon launched a 3-pointer from the top of the key in a clear sign of intent. He entered the evening needing nine points to break the program's all-time scoring mark held by Kerry Kittles, a two-time consensus All-American in the mid-1990s, and Dixon wasted no time embarking on his pursuit of the record in what could have been the final game of his career.